Enderby EYE

the village ...and beyond

Three Oaks Homes launched with a bang

Corporate launch at Enderby Leisure Centre

20 November 2008

The sky above Enderby and neighbouring areas of Blaby was illuminated by fireworks, ensuring the arrival of a new housing association was marked with a bang.

Three Oaks Homes (TOH) now owns and manages almost 2,200 properties following a stock transfer from Blaby District Council.

Legal and financial negotiations were completed this month and the corporate launch was held at Enderby Leisure Centre.

Tenants, who took an active role in helping make transfer a reality, and transferring staff were among the invited guests at a corporate launch.

Speeches were made by tenant Colin Norman, chairman of Three Oaks Homes and Chan Kataria, chief executive of East Midlands Housing Group, of which TOH is a member.

Leader of Blaby District Council Ernie White and councillors Jo Fox and Jackie Dickinson, council chairman and portfolio holder for housing and assets respectively, also addressed the 70-strong crowd.

The event marked the culmination of more than five years' work on the part of tenants, district councillors and staff.

Colin said:

"Since 2003, all of us, in one way or another have had to deal with and learn from the obstacles and anomalies we have encountered each week, month and year of the journey.

"TOH has now started to function and we have an experienced, motivated managing director in Bruce Kerr and staff who, I am sure, are poised to help create a leading social housing provider.

"Furthermore, we have a board whose members want the best for our staff and customers and an appropriate governance framework in place."

Colin thanked Blaby District Tenants' Federation, now called Three Oaks Homes' Tenants' Federation, the staff at both the council and East Midlands Housing, district councillors and the board of the new organisation for their collective support.

The vast majority of tenants voted in favour of transfer in a postal ballot last year and councillors followed suit in October.

Associated link

» Residents celebrate the launch of Three Oaks Homes [EYE news item 07 November]

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