SECRETIVE RIVERSIDE SAYS NOTHING

Sarah Paton

and the

unanswered questions

Sarah Paton started work with Riverside Housing Association yesterday  as boss of  its  Carlisle operation. But it was all something of a mystery.

Riverside wasn`t saying who Sarah Paton is. Nor did they say where she comes from. Questions about this by the media  were met with  a brief  statement from Janine Goodison, Riverside`s media relations adviser at its Liverpool head office.

The statement said:

“Please be advised that Riverside is not issuing anything external relating to Sarah’s appointment. Dean Butterworth has spoken to key stakeholders and Sarah will do her own one to one introductions when she is in post.”

Dean Butterworth of  course is the man Ms Paton` has succeeded as Carlisle regional director. Riverside  has been equally secretive about him and why he  has left Carlisle after three years in the job.

Only those odd-sounding people referred to in  the statement  as “key stakeholders” have been let into the secret  of Mr Butterworth`s departure. Key stakeholders are also to be let into the secret of Ms Paton`s arrival in Carlisle.

But what about Riverside 6,000 Carlisle tenants? When will they be  let into the secret? And the 60,000 citizens of Carlisle. Surely they are entitled to know all about Riverside ( which after all is city`s biggest landlord) and who  is in charge of its operations.

Those 60,000 as national and local government taxpayers  are also entitled to know how their money is spent- Riverside gets  many thousands of pounds of public money every year.

The reasons for Riverside`s secrecy are not hard to find.

Riverside is currently re-organising its governing  boards

and Carlisle councillors are not happy about what is planned in the city. The councillors want  assurances from Riverside that the Carlisle board-if it continues to exist- will be accountable to Riverside`s tenants and to the city council.

 If past Riverside form is anything to go by, this inefficient and bossy organisation is not likely to give those assurances, particularly after the embarrassment when the last change of regional director took place. It followed  the resignation of the then director, Mr Patrick Leonard .

 Mr Leonard had earllier stood for election as Cumbria Police and Crime commissioner claiming outrageously that he  was some sort of superman… able to continue as Riverside  regional director while also working as police  and crime commissioner.


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