Thursday, 02 September 2010

Westminster sacks ALMO leader

22 October 2008 | By Clara Story

Westminster Council has sacked the chairman of its arm’s-length management organisation, Citywest Homes, leaving a power vacuum at the centre of the body.

Kevin Bond was removed from his post because his view of the ALMO’s role ‘differed significantly’ from that of the council, a spokesman said.

Citywest Homes, which manages 22,000 homes for the council, has also been without a chief executive since 18 September when Brian Johnson left for another post. New interim chief executive Tony Summers is due to take charge on 3 November.

It is believed Mr Bond wanted the three-star ALMO to have more independence and control over housing stock.

Mike More, chief executive of Westminster Council, said: ‘This has not been a decision taken lightly, but we believe it is in the best long term interests of all parties.

’Over recent weeks our relationship with Mr Bond has become untenable as his view of the role of Citywest Homes differed significantly from ours. We felt this was putting at risk the improvement of our housing stock and the delivery of new homes in Westminster.’

He said it was ‘no longer appropriate’ for Mr Bond to lead the service but there would be no impact on tenants. A new chairman would be appointed ‘as soon as possible’, he added.

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