I was most surprised to read the article which appeared in The South London Post (Friday 18 April 2008) relating to Ms. Asuman Ozkan, who was elected to the Shadow Board of the organisation which is now called Lambeth Living Limited, at the same time as myself, and who has since become its chair (See - http://www.icsouthlondon.co.uk/tn/news.cfm?id=5811&y=2008&searchword=asuman.ozkan) , and this morning I have forwarded a letter to the paper, which I copy below:
With regard the article in last Friday's edition of your paper:
1. Angell Town EMB has had a turbulent history, and the fact that its board might have considered a member disruptive would not necessarily imply that he, or she, has behaved in an unreasonable manner.
2. It is impossible for Officers not to have been aware of the circumstances leading up to Ms. Ozkan's forced resignation, or removal, from the board of Angell Town's EMB.
This being the case, why has it suddenly become a major issue?
Could it be that there are other reasons why they wish to see her off the board? Her history on Angell Town's EMB, and my own experience on the ALMO board, suggest that officers and those councillors responsible for the housing service may have regarded her as an embarrassment, as she may not have been prepared to act as a rubber stamp to implement managers' decisions, but wanted (as I did) to see a real improvement in services.
3. A story has been widely circulated over past weeks that "a member of the ALMO board" is alleged to have committed a serious offence of dishonesty the circumstances of which are currently under investigation by the Chief Executive and the Chief Internal Auditor. [WHY NOT THE POLICE, ONE WONDERS - IF SUCH AN OFFENCE HAS BEEN COMMITTED?]
What is mentioned in your article is something completely different, which to my mind suggests that the original story was part of a malicious attempt to silence her by bringing about her resignation or removal - without the inconvenience of an investigation.
4. There is no indication that members of the ALMO board have made any complaint about her. Quite the opposite: they have only recently appointed her as their chair.
Curiously, also, I have heard no mention about any complaint by residents. In this connection it should be noted that she and and Mr. Alan Bevan are the only members of this board who sit there by virtue of winning their seats in a contested ballot.
5. Finally, a board member can be dismissed; but there is no provision in Lambeth Living's constitution for a member's suspension.
Despite allegations to the contrary, I have always seen an ALMO as being the best solution to Lambeth Housing's problems, and the only one that is able to produce the required funding to bring Lambeth's residential estate up to the Decent Homes Standard.
However, after my recent experience on the Shadow Board, I am now convinced that this project will only succeed if Lambeth Housing is put in order by being placed under Special Measures, as I do not believe that either Council Members or its current management have either the will - or the ability -to carry out the reforms that will be necessary to enable it to effectively manage the extensive building programme that is contemplated.
David Prichard-Jones
[Former Resident Member ALMO Shadow Board for Stockwell and Vassall Housing Area.]
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