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02/07/2012
Housing Boss Jumps Ship Before Report
The chairman of Northern Ireland Housing Executive has jumped ship, ahead of an "alarming" report into maintenance over-charging.
Brian Rowntree resigned on Friday and, in an e-mail to the Housing Executive's 3,000 staff, he mentioned a "challenging relationship" with the Department of Social Development.
He leaves the organisation ahead of the publication of an investigation into multi-million pound repair contracts, in the wake of allegations that maintenance company Red Sky had overcharged the Housing Executive.
Social Development Minister Nelson McCausland already told MLAs the independent report contained "alarming" findings.
Mr Rowntree's term of office would have finished in the autumn so he is leaving a few months early.
Mr McCausland said the situation "would be a lot clearer" once he had reported the findings of a report by ASM Howarth to the Assembly.
He is due to make a statement in Stormont tomorrow.
The Housing Executive's £7m-a-year contract with Red Sky was cancelled last autumn following allegations of over-charging and sub-standard work.
Relations between Mr Rowntree and Mr McCausland are understood to have been soured by a public disagreement over the contract termination last July.
(NE/GK)
Brian Rowntree resigned on Friday and, in an e-mail to the Housing Executive's 3,000 staff, he mentioned a "challenging relationship" with the Department of Social Development.
He leaves the organisation ahead of the publication of an investigation into multi-million pound repair contracts, in the wake of allegations that maintenance company Red Sky had overcharged the Housing Executive.
Social Development Minister Nelson McCausland already told MLAs the independent report contained "alarming" findings.
Mr Rowntree's term of office would have finished in the autumn so he is leaving a few months early.
Mr McCausland said the situation "would be a lot clearer" once he had reported the findings of a report by ASM Howarth to the Assembly.
He is due to make a statement in Stormont tomorrow.
The Housing Executive's £7m-a-year contract with Red Sky was cancelled last autumn following allegations of over-charging and sub-standard work.
Relations between Mr Rowntree and Mr McCausland are understood to have been soured by a public disagreement over the contract termination last July.
(NE/GK)
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