Sacked council chief's admission
The former Norwich City Council housing boss sacked for her part in the “homes-for-staff” scandal has admitted she was wrong to move into the sheltered accommodation at the centre of the controversy.
The former Norwich City Council housing boss sacked for her part in the “homes-for-staff” scandal has admitted she was wrong to move into the sheltered accommodation at the centre of the controversy.
Speaking publicly for the first time since she was sacked from her �62,000-a-year job as head of neighbourhood and strategic housing, Kristine Reeves said she had made a mistake, but had paid a heavy personal price for it.
Ms Reeves, 39, said: “I do really regret the decision to move in and I'm very sorry I made it. I can see why people said there was a conflict of interests which I didn't spot at the time.”
But she added: “There was nothing untoward about it. I'm not a nasty person. It wasn't about personal gain, greed, deception or anything like that.”
Ms Reeves found herself at the centre of controversy in December 2008 after she and partner Graham Ross, a fellow council housing officer, moved into a bungalow at Greyhound Opening after elderly tenants had been re-homed, paying just �47 a week rent.
She had played a key role in the decision to demolish the housing scheme and build 100 affordable “eco-homes” on the site.
Most Read
- 1 Landlord finds 20 rabbits abandoned at home after tenants move out
- 2 Driver caught at speeds of nearly 100mph also found to have no licence
- 3 Six arrested after Willow the dog finds 'substantial' quantity of drugs
- 4 'The best yet' - Yarmouth's celebration of wheels gearing up for return
- 5 From schools to shops: All you need to know about living in Gorleston
- 6 Mixed feelings for traders as they move into Great Yarmouth's new market
- 7 8 places where you can see fireworks for free in Norfolk for the jubilee
- 8 Father still searching six months after Pawel Martyniak went missing
- 9 Winterton beach poses as Sydney's Bondi in new movie
- 10 Revealed: Your favourite fish and chip shop in Norfolk
In an exclusive interview with the EDP, Ms Reeves, who was this week revealed to have settled her unfair dismissal claim against City Hall for �41,000, also told how the affair left her feeling publicly humiliated, ruining a successful career and turning her into a virtual recluse.
“I didn't go out for about six or seven months. I suffered from really bad paranoia - I actually probably got a bit agoraphobic. It was the most horrendous public humiliation and it felt really unjust. It still does,” she said.
But she defended the original decision to demolish the homes and re-house the elderly tenants.
“The decision to demolish and the work that went on to move the old people out - I'd do that again in the morning. That was the correct decision.”
On the subsequent decision to allow council staff to live in the homes ahead of their demolition, she said: “With hindsight, given how controversial it became, it would have been so much better had it gone to executive and had formal approval.”
Ms Reeves also spoke of her feelings at being sacked for gross misconduct.
“Part of me was relieved that I'd got through that awful process of a disciplinary hearing and all the rest of it, but I felt absolutely wretched,” she said.
Her solicitor Paula Lawn said: “I'm delighted that Leathes Prior were able to help Kris and act on her instructions. I found her to be highly professional throughout all my dealings with her and she impressed me greatly.
“I'm delighted that the case settled. It was clearly going to attract more media attention and I'm glad Kris can now draw a line under this and move on.”
