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Council marks 40 years of the NI Housing Executive

Thursday, 12 January 2012

Frankie Donnelly, centre, chairman of Omagh District Council, who hosted a reception for NI Housing Executive officials which is celebrating its 40th anniversary

OMAGH District Council has held a reception to mark 40 years of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE), at which the chairman, Mr Frankie Donnelly, welcomed all present.
“I would like to extend a particularly warm welcome to Mr Brian Rowntree, chairman of the Board of NIHE and the organisation's chief executive, Dr John McPeake. I would also like to welcome the staff of the local office - both past and present - who are here this evening and it is fitting that you should be here in such numbers as it is the local staff who are at the 'coal face' dealing with the public and with other statutory agencies which I know isn't always straightforward."
Mr Donnelly added: "The Housing Executive is a statutory body and was established by the Housing Executive Act (NI) 1971. Under the terms of the act, the new body assumed responsibility for 65 separate housing authorities, which included the removal of responsibility for the allocation of social housing by Councils.
“It is now one of the largest single employers in the North employing just under 3,000 people, who manage a stock in excess of 100,000 homes. It also provides work for thousands of others in the construction trades through the sub-contracting of repair work to their stock which in these difficult times can be very beneficial to those who rely on this particular sector for their livelihood."
Mr Donnelly paid tribute to the local staff of the NIHE, describing them as "great ambassadors", whilst also highlighting the work of the district manager, Ivan Armstrong.
“It is often said that staff are the greatest resource of any organisation, and I can say without fear of contradiction that the staff here in Omagh, both past and present, are great ambassadors for NIHE. I am always loathe to single out individuals for special mention, but I feel on this occasion that it would be remiss of me not to highlight the work of the district manager, Ivan Armstrong.
Key figure
“Ivan was a key figure in the various interagency groups which, while no longer operational, established a forum for the various statutory agencies to help provide coordinated services within areas of need. He has also played a central role in the success of the Neighbourhood Renewal Partnership which is a collaboration of voluntary, statutory and business organisations who have adopted a coordinated approach for the benefit of the people of the Omagh area," he said.
Making reference to the uncertainty over what the future holds for statutory and public agencies, Mr Donnelly added: "None of us can predict the future or what role the various statutory and public agencies will play in that future. The Review of Public Administration as outlined in the Executive's Programme for Government will change the face of Local Government and the way in which it is delivered irrevocably. Consequently, relationships between councils and bodies like the Housing Executive will undoubtedly change.
“However, what I would say is that over the past 38 years, Omagh District Council has enjoyed a largely harmonious working relationship with the local office and indeed with Headquarters when our paths have crossed. "We have shared a common goal to provide a high quality service to those we serve and it is that commitment which we as a Council are proud to recognise this evening."
Concluding, Mr Donnelly added: "Finally can I offer my congratulations to the Housing Executive on reaching this milestone and I would ask Mr Rowntree as chairman, to convey our best wishes to the Board of NIHE.
“I look forward to maintaining the great working relationship which we, as a council, have established with NIHE here in the West and I am confident that the local staff will continue to serve the people of the area with the same level of commitment and excellence to which we have become accustomed."

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