The National Federation of ALMOs (NFA), the trade body whose members manage half of all council housing in England, has elected Sue Roberts MBE as its new Chair.
In her new role, Sue will represent the country’s 60 arm’s length management organisations (ALMOs),becoming one of the social housing sector’s most influential spokespeople.
Sue is already a key figure in the ALMO movement as a former Vice Chair of the NFA and current Chair of Wolverhampton Homes.
The selection of two new Vice Chairs will take place later this year. The NFA has also announced the members of its new Board, effective until 2013. Joining the Board are South Essex Homes, Hackney Homes and Six Town Housing, represented respectively by ALMO Chairs Phil Lyons, Rupert Tyson MBE, and Hugh Broadbent.
Sue will be responsible for championing the ALMO movement and its positive influence on the homes, lives and communities of council tenants across the country. This includes continuing to grow the NFA’s authority with national and local government, policy-makers and the national media.
Her appointment comes at a time of great change for ALMOs and the sector, with the introduction of the Localism and Welfare Reform Bills, proposals for ALMO self-financing and community ownership of council properties, and the implementation of radical spending cuts announced in the
Comprehensive Spending Review.
A Wolverhampton Council tenant for 35 years and a tenant activist in the city for twelve years, Sue became a Wolverhampton Homes board member in 2005 and was elected Chair in 2008. In 2009, Sue was elected co-Vice Chair of the NFA, enabling her to represent the interests of ALMOs at a national level. This provided her with valuable experience of negotiating with central government on behalf of NFA members as well as developing a strategic housing policy and ensuring an ongoing role for ALMOs. Sue was awarded an MBE in this year’s New Year Honours List for her services to social housing.
Commenting on her new appointment, Sue said: “I am very proud to have been chosen as the NFA’s new Chair and to have the opportunity to represent ALMOs and the indispensable services they provide, not only in providing decent homes and raising accommodation standards, but enriching the
lives of millions of residents and their local communities.
“One of my main priorities will be to promote the opportunities and benefits of tenant participation. Having been a council tenant for most of my life, I have seen first-hand the real benefits of taking part in your local neighbourhood.
“With deep spending cuts now being felt across the country, I will work hard with the Board to ensure that ALMOs remain relevant and responsive to the needs of their tenants.”
Sue takes the reins from Alison Inman, who has spearheaded the ALMO cause since her election to
Chair in 2009.
During her time as Chair, Alison was instrumental in a range of major achievements for the NFA, including the successful lobbying for the re-instatement of decent homes funding for Round Six ALMOs; the reformation of the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for ALMOs; two successful NFA Awards ceremonies; and important submissions to government proposing such measures as self financing and large-scale community ownership of council housing.
The National Federation of ALMOs represents and promotes the ALMO option in council housing management. There are just under one million ALMO managed council homes across England, half of the total stock.
ALMOs have attracted support from all three main political parties for their success in increasing tenant involvement, improving homes and communities and enhancing the quality of life for those living on some of the most challenging estates in the country.
