WHAT NOW FOR RIVERSIDE IN CARLISLE?

Dean Butterworth and three

years of empty promises
Three years on and Mr Dean Butterworth is to leave his job as Carlisle regional director of  the Liverpool- based Riverside Housing Association.

Dean Butterworth:..promises...promises

With him go the promises he made to change the culture of Riverside . “ I hope that the changes I intend to introduce will make for a very much improved  Riverside by the time I leave” he said on his arrival in Carlisle.

Nothing did change. Riverside is still the same inefficient, bossy and dictatorial organisation. The question has to be asked: What now for Riverside in Carlisle.

The 6,000 tenants and leaseholders want an answer and so does the city council.

The council leader Councillor Colin Glover has had a meeting with Carol Matthews, the Riverside Chief Executive.

 He stressed that he wanted to see how Riverside intends to develop positive relationships with the council and tenants in  the future, he told the  campaigning group Carlisle Tenants` and Residents` Federation.

Coun.Colin Glover...genuine dialogue needed

He  went on: “ In particular, if there are to be changes to the Riverside board structure, that should be discussed with council members through our scrutiny processes to ensure accountability and provide a platform for genuine dialogue in the future”.

Councillor Glover was replying to a letter from the Federation (reproduced in the previous post of this blog.)

 The letter urged the city council to abandon its “soft” attitude to Riverside and instead, make that organisation much more accountable.

A spokesman for the Federation welcomed Councillor Glover`s reply. He said:”In the past year, Councillor Glover has led the way in investigating complaints against Riverside and has held that organisation very much to account. “Hopefully this will continue and Mr Butterworth`s successor will not have the easy ride he has had”

What happened to tenancy agreements?

Meanwhile, complaints  about Riverside continue unabate, including letters and emails to this blog. One letter asks:What happened to tenancy agreements?

Here is the letter:

“I've been reading your posts with great interest, but I have noted there is no mention of the unemployed who enjoy housing benefits.

The area where I live in Carlisle only the unemployed seem to secure housing, all the while making the lives of those of us who live quiet and respectfully an absolute misery(they all seem to have alcohol problems).

While I understand people need a home, my concern is that both Riverside and law seem to protect those that live without standards and respect for their neighbours. 

What happened to tenancy agreements? 

Maybe this is not part of the agenda, but it does cause psychological harm to those of us who have the misfortune to be living beside them.

On another note I would be interested to know how many tenants of Riverside are in receipt of housing benefits, I would imagine the figure would be quite high”.

 Carlisle Tenants` and Residents` Federation publishes this blog. Information about the Federation is available on 01228 522277 or 01228 532803.