THE troubled organisation which manages properties on behalf of Waltham Forest Council has appointed a new chief executive.
Madeleine Forster will take up the role at Ascham Homes on June 14, succeeding Tim Harris, who has held the post on an interim basis since April 6.
The arms length management organisation (ALMO), which was set up to bring all council housing up to a basic standard of decency, has faced a difficult year, which has seen it bailed out by taxpayers to the tune of £7.6 million.
The financial crisis followed a failed challenge to a ruling preventing it from charging leaseholders for repairs.
The council pumped £5 million into the ALMO to cover the shortfall, but was forced to hand over a further £2.6 million when it emerged a hole in the repairs fund put the future of the decent homes programme in doubt.
Former chief executive Hasette Auguste left the organisation after the council expressed disappointment about performance.
Madeleine Foster, who has 23 years’ experience in the social housing sector, is currently a director of Circle Anglia, with responsibility for five housing associations and 35,000 homes.
The results of a recent assessment of Ascham Homes by the government watchdog, which could affect future funding levels, are expected after the forthcoming elections.
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