Housing association’s weaknesses slammed
Regulator continues
The statutory appointment of a manager and five governing body members at Wishaw and District Housing Association is to continue.
Enforced changes were made at WDHA earlier this year with the Scottish Housing Regulator using their statutory powers to appoint a manager and five governing body members to the association.
In an updated regulation plan for WDHA, the Regulator stated: “While Wishaw and District is making the changes and improvements necessary to ensure that it complies with our Regulatory Standards of Governance and Financial Management we consider that there are still areas of significant weakness which present a risk to its tenants’ interests.
“There has been some progress in delivering the remit of the manager and appointees but further work is required and we therefore need to continue our appointment of a manager and five officers to the governing body.”
The Regulator decided to intervene after independent reviews highlighted serious weaknesses in Wishaw and District’s governance, risk management and financial planning which pose a serious risk to tenants’ interests.
WDHA chairperson Brenda Higgins said: “We welcome the recognition from the Regulator of the good progress that has been made, while acknowledging that further work is needed to consolidate the improvements.
“As the report explains, we are all working together to address risks and past weaknesses. As we enter this new phase, we are confident that the association is now on the right path with a clear plan to address the outstanding issues.”
Chief executive Niall Gordon added the Association always expected the arrangements to continue into next year.