ALMO Told To Release Report

England’s largest ALMO has been ordered to publish a document outlining reasons why it should not be scrapped.  The Information Commissioner’s Office has ruled that Sheffield Homes was wrong to keep secret details of the business case for retaining the ALMO.  The 42,000-home organisation refused a request from an unnamed individual under the Freedom of Information Act asking for documents from its annual general meeting. It also rejected requests from the complainant to release the full minutes of the meeting.  Following a ballot of tenants, it was decided the ALMO should be axed from April 2013, when Sheffield Council will take the management of its homes in-house to save £1.2 million a year. However, the ICO ruled the ALMO was wrong to withhold information about the case for continuing with the ALMO and ordered it to provide the minutes within 35 days.  Read more on Inside Housing.