THE CHIEF executive of housing body Redbridge Homes has been suspended and its chairman has resigned, it has emerged.

Sharon Standell has been suspended as chief executive while an internal investigation into “governance issues” is carried out, and chairman Thomas Lewis has left his post.

Mrs Standell has run the organisation since 2008. Her picture and biography still appear on the Redbridge Homes website.

She was suspended on December 2, but the body has only confirmed the news today (December 15).

Simon Barry, the council’s director of housing and community services, has taken over as interim manager.

In September this year the Guardian revealed that complaints the council about Redbridge Homes had soared by 200 percent in the first three months of this year.

However, the most recent assessment by the Audit Commission gave the body an improved two-star rating, and said it provided a “good service” with “promising prospects”.

A spokeswoman for Redbridge Homes said: “Suspension is a neutral act to allow an investigation to be carried out, and does not imply any wrongdoing.

“As soon as concerns were brought to the council's attention, we took the appropriate action.

“The council aims to continue to improve housing in the Borough, and would like to reassure all Redbridge Homes tenants and leaseholders that these events will not affect the day-to-day running of the housing service.”