Bury council sacks ALMO board

Bury Council has sacked the board of its ALMO Six Town Housing because of concerns over the organisation’s governance. A new interim board consisting of independent and council appointees will run the ALMO until a new board can be selected.

In a statement issued by the authority, the council’s deputy chief executive Mike Kelly said: “The interim board will operate in the best interests of Six Town Housing, its tenants and staff, and it is envisaged that the interim board will be in place only until November 2010, at which time a new board will be appointed at the annual general meeting.”

Kelly is appointed as chair of the interim board. Joining him as board members to manage the ALMO are: Jayne Hammond, director of legal and democratic services at Bury Council; Guy Berry, director of personnel at the council; Mike Owen, the council’s director of finance; and Pat Jones-Greenhalgh, director of adult services at Bury Council. Independent members appointed to the interim board are: John Willis, ex-chief executive of Salford Council; and Tony Noblet, ex-assistant director of engineering at Oldham Council.

Kelly added: “The interim board will work with staff at Six Town Housing to ensure operational activities continue uninterrupted and in line with the key priorities for Six Town Housing, whilst addressing some of the governance issues which have come to light. I want to reassure tenants and staff that the interim board and management team will continue to support all operational activities and services throughout this period.”