The trade body the Association of Retirement Housing Managers has expelled one of its long standing members: Retirement Security.

It was purged because of opposition to an ARHM board decision by Retirement Security’s chairman Bob Bessell – himself a former chairman of the ARHM.

The decision is a mystery and, in a further twist, one of his fellow directors is Sir Alan Greengross, husband of Baroness (Sally) Greengross, the president of the ARHM. So the ARHM president has just seen her husband’s company booted out of the organisation.

Campaign against retirement leasehold exploitation has been critical of Baroness Greengross, a former head of Age Concern, who has trivialised the problems faced by elderly residents in retirement leasehold. In April 2012 in the Lords, she famously compared malcontents to “barrack room lawyers” with too much time on their hands.

It is speculated that the reason Retirement Security was purged from the ARHM was because Mr Bessell opposed the involvement of Keith Edgar, the former head of Peverel Retirement, who was appointed “new business manager” in March 2013.

Edgar represented the ARHM at the Campaign against retirement leasehold exploitation / LKP right to manage round-table on March 11 at Westminster, hosted by Sir Peter Bottomley. But he has since left the  trade body.

ARHM has been contacted for a statement to clarify why a member has been expelled and what implications this decision has on residents.

The news of Retirement Security’s expulsion from the ARHM was made on the organisation’s website.

A statement to ARHM members states that “a review of our business objectives and purpose in 2013” was “formally challenged” by Mr Bessell and Mr Peter Barker, of the Harewood Housing Society (now part of Together Housing Group).

“… As a consequence of Mr Bessell’s actions within that period and during the latter stages of his service on the Board, it was necessary to expel Retirement Security from the ARHM.”

Bob Bessell

It appears that Mr Bessell and Mr Barker “insisted that an independent review be instigated to determine whether the ARHM Board had acted outside the scope of its remit and delegated authority”.

Baroness Barker (LibDem) carried out an investigation.

“We are very pleased to report that the ARHM’s position was entirely vindicated in the report and there was significant evidence presented that, in some areas, we had operated with a high degree of good practice.”

No comment was made about Mr Barker or the Harewood Housing Society, although it may no longer qualify for independent membership as it is part of a larger housing association.

At that time, Debbie Matusevicius – a leasehold consultant with the Anchor Trust – was chairman of the trade body. It is now Paul Silk, of Hanover housing association.

Keith Edgar

Insiders suggest that the appointment of Keith Edgar to the trade body was the cause of the rift. A number of ARHM members were deeply uneasy about the appointment of such a senior Peverel figure.

The ARHM has been repeatedly criticised by Campaign against retirement leasehold exploitation for complacency in the face of irrefutable abuses in the sector – there has been complete silence over the Peverel / Cirrus collusive tendering scandal, for example.

The Office of Fair Trading reported last December that Peverel / Cirrus presided over a price-fixing racket that involved 65 retirement sites. Elderly residents were “likely” to have been cheated, the OFT says.

Residents at six of the affected sites have come forward to mount a class action against Peverel by engaging lawyers on a no win, no fee arrangement.

The full statement to ARHM members is reproduced below:

NEWS FROM THE BOARD

Members will recall that we previously communicated with you regarding structural changes within the ARHM, following a review of our business objectives and purpose in 2013.

This decision was formally challenged by Mr Bob Bessell of Retirement Security Limited and Mr Peter Barker of Harewood Housing Society (now part of Together Housing Group) on the basis that they did not consider the Board alone had the authority to implement the necessary changes, Messrs Bessell and Barker insisted that an independent review be instigated to determine whether the ARHM Board had acted outside the scope of its remit and delegated authority.

Whilst the changes had already been implemented, and the Board felt that it had acted within its powers, we agreed to an independent investigation which was carried out by Baroness Barker.

We are very pleased to report that the ARHM’s position was entirely vindicated in the report and there was significant evidence presented that, in some areas, we had operated with a high degree of good practice.

 As a consequence of Mr Bessell’s actions within that period and during the latter stages of his service on the Board, it was necessary to expel Retirement Security from the ARHM.

We are very much looking to the future now, as we roll up our sleeves and get on with the work in hand to raise standards and promote and support good practice in the leasehold sector.

Related posts:

ARHM will not explain why it expelled Retirement Security, but it was ‘nothing to do with Keith Edgar’ Bob Bessell: Expelled from ARHM, but this is how retirement residents should be set free ARHM action over Cirrus has ‘involved ONE inquiry to Peverel’ ‘Much to be proud of’ … Keith Edgar is leaving Peverel