A row between Homes In Sedgemoor and a local tenants’ group has led to the resignation of six board members.
The arm’s-length management organisation (ALMO) was awarded a 30-year contract to continue to manage 4,200 properties on behalf of Sedgemoor District Council – including many in Burnham-On-Sea and Highbridge – last year.
However, the relationship between the ALMO’s board and Sedgemoor Tenants’ Voice (STV) reportedly broke down earlier this year and the board reportedly passed a vote of no confidence in STV earlier this month, but a further dispute over ‘perceived council interference’ was then followed by the resignations.
Sedgemoor District Council spokeswoman Claire Faun told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “Sedgemoor District Council is disappointed that some of the members of Board of Homes in Sedgemoor have resigned. There are 12 members on Homes in Sedgemoor Board made up of 4 Independent: 4 Tenants; 4 SDC councillors. Before the Board meeting on September 3rd, there were three vacant posts (1 Independent and 2 tenants).”
“Three independent members (including the Chairman) resigned and two tenant representatives resigned. One SDC member resigned; another councillor will be nominated to the Board. To that end, measures are now being put in place to address the situation.”
She added: “The Chief Executive of Homes in Sedgemoor, Dawn Lang, has tendered her resignation to accept another post. In the interim, Kerry Rickards, Chief Executive of Sedgemoor District Council will be Acting Chief Executive – working alongside the existing staff at HiS.”
Homes in Sedgemoor was formed in 2007 and is an ‘arms length management organisation’ wholly owned by Sedgemoor District Council, managing their 4,200 homes. It is a non-profit organisation.
