Questions go unanswered at WHHA meeting.

Thirty-one people have been made redundant from West Hampstead Housing Association (WHHA) since it was taken over last year amid financial collapse.

The job losses were revealed following tenants' questions at a special general meeting of the association on Monday night, but managers at Genesis housing group, which took over management of WHHA in 2001, would not discuss the cash implications of the severances

The confirmation comes one week after Genesis published accounts showing WHHA to have £11.5m in debts.

At Monday's meeting it was also decided that WHHA should try to revive itself with a new name, based on its current temporary housing operation.

Members voted in Pathmeads Housing Association Ltd as the new name, creating it as the third subsidiary for Genesis, which has assets of £1.2bn.

Board chair Richard Parkhill said: "The past 18 months have been extremely difficult for WHHA. But we have made great strides in resolving the many complex issues and it is time for a fresh start".

The board was criticised by the chair of WHHA's tenants's association Peter Rutherford for refusing to reveal how much Genesis had spent on legal costs since taking over WHHA, and for keeping minutes of board meetings secret.

Genesis told Property People its legal costs were "a matter for the Association and its board" and said board papers were confidential because matters discussed may be considered "commercially sensitive".