Monday, 21 May 2012

almo cover up theft

Posted in: Need to Know | Ask the Experts

18/01/2010 8:59 pm

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mr concerned

mr concerned

Posts: 21

18/01/2010 9:13 pm

........the materials were taken by the sub contractor but were not used at the void they were booked to,the stores are owned by the local authority.the stores reported this event to the almo and investigation took place.
the manager was not suspended.
the local authority audit investigated this one incident only and was told by my almo not to look back in time for any other incidents (usualy 6 months prior to the incident would be audited).
the manager was was found guilty of fraud and given a 12 months final written warning.
.......................

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mr concerned

mr concerned

Posts: 21

18/01/2010 9:23 pm

The auditer of the local authority told the almo that this person should have been sacked.
The manager has been dealing with this sub contractor for many years in his private business,with the local authority and now with our almo.there has been for many years and still is now a very strong suspicion that this manager has been commiting fraud/theft of materials with this sub contractor and other sub contractors.
The chief executive has been aproached about this matter but seems to think the case is closed and that is the end of the matter............

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mr concerned

mr concerned

Posts: 21

18/01/2010 9:35 pm

The almo does have a whistle blowing policey but is failing at the moment to follow this properly as another member of staff is attemting to whistle blow and is experiencing some bullying because of this.
a member of the board has met the chief exec and expressed there discust at the whole episode,the chief exec again said the case was closed.
my question is who can be contacted to complain and investigate this whole episode and what corse should the whistle blower now take.the whistle blower is not me but a friend.many thanks

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Sancho

Sancho

Posts: 199

19/01/2010 9:39 am

That is very poor indeed. Anywhere I have worked, there is a strict policy of not using suppliers for private work, so this sort of thing should not happen in the first place. I suspect that, the way things are these days with employment trubunals etc, the ALMO felt that they would not be able to fire this employee without going through the procedure of issuing a final warning first. However, if you want to take the matter further, I suggest you contact the ALMO board or your local Councillor. At the end of the day, an ALMO is a Council subsidiary and ultimately responsible to the Councillors.

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mr concerned

mr concerned

Posts: 21

20/01/2010 8:17 pm

Thanks for the advice,has any body else got any advive,especially the experts on here,it would be very much apreciated.

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mr concerned

mr concerned

Posts: 21

24/01/2010 8:07 pm

Any comments from the experts on here please ?

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kass

kass

Posts: 629

27/01/2010 10:27 am

It really inspiring to see people like you who have the bravery and the patience to bring ongoing corruption in social landlords to light.
The fact that you will find very hard to get an expert response here, says it all about the social housing industry. I am sure you will have already come your own conclusions why...
Do not give up, the greaterst majority of residents are on your side.

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computerwolfuk

computerwolfuk

Posts: 2

27/01/2010 9:11 pm


Dont let it go and tell the whistle blower that he should inform the cabinet member/councillor for housing in your local authority. Within most councils there is likely to be an overview and scrutiny comittee who review the financial aspects of the way in which the ALMO works.

If there is a financial irregularity they can compel the ALMO a) to reveal what it is b) State what action they took to reveal it and c) chjange procedures so that it doesnt happen again.

Right is on your side. Best wishes

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mr concerned

mr concerned

Posts: 21

31/01/2010 7:23 pm

thankyou for your posts and help.
I will post on here which almo this is taking place at when i can,and so again i ask if anyone else has advice on the matter.
thankyou

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mr concerned

mr concerned

Posts: 21

04/02/2010 8:26 pm

Futher info,it seems that the theft of materials may be wide spread throughout the repairs section over many years.This is why they didnt sack the manager who was caught red handed as he may have told them the bad publicity and scandal it would cause if everything came out.
Saying that the theft of public property and money is i think a serious thing and hopefully the truth will come out.
Any advice is still welcomed and i will keep you informed.

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mr concerned

mr concerned

Posts: 21

15/02/2010 8:13 pm

Have any of the experts on here have any advice,that is why i have posted on here ?

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Sancho

Sancho

Posts: 199

16/02/2010 9:45 am

Have you contacted the Chair of the Board, a local councillor, the Cabinet Member for Housing or even the police yet? You could get in touch with the TSA too.

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Ian Greenidge

Ian Greenidge

Posts: 3

22/02/2010 11:50 am

Firstly the Board of directors of the ALMO may be made up of up to 5 local councillors. As this is a serious issue the Board should have been notified of the allegations, the subsequent investigation and the outcome of the disciplinary proceedings. One option would be to contact the councillors on the Board to establish what information was provided to them about the fraud and whether or not they approved the penalty imposed on the office manager.

Also, the local authority will have a fiduciary duty to try and ensure that the ALMO manages its public housing stock in a proper, honest and competent manner. The Councillors appointed as Chair of the Housing Committee (who may possible be on the Board of directors of the ALMO) and the Chair of the Finance Committee could also be contacted to ascertain whether they had been notified of the alleged fraud and what steps have been taken to ensure that the local authority has complied with it fiduciary duty to local residents.

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mr concerned

mr concerned

Posts: 21

13/05/2010 9:49 pm

This post has been removed.

mr concerned

mr concerned

Posts: 21

14/05/2010 9:18 am

This post has been removed.

mr concerned

mr concerned

Posts: 21

24/05/2010 8:27 pm

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mr concerned

mr concerned

Posts: 21

27/05/2010 8:47 pm

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Inside Housing staff post

Tom Lloyd

Tom Lloyd

Posts: 143

28/05/2010 8:26 am

I've had to remove two posts from this thread that identified the ALMO in question or allowed it to be identified. If there are any other posts of this nature I'll have to take down the whole thread.

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littlebigbrain

littlebigbrain

Location: Tower Hamlets, East London
Posts: 3

02/06/2010 3:52 am

A little trick that contractors working for my RSl do is not carry out the work but still get paid as if they did. Some time down the line because the work still needs to be done the same contractor gets another contract to carry out the work.

How can this happen you might ask? Simples. My RSL has totally inadequate monitoring of works carried out and the contractors know this.

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mr concerned

mr concerned

Posts: 21

18/01/2011 9:49 pm

This post has been removed.

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