I have submitted my manifesto for chair elections on 24th December 2021 but this (and the manifestos of other candidates) have yet to be circulated to residents. I am not clear why. I am really disappointed to hear in an email from Mr Charlie Garton-Jones a few days ago that although there are elections for Chair, there will NOT be elections for the directors of the Chelsea Bridge Wharf Right to Manage company (which is in effect the same thing as the Residents’ Association – the residents’ association is the ‘trading name’ of the Right to Manage company) The current directors of the Right to Manage company are Charlie Garton-Jones, John Blackmore and the current Chair of the RA. None have been elected to the position of Director at any time and can remain in post as directors indefinitely. Following my resignation from the committee in October, I pointed out that the directors of the Right to Manage organisation effectively control the residents' association (the residents' association and the right to manage company are in fact the same thing effectively). Therefore if the directors are not elected then the elections for chair become much less meaningful. Mr. Garton Jones told me in emails in early November 2021 that ‘the plan’ was for directors to stand down / be re-elected. Apparently the committee decided since then there would be no elections for Directors because of ‘lack of voter interest’. But as far as I am aware there was no discussion or consultation with residents about election for Directors so how was this rather convenient conclusion reached? Do you as residents think that the Directors, who effectively control the residents’ association, should be elected? Or should they just stay in power for ever and appoint other Directors as they see fit with no reference to the residents? I think we are also still waiting for a summary of the finances of the CBWRA/ Right to manage company. None has ever been produced that I can recall since the Right to Manage company was formed. Since the current policy of the RA is not to pursue Right to Manage for several years then the purpose of his company , which has been dormant for many years, is unclear. It is costing us several thousand pounds a year (at least £4,000 a year for directors’ indemnity insurance I understand). Those spending residents’ money, influencing residents’ association policy and running elections for Chair are in effect controlling the residents’ association should be accountable to the residents in my opinion and should stand for election. Their role should also be described in the constitution (they were not mentioned the last time I looked). These are basic principles of democracy. I give full credit to the work done by Mr Garton Jones in relation to the cladding remediation works (negotiating for BH to cover that expense) and there is nothing personal in these comments but I simply believe that all Directors should stand for election or stand down. I understand that there will not be any independent resident oversight of the elections for Chair which is also disappointing. if I am elected as Chair I will do my best to ensure proper governance of the Residents’ Association and the Right to Manage company through a meaningful constitution, code of conduct and fair elections for all posts in the Residents’ Association/Right to Manage Organisation. I hope you can give me your support and please feel free to contact me here or at rincolisky@gmail.com I look forward to the publication of manifesto for Chair elections as soon as possible.

Posted by Mike O Driscoll at 2022-01-08 10:14:47 UTC