Published: January 27, 2012
by PETER GRUNER

HOUSING officials ­appeared to be backing down this week over the ban on voluntary tenants’ champion Lorna Reid from holding office because of an alleged “conflict of interest”.

Faced with mutinous Labour supporters Islington’s council leader Catherine West intervened calling on housing to be as “inclusive as possible”.

Ms Reid thanked the Islington Tribune for highlighting the issue and suggested that the council had “completely backed down.”

New rules decree that unpaid Ms Reid should not represent her Highbury estate tenant resident association because her partner Andy works for housing agency Homes for Islington.

However, this rule could be removed when HFI is dissolved and management goes in-house later this year.

Ms Reid said:  “Although not having received formal confirmation Highbury estate TRA is today celebrating the defeat of the hugely unpopular and potentially unlawful decision to exclude tenants and residents from full participation in local democracy .

“A huge thanks to all those who supported us including the Islington Tribune who did not hesitate to raise this important issue.”

Cllr West said that  TRAs should avoid letting conflicts of interest get in the way of the work they do.

However she added: “They also need to be as inclusive as possible and so we’ll be working with HfI and residents in the coming months to see what arrangements we should put in place when housing management comes in-house.”

Theresa Coyle, chairwoman of HFI board,  said it is clear that many residents feel strongly about the issue.

She added: “We would like to see if there is an alternative way to protect residents from this potential conflict of interest.

As the council is currently reviewing resident engagement structures, we are suggesting that they consider what future arrangements may be appropriate.

In the meanwhile, we propose that TRAs and Area Housing Panels continue to meet as before.”

Local Labour Councillor Gary Doolan broke ranks recently with support for Ms Reid accusing HFI of conducting a “witch hunt.”

Last week she received the support of Islington North MP Jeremy Corbyn when she was  unanimously re-selected as chairwoman of her tenants group.