Three Valleys staff are content

First, as you have correctly reported, Three Valleys was asked to commission an independent review of governance at the request of the Tenant Services Authority. Work on this review began last autumn, and should be concluded within the next few weeks. We have kept the TSA fully updated on its progress and we held a very constructive meeting with the authority on 18 December, which covered a wide range of topics.

It is unfortunate that some former board members, who left the board last autumn, for legitimate reasons and by choice, have attempted to cause damage to Three Valleys’ reputation.

The management team is attempting to deal with issues around performance and culture that unfortunately have not been dealt with by previous board members and previous management. The management team has the full support of the board in this. We are committed to delivering excellent service at a competitive price. This is what our customers expect, and we are making good progress on both fronts.

A new board is being put in place that is determined to support management in our drive for excellence, and it is very sad that one of the unions involved has chosen to use the press and the TSA to express its concerns over this approach. By becoming a better organisation, we hope to be able to offer all our staff greater job security in the future. It seems ironic that any trade union would seek to undermine this objective.

The truth is that Union of Construction, Allied Trades and Technicians has not shown simple courtesy in sharing information from the survey of staff it carried out with management or the board.
The staff surveyed are a specific sector and not representative of the wider body of staff. I also understand that the survey was carried out without the knowledge of, or with any input from the workplace UCATT shop steward. We have already begun the process of discussing with members of staff any concerns they may have, and we have written to UCATT, inviting them to a meeting.

In terms of morale, the real position is that the majority of staff at Three Valleys recognise the progress that we are making as a company.

You will understand it is very difficult for any employer to respond to the results of any survey from an external body, if the survey is skewed to produce a particular result, which inevitably raises questions about its validity.

Bob Hingston, chair, Three Valleys Housing