Lewisham Council will now pay the non-councillor board members of its housing management company – becoming one of the three London boroughs which does so.

Lewisham Homes is the council-owned limited company which manages the borough’s council housing stock and builds social housing.

The company, which is called an arms-length management organisation (ALMO), has a board made up of seven residents, five independents and three councillors.

The 12 non-councillor board members will receive £3,000, with the board’s chair getting £6,000 and committee chairs on £4,500.

Barnet Council and Westminster City Council also pay ALMO board members, with Barnet Homes board members paid £4,000 and CityWest Homes, Westminster’s board members paid £3,500.

Six of the 32 London boroughs are listed as having an arms-length management organisation.

The decision to pay board members follows a recommendation from an independent review, according to Lewisham Council documents.

“This review has recommended that board members be paid for their service to better enable Lewisham Homes to recruit and retain the appropriate capacity and expertise to its board,” the documents explained.

“This is imperative especially as a result of the new commercial activities that Lewisham Homes is undertaking on the council’s behalf in relation to the new homes and property acquisitions programmes.”

The board meets four times each year for two hours, and members attend four strategy session, including a full weekend away.

They are also assigned to five committees which meet several times a year, and are encouraged to attend panels and learning and development sessions, according to Lewisham Council documents.

Board members are also billed to receive a special responsibility allowance, which could be rubber-stamped at a “future” full council meeting, according to the documents.

Lewisham Council has contracted its housing management to Lewisham Homes until 2027, with a three-year break clause.

The number of ALMOs used across the country has halved since 2009, as more councils look to bring housing stock management back in-house.