The new appointees are the latest amid a stream of statutory inquiries and supervisions this year, as the Housing Corporation embarks on the regulation revolution which it insists will stem the increasing flow of supervisions. (Housing Today, 27 July).
Four corporation officials have been appointed to the board of East Stepney "because of serious concerns about its governance, financial management and financial position," said a corporation spokeswoman.
Newlon housing association, which hopes to take over East Stepney's stock, has taken over the day-to-day running of East Stepney cooperative, described as "basically not functioning" by a Tower Hamlets council official.
Bill Henderson, Newlon's housing director said: "We are providing East Stepney with a management service. The corporation knew that we had an interest in East Stepney and we will continue to provide interim management until such time that consultation for a transfer can be held with residents."
Three independent appointments have been made to Bentilee's board "to further strengthen Bentilee and to bring wider skills and experience to the board". They are Gaynor Asquith, director of the Guinness Trust; Pat Brandum, of West Mercia Group; and Mike Summerfield, a former chief housing officer.
Len Gibbs, chief executive of Bentilee Community Housing, which took over 900 homes from Stoke city council in 1998, said that the company had invited the corporation to deal with board problems arising from the recruitment of independent board members.
"We are pleased that the company's internal and external auditors have not expressed any concern with the management of the company," he said.
"As a housing company we seem much more prone to these kind of problems due to the board structure of five tenants, five independents and five councillors."
Source
Housing Today
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