The leaders of RBH and the Council met in  a residential over Thursday and Friday last week to secure good working relationships as they move forward from the problems of last year around the appointment of a new RBH Chief Executive.

The Press Release issued today is printed in full here:

Rochdale Boroughwide Housing board members and senior officers have held a productive joint planning event with senior councillors and senior council officers to develop a shared vision of how the two organisations will work together to ensure excellent housing services are delivered for tenants and neighbourhoods across the borough are regenerated.

The 2-day event last week involved discussions between RBH and the council on a range of issues which will be crucial to the future success of both organisations - but the real focus was on agreeing a structure for ongoing dialogue and closer joint working.

Ian Agnew, the Chair of RBH’s Board said: “The discussions held last week were very positive and resulted in a joint commitment to work more closely together for the benefit of tenants and local communities. There is a clear recognition from the council that RBH is providing very good housing services and an understanding that we want to play a larger role in delivering social and physical regeneration programmes in neighbourhoods.”

Councillor Doreen Brophy-Lee , cabinet member for housing on Rochdale Borough Council, commented: “There is a real enthusiasm from RBH for its role in assisting the council to deliver its wider regeneration agenda and I really welcome that. We will now be working together to harness this enthusiasm so that real benefits are delivered for local communities.”

The photo - which can be enlarged byclicking on it - shows the Council's Executive Director Andy Zuntz, its Cabinet Member for Housing Councillor Doreen Brophy-Lee, RBH Chair Ian Agnew and Acting Managing Director Gareth Swarbrick.