'Homes for staff' boss speaks out

By Julian Sturdy
BBC Look East

Suzanne McBride spoke to the BBC about the "homes for staff" scandal

A senior executive at the centre of a "homes for staff" scandal at Norwich City Council has broken her silence.

Former strategic director Suzanne McBride told the BBC she stands by her decision to allow council staff to live in former sheltered homes.

Twenty-five elderly people were moved from Greyhound Opening in Norwich after they were told it was being demolished.

The council has said it will not comment until after an executive committee hearing on Wednesday.

Ms McBride was the line manager for head of housing Kris Reeves, who is suspended on full pay and facing a disciplinary hearing after moving into Greyhound Opening with her partner who also worked for the council.

Ms McBride was made redundant by the council last year before the scandal came to light.

She said she has no regrets over allowing staff in and claims a senior Labour councillor was involved in that decision.

Regular meetings

"With hindsight I should have taken the decision formally to elected members so there would be a clear audit trail of the discussion," she said.

"There was full, open and frank discussion. I recall a meeting with Kris Reeves and Julie Westmacott, the executive member responsible for housing, where we discussed all of the options for what to do."

Ms Westmacott was executive portfolio holder for tenancy services. She lost her council seat at the last election and denies she knew staff were being placed in the empty properties.

"I had regular meetings with Ms McBride and have absolutely no recollection of being told that the empty accommodation was being offered to all council staff," she said.

Council staff moved into the Greyhound Opening complex

"I would not under any circumstances at all have agreed to this course of action."

Ms McBride also claims other senior managers at Norwich City Hall knew of the policy, but this has been denied by the council which said it would comment on the affair later. Chief executive Laura McGillivray says she did not see a council news letter advertising the homes exclusively to council staff.

A Green Party councillor, Howard Jago, has also come forward to say he was offered a place but turned it down.

Norwich has nearly 8,000 people on the housing waiting list.

Three other senior staff were allowed to live at the complex after taking jobs at the council, but this was authorised under a relocation policy.

The full interview with Suzanne McBride is on BBC Look East on BBC1 at 1830 GMT on Wednesday 7 January.