Dear Dame
When speaking to a local leaseholder, putting an article together about KCTMO negligence, she mentioned most contractors employed by KCTMO go into liquidation once a major job/work is completed therefore removing all guarantees....just wondering if the Dame had any insights on this you could make known.
Certainly, our last major works contractor (Frencon) went into administration post job and my friend's contractor likewise.
Lakanal House contractor (Apollo) also, who are now renamed (Keepmoat) and is being employed for major work in the south of the borough by KCTMO!!!
Lakanal House contractor (Apollo) also, who are now renamed (Keepmoat) and is being employed for major work in the south of the borough by KCTMO!!!
There is definitely a pattern there for serious investigation, it all makes sense, it's a scam and the section 20 notices keep the scam going with the same defunct contractors (Wates Living Space from reading reviews seems to be the exception)
A friend in Finborough Rd says a leaseholder friend of hers explained scaffolding was erected around their small building two years ago by KCTMO and no work has yet been done so who is paying for the rental and who is getting the cash?
Its also been mentioned the only directors on the KCTMO board are residents or elected councillors - the stooges.
You couldn't make it up.
Keep up the good work and best wishes to the Dame.
Can I please be anonymous....
Dumb question from an old duffer. I keep reading that these TMOs have directors who are either residents or councillors. But who actually owns the shares in the TMO? Who gets to enjoy the profits they make?
ReplyDeleteMy shrinking brain has not found the answer to this. Can you, madam, or one of your trusty hornets help?
The full name of the KCTMO is rather pretentiously "The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Tenant Management Organisation Limited". So, as a private Limited Company it is not exempt from filing at Companies House. As you will see from its entry, there are no shares. But ownership as such will be 100% RBK&C: https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/03048135
DeleteEnjoy
The company is not-for-profit. Any surplus is supposed to be ploughed back into improving the service.
DeleteThe shares are owned by members, each member owning at most one 10p share in the company, and he members being residents.
When the TMO was created in 1996 anyone over the age of 16 living in a Council property could be a member. In 2008 they curtailed this. Now only those residents with a "contractual relationship" with the Council can be members.
However most residents are not members. Most residents actually want as little to do with the TMO as possible.
In addition, as has sadly become commonplace in the charitable sector, there is plenty of scope for those running the organisation to extract "profit". They can pay themselves handsomely for example and that certainly appears to be the case here, with several members of the Executive team, from the CEO down, on six figure salaries.
And perhaps it is of note that the changes to the company in 2008 were imposed on the TMO by the Council in response to an attempt by some members to have a proper say in how the company was run.
DeleteThey called three Extraordinary General Meetings to try and hold the CEO, the Executive Team and the Board to account. The meetings were held but the TMO ignored their outcomes. The Council stuck its fingers in its ears and tried to pretend it wasn't happening.
Except that as far as the Council was concerned all that simply would not do. When things had quietened down the Council forced the TMO to change its rules to avoid the riff raff trying to have their say in future. They killed what little democracy there was so that they could have a nice quiet life and not have to deal with those "bothersome little people".
I hear that there is a gardening manager at the TMO who has a close friendship with Councillor Simmons. He is in charge of many dubious budgets and many a dubious relationship with gardening contractors Tree Wise Men, who for many years operated without a contract, contrary to the law. These gardening contractors have now set up a landscaping company that also works for the TMO without a contract. Auditors should take a special interest in the accounts of Mr. Dominic Davies... Gardening, Landscaping, HRP, ARB, etc, etc
ReplyDeleteYou are so poorly informed: there are NO AUDITORS! Since Cameron abolished the incompetent Audit Commission, there is NO independent oversee of anything...Council and TMO can do exactly as they feel fit, they have nothing to be fearful of.
DeleteYou may elect to be an 'armchair auditor', applying to have a look at this or that. Sadly, you will be given a sharp shrift and refused access on the grounds of 'commercial confidentiality'.. You are doomed... Should they agree to let you have a look, you can be provided with whatever, as little as possible, they feel fit.
In respect of the 'gardening manager' an itinerant Holland Park gardener tells me that he is Mr John Gaffney, who has much to be responsible for.....
John Gaffney is "mostly harmless". How boss however ...
DeleteA putrid smell follows the TMO and Councillor Simmons.
ReplyDeleteMoney from the public purse.
ReplyDeleteThere should be a full investigation into how these budgets are used to groom residents in certain TMO managed estates into voting for our beloved councillor.
ReplyDeletedream on dear.....who will investigate? There is NOBODY to do so, as explained above.... amen
DeleteThose associations that question her behaviour are denied funding.
ReplyDeleteIs she not on the TMO board ?
ReplyDelete"The Times newspaper estimates the insurance pay-out as high as £1 billion"
ReplyDeleteHo Ho Ho....
"Protector Forsikring’s chief executive Sverre Bjerkeli said the firm expects that its reinsurer will pay “almost the entire cost” for the Grenfell Tower disaster."
DeleteInteresting... even with TMO's regligence, they will pay? Friends in high places come to my mind.
Rock Feilding-Mellen who oversaw Grenfell Tower refurb flee from his luxury £1.2million three-storey townhouse after threats from angry residents
ReplyDeletehttp://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/tory-councillor-behind-grenfell-tower-10683281
let's hope he will not be recongized on da Costa del Watneys..
DeleteThe TMO oversaw the refurb. Peter Maddison, Director of Assets and Regeneration and David Gigson Head of Capital Investment. Then the fabulous Robert Black, TMO CEO, instructed that the Grenfell Action Group email's be blocked.
ReplyDeleteResisents have been calling for years for the TMO to be disbanded but it has fallen on deaf ears. Corruption, intimidation, ets, etc
ReplyDeleteNow people are dead.
ReplyDeleteCouncillons Simmons is on the TMO board.
ReplyDeleteAs is Cllr Judith Blakeman: https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/03048135/officers
DeleteShould someone go through the remaining TMO officers and see if they're just stooges? Interesting that none of the names listed by 09.16 seem to be on the board ... limiting their responsibility?
of course, they may claim, conveniently for themselves, that it would be a 'conflict of interest'....it is, as you say, to deflect the responsibility... Oh, I understand that the Council is in favour of 'Arm's Length Management'.... sadly, you will find that there is NOBODY at the end of the arm, to take any responsibility..and dear me, you will be running in ever increasing circle.... good luck....
DeleteThe TMO board is mainly comprised of residents who have no clue or power.
ReplyDeleteDirectors and Managers make all the decisions.
The TMO get rid of anyone on the board who asks difficult questions.
ReplyDeleteThe only viable solution is to prosecute those responsible and close the TMO down. Bring housing management back in house by the council !!!
ReplyDeleteKCMTO = ALMO
ReplyDeleteALMO = Arms Length Management Organisation = RBKC SHIFT RESPONSIBILITY AND BLAME ELSEWHERE