Welcome to South Lakes Housing

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The Board

 
My name is Mary Dowling and as Chairman of the Board would like to introduce you to my fellow directors
 
South Lakes Housing is lucky to have a very varied Board of Directors. There are 4 Tenant Directors, 4 Independents  4 Council Directors and one co-optee. Between them they have a useful mix of experience and skills and have a knowledge of different parts of the District. The Board makes major decisions about what the company aims to do and how it will achieve this. It steers the management who look after the day-to-day operation of the business and the delivery of services.
 

Did you know?

The Board has a special item on its Agenda for Residents questions.  If there is anything that you would like to ask the South Lakes Housing Board call Angela Tunnicliffe on 01539 717713 or email us at info@southlakeshousing.co.uk

 

The Board is waiting to hear from you.  Any questions raised and the answers will appear on our website and in our newsletter.

 

Board Members

Directors (Independent representatives)

The Independent Board Directors were chosen following advertisements and interviews. They bring a range of skills that are directly helpful to running the business. They all have experience of decision-making and management in other organisations so bring new ideas and approaches

Mary Dowling (Chairman)

Mary Dowling has been a member of the SLH board since 2003 and was Vice Chairman before
her election as Chairman in 2008.   Her professional background is in human resources
management and is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.    She
was a Director of Human Resources in NHS hospitals for more than 10 years and is now a
Non Executive Director of Cumbria Primary Care Trust.  She is also a member of the
independent remuneration panel for district and parish councillors in South Lakeland. 
 

John Stanton 

John is a Senior Property Surveyor and has a broad experience in the construction industry particularly in building maintenance. John lives near Ulverston.

Peter Thompson

Peter is a Development Manager for West Lakes Renaissance the urban regeneration company for Furness and West Cumbria. His management experience in construction and development is especially useful in relation to the decent homes improvement programme and responsive repairs.

Christine Chadwick

Chris Chadwick is a qualified Financial Accountant.  Born and bred in Yorkshire, Chris moved to the Midlands in the late 70’s and trained and worked as a Financial Accountant in the Pottery industry.
 

In 1998 Chris gained the position of Business Manager for the Contract Services Division of a Local Authority in charge of a £10 million budget, covering the provision of waste management, grounds, highways and housing maintenance.  Following a stock transfer of 10,000 properties to Aspire Housing, Chris set up the company’s financial systems, processes and procedures.

 

Co-optee - Sheila Meades

Sheila Meades has a background in public relations/communications and worked as Communications Manager for South Lakeland District Council from 2002-2009.  Prior to that she worked in various roles for the Lake District National Park Authority for 13 years.  SInce leaving SLDC she has been training and working as an Independent Mental Capacity Advocate and a generic advocate for people dealing with health or social care.

 

 

Directors (Tenant representatives)

Joan Chadwick

Joan was born and bred in the area and now lives at Tenterfell, Kendal. She has worked as a telephonist, and in nursing, and social work, and has been involved in tenant participation for many years.

John Short (Vice Chair)

John is an Ambleside tenant. His previous work experience was in the food trade, being Purchasing Director for a large firm of wholesale food distributors. Later he worked in a retail news agency before retiring. He takes a keen interest in the financial side of the business.

Charles Howarth

Charles is a tenant from Barbon and previously worked in mechanical engineering and road transport. He now does voluntary work for Galloways society for the blind and other local things for the community.

Peter Bland

Peter lives in Kendal, he trained as a Dental Technician, and worked in the NHS.  Peter later became a Director of a family business.  Peter has also been actively involved with several local Residents Associations and other local organisations.
 
Peter retired from local Government owing to ill health and is an ex Governor of Troutbeck Swimming Pool and Lakes school.
 

Directors (Councillor representatives)

The Council Board Directors are nominated by the Council. They maintain the link between South Lakes Housing and Council interests. They also feed in their knowledge of how local government works and bring their experience from representing their own wards.
 

Peter Woof

Peter Woof lives in Dentdale, and has lived here almost all of his life.  He is an electrician by trade, but for many years has done building projects and steel fabrication.  Peter is self employed, and is now a SLDC councillor.

 

Robin Brown

Robin Brown is a retired business man who has worked in financial services.   Robin is a Board Director on South Lakes Housing Board appointed by SLDC and Chairman of the Finance & Procurement Committee.

David Vatcher

David Vatcher is the Councillor for Lakes Ambleside.  He has been a long-time campaigner on housing issues especially affordable housing.
 

Frank Hodson

Frank Hodson is the  Liberal  Democratic Councillor for Burneside .  Worked in engineering until retiring . Lived in Underbarrow since moving to the area in 1959.  Interests include walking, many events including Kendal gathering walk, canals and railways.
 
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