Council house theft probe

POLICE are investigating allegations of theft from the organisation responsible for running Rotherham's council housing.

One member of staff at 2010 Rotherham Ltd has been sacked and another four suspended as part of the investigation, which has been going on for several weeks.

The investigation involves the alleged theft of equipment and fittings being installed under a 300 million scheme to improve Rotherham's council homes.

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One allegation being probed is that equipment has been stolen and installed in workers' own homes.

The investigation is the latest blow to 2010 Rotherham Ltd, the arms length management organisation set up by Rotherham Council to run housing services.

It has been dogged by claims of shoddy workmanship on the Decent Homes scheme, and only recently the council put in its own team to monitor how the ALMO is being run.

Today a spokeswoman for the housing organisation said: "2010 Rotherham Ltd can confirm that it is investigating allegations of theft. Currently four staff have been suspended and one staff member has been dismissed in the ongoing investigation.

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"2010 Rotherham Ltd takes any allegations of theft very seriously and we will not, under any circumstances, tolerate this kind of behaviour.

"Any employee who is found to have undertaken any act which constitutes an act of gross misconduct, including that of theft, will be dismissed.

"In July, when these allegations first came t light, we acted swiftly to initiate an internal investigation.

"This matter continues to be addressed with the utmost urgency through 2010's internal investigation procedures. We are also now working with South Yorkshire Police in this continuing investigation."

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2010 Rotherham Ltd's chief executive Isobel Riley added: "The majority of our staff are hard-working, conscientious and doing a tremendous job for the tenants and residents of Rotherham. The actions of a few should not detract from the good work being done."

There have been growing numbers of complaints about the quality of some of the renovation work being done by the housing organisation, which is expected to cost more than 40 million.

The company was named 2010 because that is the year the massive refurbishment project should have been completed - but there are fears the deadline will not be met.

Earlier this year the council said its own team would look at a number of matters concerning the finances and performance of the company.

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