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16
Dec
Loss-making council housing company seeks new managing director
North Yorkshire Council is recruiting a new managing director to lead its loss-making housing company.
Brierley Homes, which was founded in 2017, is part of the Brierley Group of 12 companies owned by the council.
It oversees housing developments across the county, including in the Harrogate district.
Now, the council is advertising for a new managing director at the firm — which reported a £3.2 million loss last year.
Stuart Ede was previously managing director at the firm.
The post, which is based in Northallerton, is being advertised for a salary of between £100,545 to £111,533.
The new managing director will provide “strategic management and leadership for Brierley Homes”, according to a job advert on the council's website, and ensure that financial targets are met.
It adds:
As our new MD you will provide strategic management and leadership for Brierley Homes Limited. Acting as sector leader and expert for the company with extensive construction knowledge and experience upon which the board can rely to guide the company, taking the correct strategic direction and decisions to ensure the company is successful.
The new managing director is expected to be appointed in early 2026.
Loans and cash flow
The move comes as Brierley Homes as come under scrutiny from councillors over its reliance on council loans.
In September, senior councillors backed a proposal to increase a £25 million council loan facility to £27 million to provide Brierley Homes with further financial headroom.
Gary Fielding, the council's corporate director for resources, said at the September meeting that he would receive weekly cashflow reports from the company as part of “additional due diligence”.
He said the weekly reports would “ensure there is stronger due diligence” into the firm.
Meanwhile, in July, the council also granted a £1.4 million loan to the housing company to assist it with cashflow while it delivered affordable housing and to "allow the company time for sales to be received”.
The council said the loan, which is separate to the loan facility, will be repaid with base rate interest instead of on commercial terms.
But, the move was criticised by Cllr Kevin Foster, leader of the Green and Independents group on North Yorkshire Council, who questioned how the council could justify further money for the company.
Senior councillors on the authority’s Conservative-run executive said the decision was the “right thing to do”.
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