Addressing delegates at the National Housing Federation's board members' conference, Dinwiddy added that only a "significant minority" of boards opposed remuneration.
The corporation's present position is that boards will be able to decide to pay members, subject to a convincing business case. But there are fears that associations will have little choice once the trend for payments has spread.
Dinwiddy said the corporation recognised this was a difficult problem, and that it needed to be resolved by the government.
"The problem is not unique," he said. "It applies to NHS Trusts, the New Deal for Communities, all sorts of areas. We're looking at best advice we can give to associations and exploring ways of getting round it."
But at the same event, junior housing minister Tony McNulty said the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister was happy to step back and allow the sector to decide what it wanted to do on the issue.
The issue of payment is a matter for the corporation
Tony McNulty, junior housing minister
McNulty told an audience including large numbers of delegates vehemently opposed to the corporation-led payment idea that it was a "matter for the corporation" to decide.
The atmosphere in the hall reflected stark divisions in the sector. "It was a bit of a lion's den at times," said Lucy Ferman, a senior consultant at Hacas Chapman Hendy who is working with the NHF on a guidance document for associations.
"There was hostility towards the proposal, but that was balanced by a positive reception from other quarters."
Many of the delegates were tenants, and the clash of board member remuneration payments with unemployment and housing benefits was of great concern.
The corporation is expected to publish the results of its consultation in the summer.
Source
Housing Today
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