Wednesday 31st January 2001.
Back in September, WHHA held its Annual General Meeting but was not able to present accounts to the shareholders. The auditors, Robson Rhodes said baldly that they could not approve and sign the accounts because "certain information was not available".
This meeting was to receive the accounts and to answer any questions. Although the existence of the Reconvened AGM has not been made known to the tenants, a few of them who are shareholders attended, and a few who found out turned up. It was interesting how few members of Management Board turned up.
The meeting started at around 6.45pm with a unilateral announcement from the chair, Mr. Roger Barcroft, that it would finish at 7.15pm. Many people strong protested.
The accounts were formally received, and a vote "that they have been received" was taken. This none-to-controversial vote was passed. (Please note that the shareholders were not asked to approve them, only receive them).
In response to a question, Mr. Lomax explained the position re. Anna Bowman and Douglas Wilson. The former had left "in strict compliance with her contract" and with compromises; the latter had been summarily dismissed and is appealing the decision.
WHHA's solution: a group structure within Genesis and Paddington Churches , partly because PCHA is the only h.a. to make a success of private sector leasing (of which WHHA has 2,700 homes). Mr. Lomax said "We have agreed to tango, but have not actually clutched yet". There will be a new name for WHHA to emphasise the radically new type of organisation. "I am not trying to save 'the creature', only jobs, shortlife and P.S.L. homes", he said. No promises of job security to WHHA staff.
There was a major debate about his refusal to consult with tenants under Section D8 of the Housing Corporation's Performance Standards for registered social landlords (Section G4 in some editions).
He imagines that telling us what has been decided after the event amounts to consulting.
In answer to demands for a meeting of all the tenants, Mr. Lomax agreed to hold two meetings; one for people in Tottenham and another for those in Camden. It was stressed that tenants want to meet altogether. He then said that one such meeting will be held, followed by two regional ones.
Tenants then asked to move to the main business of the day, the presentation and discussion of the accounts which have proved such a crisis and have brought the association to the edge of oblivion.
The Chair, Mr. Roger Barcroft, then declared the meeting closed.
There was a deafening uproar. Normally reasonable tenants started shouting loudly at him, and there was a time when the matter could have gone quite nasty.
At this point, Mr. Lomax stepped in to offer to set up a new meeting especially to discuss the business which was being suppressed by Mr. Barcroft. He has promised to arrange this on Thursday (1st February).
We will let you know as soon as it is arranged. (It should be noted that this meeting will not, of course, be in the presence of those who attended the AGM. The audience included a senior person from PCHA)
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The Housing Corporation's Performance Standards for Registered Social Landlords.
(Second Edition)
D8. Consulting and involving tenants and leaseholders.
Associations must consult with their tenants and leaseholders as required by the law and the Tenants'/Leaseholders'Guarantees, and give them opportunity to excercise genuine influence over the service they receive. In particular, they must:
D8.1. consult tenants and leaseholders concerning:
1. Proposed transfer of stock
2. Contracting out of management services
3. Mergers with other housing associations which may change the level of service provision they receive.
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