Staff reshuffle at Housing Executive

Local housing chief Sean Mackie has written to Derry City Council and local politicians advising of the personnel changes that will see the management teams at Waterloo Place and Collon Terrace merge.

In a letter to Council Chief Executive Valerie Watts he states the changes are being carried out as part of a Housing Executive review of working arrangements across the province.

He states that the changes are in line with the "Modernising Government programme and the need to deliver efficiencies year on year."

The letter reads: "At a recent meeting the Board of the Housing Executive renewed its commitment to the delivery of local services, however it agreed to merging the management teams in Waterloo Place and Collon Terrace.

"Both offices will continue to deliver existing services including Housing/Homelessness, Response Maintenance, Estate Management, Community Development and local partnerships."

He adds that the merged management team will consist of a District Manager, two Assistant Managers, two Senior Housing Officers and a District Maintenance Manager."

The changes are currently being phased in. Mr Mackie continues: "From April 19, Philip Meenan will assume responsibility for Response Maintenance with John Joe Doherty moving to Limavady and from May 1 Sam McPherson will be the District Manager of the merged team with Kevin McDowell moving to manage Accounts and Customer Services in Richmond Chambers."

He concludes: "I also want to assure you of the commitment of the Housing Executive to maintaining the quality and range of services currently enjoyed by our customers on the west bank of the city."