Integration news: Top officer selection and a new Joint Housing Panel

 Integration of operations at Babergh and Mid Suffolk continues apace.

Now that our joint Chief Executive, Charlie Adan, has settled in, next week interviews will be taking place to select the team of senior officers who will oversee the work of both organisations.  This is a difficult process, since not everyone will come out with what they want, but I do know that all of the people involved have received, and will continue to receive, professional support to help them make the best of the challenge they face.

In the meantime at yesterday’s Strategy Committee we approved proposals to set up a Joint Housing Board for Mid Suffolk and Babergh.  Three Councillors from Babergh and three from Mid Suffolk will sit on the new body, which will also include tenants’ representatives.   Shortly a single officer to oversee Housing at both councils will be appointed, and this ensures that the management and governance of the area as a whole is put on a sound footing.

This is not a small enterprise! Between them Babergh and Mid Suffolk have 7000 council houses, which takes us into the top quartile in terms of size in the Eastern Region. Economies of scale should result, and better ways of working together should effect a transformation of how we deliver this service.

The Board will set policy for the day to day administration and management of the housing stock . The Strategy Committee/Cabinet of each council will continue to make decisions on housing finance, rent levels etc.  Clearly however there will have to be a good deal of interaction to ensure that the joint operations work efficiently and fairly.