Board
Derwentside Homes has a Board of Management, which is made up equally of five tenants, five Council Nominees, and five independent people who are chosen for their particular skills and experience. Together, the Board of Derwentside Homes will use their skills, experience and knowledge of the District to make the best decisions – for tenants and the future of affordable housing in Derwentside. Board members are all unpaid volunteers and are not paid for sitting on the Board.
- Chair Steve Errington– Independent Member
- Vice Chair Phil Toal – Independent Member
- Christine Blackburn - Tenant Member
- Ann Manley – Tenant Member
- Derek Robson - Tenant Member
- Jill Te Aho – Tenant Member
- Bob Alderson – Council Member
- Joe Armstrong – Council Member
- Janice Docherty – Council Member
- Clive Robson – Council Member
- Watts Stelling – Council Member
- Mark Davies – Independent Member
- Richard Humphrey - Independent Member
- Kevin Parkes- Independent Member
- Matthew Foreman - Coopted Member
- Fiona Norbury - Coopted Member
Chair Steve Errington – Independent Member
Steve is Finance Director of the regional subsidiary of a national house builder & has previously been a divisional Finance Director in Home Group, RSL. He has extensive knowledge & experience of development, housing, finance & performance management. He qualified as a Chartered Accountant with Deloitte & Touche. He is also an independent Board member of Bridging NewcastleGateshead, HMR Pathfinder.
Vice Chair Phil Toal – Independent Member
Phil has resided in the Durham area for many years. He has over 18 years experience in the housing sector at both a local and regional level including being Secretary to the North East England Housing Board from 2007 to 2009. Phil is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Housing, is a mentor for students hoping to become professionally qualified, and holds a Master of Arts in Housing Policy and Management.
Specialising in strategy, policy and business development issues Phil is employed by Frank Haslam Milan(part of the Keepmoat group), a housing developer and community regeneration company based in Sunderland.
Christine Blackburn - Tenant Member
Ann Manley – Tenant Member
A resident of Derwentside for 37 years, Ann spent almost 30 years working for a Gateshead – based electrical manufacturing firm. She spent 12 years in the Training Depart ment as a supervisor before working as an assistant in the Personnel Department. Before retiring Ann was also a member of the company’s Safety Committee and organised events as a member of the Social Club.
Derek Robson– Tenant Member
Derek has been a tenant in Derwentside for over 36 yrs. Before retirement he was a Sales Office/Admin Manager for a large Mining Machinery firm. He has a wealth of experience working for community groups over many years. He was instrumental in the starting of The Bungalows Residents and Neighbourhood Watch Association and was one of the founder Directors of The Bridge Enterprise Centre in South Stanley. Derek was involved in the Councils transfer consultation from the start in Oct 2003 until the transfer in Dec 2006. He is currently Chair of Derwentside Homes Tenants Forum, a position he has held for the past three and half years. Before retirement he was a Sales Office and Admin Manager for a large Mining Machinery firm. In his spare time his interest are Genealogy and Local History.
Jill Te Aho – Tenant Member
Jill lives on the Acton Dene estate in East Stanley and is active in the community. She is Chair of Acton Dene Residents Association and Secretary of Stanley Hall Partnership as well as being an enthusiastic member of the Tenants Forum. Jill has a keen interest in housing issues and has recently been attending college studying Housing Management.
Bob Alderson – Council Member
Bob is a life long resident of Derwentside. He has been a Councillor for 16 years and has been a member of many committees including Overview and Scrutiny Committee, Environment & Health Scrutiny Panel, Development Control Committee, Licensing Committee, Appointments Committee, and Grants and Donations Committee. He is a member of Burnopfield Community Centre and is involved in the local Partnership. Bobs pastimes include walking and supporting his local football team.
Joe Armstrong - Council Member
Joe has been an Elected Member on Durham County Council for 8 years serving the Esh Division, he has previous experience in Housing Maintenance working for the City of Durham and many years in the Construction Industry and hopes this experience will assist him to make a positive contribution on the Board of Derwentside homes.
Janice Docherty – Council Member
Clive Robson – Council Member
Watts Stelling – Council Member
Watts has a scientific and political background, and is a Councillor on Derwentside District and Durham County Councils. He has worked for 12 years as an Industrial Analytical Chemist with British Steel and spent 23 years as a lab manager at Newcastle University. He is a former Chair of Derwentside Council’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee, whose 38 members oversee major decisions, and the Council’s Scrutiny Board. Locally, Watts chairs Bishop Ian Ramsey School’s Board of Governors and is Vice Chair of the Leadgate Historical Group. His interests are all sports, local history and a keen bridge player.
Mark Davies – Independent Member
Mark is a partner in a local firm of solicitors. He has been a resident of Derwentside for over twenty years. Apart from his legal skills, he brings to the Board a sound knowledge of financial and business activity.
Richard Humphrey - Independent Member
Richard returns to Derwentside as an Independent Board member, having previously worked for Derwentside Council until 2006.
Richard is a Senior Lecturer in Construction Management at Northumbria University and has lots of experience from a range of housing related roles that he will bring to the Board.
Kevin Parkes - Independent Member
Kevin is Director of Regeneration at Middlesbrough Council and has extensive experience of regeneration, planning and strategic housing services. Kevin lives in Lanchester and has a good understanding and interest in local issues.
Matthew Foreman - Coopted Member
Matthew joins the board as a coopted member. He is Housing Operations Manager for
North Tyneside Homes. Matthew has 14 years experience of working in social housing having previously worked for South Tyneside Homes and Gateshead Housing Company.
Matthew lives in Burnopfield and through his role on the Board, is keen to make a real contribution to the community that he lives in.
Fiona Norbury - Coopted Member
Fiona Newbury also joins the board as a coopted member. She lives in Whitley Bay and is Head of Regional Training and Competence for Brewin Dolphin, a private client investment
management company in Newcastle and has 10 years experience of working in HR including working for Dickinson Dees Solicitors.
