Sonsak Na Pattalung, the newly-designated acting chief executive officer for the two troubled companies, said that after the recent management change within the Coco group, a thorough review has been carried out and a new management plan is being drawn up.

“The management team is fully aware of the issues on site and the first and most obvious matters to deal with are site security and utilities,” Sonsak said in an emailed report to stockholders.

Sonsak said management will then move on to address other issues such as standby power, communal areas, swimming pools, among other things.

He said changes would be made regarding the delivery of services and the administration of services and these would be done phase by phase.

“In the coming weeks, site security will be restored and a controlled access plan introduced,” he said, adding that “in the initial stages, owners, residents and guests will be issued with an access card that will allow entry past the site gate and visitors and contractors will be required to sign in.”

He also said that a security plan is being developed now, with details of the access system being finalized.

Work has already begun to restore site main water and lighting and infrastructure are being reviewed, according to him. He said he expects homeowners and residents to notice the changes within the next two weeks.

At the same time, billing for site services will be modified and an optional contract amendment offered, he said.

“At this stage, our view is that as site services are gradually restored, then payment contributions to services must also be restored,” Sonsak said. “As some owners will be aware, there has been, for a long period, an impasse whereas services deteriorated, payments also reduced. Unfortunately, this is a ‘Catch 22’ situation.”

The new CEO said they are fully aware that some owners wish to take responsibility for their own villas while others wish to remain in shared services.

Management, according to him, has come up with a proposal that would allow split services.

The split services proposal will accommodate owners who wish to have their own staff take care of their villas and also those who wish to continue with CIS.

The most important part of this change, according to Sonsak, is for owners to understand that CIS will at all times be responsible for site infrastructure, such as roads, drains, underground power cables, water pipes, as well as shared services such as gardening and maid services, security, communal areas, etc.

With immediate effect, every villa will be required to contribute to shared and communal services, in accordance with services contracts and since services are currently substandard, there will be a phased-in period of discounts offered over the next two months, he said.

In the next few days, every owner will be contacted and offered the option to have only shared and communal services, or the additional villa services, he added.

“I must stress to all owners that to maintain services, it is necessary for all owners to contribute and meet their contractual obligations under their contracts,” Sonsak stressed.

Stockholders were also told that since most services will start to be restored in January, payments will start to be collected from February onwards and bills will be issued towards the end of this month at discounted rates. Bills will continue to be issued for water and electricity usage as before and the discounted services charges will be given out next week.

Sonsak said he hopes to convene an owners meeting on site within the next two weeks and expects that would be a good forum for discussion.