Peter Dixon, who is to take the helm from Baroness Dean in October, told Housing Today that he does not believe housing associations should pay their board members.
The corporation ruled that associations that wished to pay their boards could do so – if they presented a “robust business case” – in July (HT 4 July, page 7).
He said it was “no secret” that he did not support payments, adding: “It would be daft of me to try to deny that.”
However, Dixon has vowed to put his personal misgivings to one side and toe the official line. Asked if he would consider rescinding the policy, he replied: “I don’t think that would be remotely appropriate. It’s been through a long consultation process, a decision has been reached and that’s the decision.”
He added: “I think it is going to be important that the organisations that do decide to pay board members are prepared to produce the suitably robust business case which the Housing Corporation is suggesting. And that the payments are commensurate with what they’re getting out of the board members.”
Any tenant board members that are paid under the new policy will have their welfare benefits docked, despite efforts by Baroness Dean to persuade the Department for Work and Pensions to change the rules (HT 27 June, page 8).
Dixon said: “It’s difficult to have a general public service exemption in respect of housing benefit so I just don’t know how one gets round that. Brenda [Dean] had a go at it and I’m aware of that and I think it remains an on-going issue.
“I don’t have a solution for that one.”
Source
Housing Today
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