Can you please tell us who you are and what your position is?
Cathy Deplessis, Chief Executive, Lambeth Living, one of the two Arms Length Management Organisations (ALMO) owned and controlled by the London Borough of Lambeth.
How long have you been doing this job?
Seven months at Lambeth Living.
What did you do before coming to Lambeth?
Was there life before coming to Lambeth? I was the first Chief Executive of Stevenage Homes for two years helping them to achieve their two star rating from the Audit Commission earlier this year. This has unlocked £63m to spend on the council’s housing.
What does community mean to you?
It means life, comfort, support and a force to celebrate.
I want Lambeth Living to embrace the community in Lambeth and serve it well by providing
excellent housing services.
How do you think Lambeth Living has changed and do you think your role has had an
impact on this?
Lambeth Living is now much clearer about its direction and vision
for the future. We are a very self aware organisation and have become increasingly
realistic about what we need to do to improve services for residents. The Board is
dedicated and hard working and has come through some very challenging times. We are
optimistic and looking forward to helping to make life better for Lambeth residents.
Do you think residents associations benefit residents?
Very much so. They help the
local community to come together in a way that promotes togetherness and support.
They speak on behalf of residents, help them to access services, give then advice
about what to do if something goes wrong and work with us to improve services. They
also tell us if something has gone wrong and can help us to put it right.
Lambeth
Living is working to develop more residents associations and we want to empower residents
to get involved in the services we provide.
Describe yourself in three words?
• Passionate • Fair • Determined
Who is the most influential person you have ever met and why?
Roy Irwin, Chief Inspector
of the Housing Inspectorate, Audit Commission. Roy introduced the customer focused
approach to housing inspection that has been responsible for driving up standards
of service in housing. Lambeth Living is at an early stage of being one of the best
organisations at providing housing management services and Roy’s approach teaches
us that the only way is up.
Describe your role in a sentence?
To lead Lambeth Living to achieve its mission to
manage and deliver high quality homes and excellent service to Lambeth tenants, leaseholder
and freeholders.
Do you feel enough is being done to encourage a more positive approach to the younger
community today?
More can always be done. Young people are our future and they deserve
to be cherished and supported to be part of our society and community. Lambeth Living
works with young people and others to show that we value and support young people.
Where would you most like to visit in the world?
Colorado, United States. Great snowboarding
country!
How important do you think diversity and communication is in a community?
Lambeth
is a great place to work because it is so diverse and so vibrant. I get a real buzz
from working with so many different people and communities. It really adds to the
richness of life.
Lambeth Living aims to value, recognise and celebrate the diversity
of our customers while supporting those who are vulnerable.
Good communication unlocks
meaning and information for communities and there is certainly more Lambeth Living
can do to improve communication.
What is your biggest 'pet hate'?
Marmite – yeuch!
What would you most like to achieve in the next 10 years?
Professionally -
How would you like your role to develop?
I'd like to meet more members of the community
and learn where our services need to improve and what we can do so that more people
are aware of our services.
I would like to be a part of any new proposals to change
the housing revenue account so that more money can be spent on council housing.
What item could you not leave home without?
My mobile phones – personal and work
one.
What is your favourite area of Lambeth?
Brixton – I am energised by walking through
Brixton. It is so rich, so diverse – it always makes me feel good.
How many people are in your team?
Team Lambeth Living consists of 410 staff. My most
immediate team is the Strategic Leadership Team of four directors. Housing Management,
Cedric Boston (starts 17.08.09); Improvement, (Vacant); Property, David Thompson;
Resources Kevin Kelly, interim (Terry Gallagher starts 24.08.09).
Who would I invite to dinner?
Nelson Mandela and the Obama family.
I would learn from Nelson about how he maintained
his vision for South Africa despite long years of imprisonment.
With Barack, I would
find out if he loves his new role as much as I love mine. And with Michelle, I would
find out what it feels like being part of such a dynamic duo.
I would tell them that
despite and because of all the challenges, being the Chief Executive of Lambeth Living
has got to be the best job in the whole wide world!
Can you explain the procedure residents should follow for contacting Lambeth Living?
Cathy Deplessis provided an in-
All these details can now be found on the Lambeth Living page... Click here
This is our brand new and exciting section to the WERA Website.
Every Two weeks we will publish an EXCLUSIVE Interview with those who work with WERA and manage services to the estate and Lambeth. We will ask the questions that you may well of always wanted to ask whether they be at the Housing, in politics or the police as well as many more...
If you would like to make a suggestion for a Question or suggest a person for an
interview then Contact us.
Other Interviews:
Sabina Joseph... Click here to view
Steve Reed... Click here to view
Nick Ephgrave... Click here to view
Val Shawcross... Click here to view
Patrick Horgan... Click here to view
Lib Peck... Click here to view
Derrick Anderson... Click here to view
Cathy Deplessis... Click here to view
Chris Adamson... Click here to view
