The news came as the Hertfordshire association announced the sudden death of its chief executive, Roger Watson. Tributes have been pouring in from the sector.
Ridgehill is to commission an independent inquiry, under terms agreed with the corporation, into various governance matters.
These include the high turnover of senior staff at the RSL, which has had three chief executives since taking over Hertsmere council’s stock in 1994, a number of payments made to departing staff, and troubled relations between the board and staff.
But according to Julian Ashby, managing director of consultant Hacas Chapman Hendy, who is standing in as chief executive, the quango was happy with “hefty” payments made to underfunded pension schemes.
The corporation is understood to have strongly urged Ridgehill to enter a group structure.
It said that it had intervened in Ridgehill’s board twice in the past, but now “similar problems have occurred”.
On 29 November both Watson and chair David Bearfield announced that they were standing down.
Housing consultant Hattie Llewelyn-Davies has been brought in as chair, and the association expects statutory appointments to the board.
She said: “We will work with our stakeholders in considering the corporation’s proposal that entry into a group structure would give Ridgehill a more stable platform for growth while retaining local accountability.”
Hertsmere said it was in “confidential discussions on Ridgehill’s difficulties”.
Ridgehill has had a thorny history. The corporation raised governance and management issues even before it was registered, and its plan to build homes in Spain was vetoed.
Its second chief executive, Martina Weitsch, left citing disagreements with the board over development policy.
Ashby said there was “no question” that Ridgehill had suffered problems. “ I think that is why the corporation has been less tolerant of the situation,” he added.
Watson leaves a wife and two children. A coroner’s statement said his death was “sudden and tragic”, and an inquest has been opened.
Former chair Greg Lomax, also brought in at the corporation’s suggestion, led the tributes to Watson. “He was a good, decent man in whom I had a great deal of confidence,” he said.
Watson was executive director of resources at Bedfordshire Pilgrims Housing Association until March 1999. Chief executive John Cross said: “He did a lot for BPHA at a very important time in its evolution. This is a waste of a very talented individual.”
Another former colleague, consultant Richard Broomfield, said Watson had been “a consummate professional and an asset to the housing world.”
Source
Housing Today
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