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Berneslai Homes Board Members
Our Board comprise of ten members: a Chair; three Councillors, three Tenants; and three Independents.
The Board was appointed on the 1st December 2007 and coincides with a contract between Berneslai Homes and Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council to run as an ALMO for a further five years. This will allow us to continue to focus on delivering first class services to our customers.
You can read more about our Board members below.
Berneslai Homes Chair, Suzy Brain England holds senior positions in public sector organisations. She received an OBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours 2009, for her public service and contribution to the Department of Work and Pensions Decision Making Standards Committee. She is Chair of the Department of Work and Pensions Decision-making Standards Committee; interim Chair of the Mid Yorkshire Hospitals; a Non-Executive Director of the Mid-Yorkshire NHS Hospitals Trust and of Avanta, Enterprise and Welfare to Work specialists; a Director of Bradford and Airedale Care Partnerships, Hull Citycare, Doncaster Community Solutions and Barnsley Community Solutions. She mentors senior business people, is the former Chair of Connexions West Yorkshire and of Ofcom’s Advisory Committee for England. She is a former Non-Executive Director with the Melton Mowbray Building Society. She was a finalist in the Yorkshire Director of the Year Awards 2008.
Phil Chambers is an independent member and runs a countryside and heritage consultancy promoting inclusive design in the outdoors. He formerly worked in education in Barnsley and also has experience as a Director of a national environmental charity. He is a Trustee of the Safe Anchor Trust, which enables everyone to enjoy and learn from having access to inland waterways and canal boating experiences. His main interests are sport, natural history and enabling everyone to enjoy the British countryside. Phil is the Chair of the Berneslai Homes Human Resources Committee.
Clair Wright is an independent member and has worked in housing for over ten years, in five different organisations, in a range of different roles. Until recently she worked for Sheffield Homes, specialising in customer service, and equality and diversity. Currently she is a full time mum to her one year old son, William, and lives in Denby Dale with her husband Richard. In her spare time Clair enjoys reading and is a member of two local reading groups and has recently completed a Masters Degree in English Literature with the Open University. She also enjoys walking in the countryside. Clair is the Chair of the Berneslai Homes Customer Services Committee and is the Equality and Diversity Champion.
Melvyn Lunn is an independent member and is a lifelong resident of Barnsley. He was educated at Barnsley Holgate Grammar School and is a Chartered Accountant with experience in both the public and private sector. Melvyn spent 17 years as a Finance Director in clothing manufacture and retailing and now runs his own accountancy practice. He is also a non-executive director of Barnsley Primary Care Trust and Chair of the Audit Committee, a co-opted member of Barnsley MBC Audit Committee, Treasurer of Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Scouts and Treasurer and Trustee of Silverwood Scout Camp. Melvyn is the Chair of the Berneslai Homes Audit Committee.
Councillor Trevor Smith is one of three Independent Councillors for the Darfield Ward. He has been married to Maureen for 41 years and they have two children and four grand children. Trevor is the Secretary for the Royal British Legion, Darfield Branch, an honorary Poppy Appeal Organiser, a LEA representative for the Federated Governor of the Catholic Schools in the area and a governor of the new Valley J & I School in the Darfield Ward. He passed an Msc in Building and Building Development and Procurement at Nottingham University together with a teaching qualification Postgraduate Further Education at Huddersfield University. He also has qualifications in Health & Safety Risk Management. He enjoys reading history and listens to music of any type and loves to see films. Finally, he is a Beekeeper and Gardener. Trevor is on the Berneslai Homes Audit Committee.
Councillor Denise Wilde has been a Councillor for the Wombwell ward since 2003 and has worked hard to see improvements and investment into both Wombwell and Barnsley. She is the Deputy Cabinet Spokesperson for Children’s’ Services and Adult Health and Social Care Services and recognises the need for well-maintained, affordable housing in a pleasant and safe environment in all housing sectors. Denise’s previous job was Property and Estate Manager with Royal Mail where she was responsible for large commercial buildings in Sheffield, Barnsley, Rotherham and Hull. Prior to this she was a Customer Services Manager with Royal Mail dealing with complaints enquiries. She worked for many years on the post office counter at Barnsley and Wombwell when she transferred from the Department of Employment. At the Department of Employment she worked finding jobs for both able bodied and disabled people which she found very rewarding. Denise studied as a mature student at Barnsley college and gained A level passes in Psychology, Economics, Sociology and Politics and at Sheffield Business School and Open University for business qualifications. Denise is on the Berneslai Homes Customer Services Committee.
Councillor Joe Hayward has been a Councillor in the Cudworth Ward since 1999. Joe retired from Rexam Glass works in 1998 after 33 years, working in various engineering departments. He had the honour to be the Mayor of Barnsley 2005/6. He is currently attending part time at Birmingham University to study for a Masters Degree, having completed a Postgraduate Diploma. When taking time out Joe’s hobbies include: playing chess; walking and has recently completed a 42 mile walk over the North Yorkshire Moors raising money for different charities; fishing for Ardagh Glass works fishing club, where he is also Chairman. Joe is on the Berneslai Homes Human Resources Committee.
Pam Gee is a newly elected tenant member, winning her place on the board following the November 2009 elections.
Joan Whittaker is a tenant member and additionally serves on our Customer Services Committee. She is also the Customer Champion for Berneslai Homes. Joan has been a member of the Board since 2004 and has recently completed a course of study at Northern College attaining the National Certificate in Tenant Participation and Neighbourhood Renewal awarded by The Chartered Institute of Housing.
Tony Alcock is a tenant member. He has been a member of the Board since the inception in 2002, and was a member of the team that assisted Barnsley Council to set up the ALMO. Tony has served as Vice Chair for two years, chaired many Committees and Board meetings, and has represented Berneslai Homes on many occasions. He sits as a Magistrate on the Barnsley Bench and also serves on the Bench Committee. Tony is also the Chair of his local Neighbourhood Association; an associate member of Yorkshire and Humberside Tenants and Residents Association; a board member of TAROE; and a Director of the South Yorkshire Credit Union. Tony is formerly a member of the South Yorkshire Police Authority Standards Committee and also sat on the Yorkshire and Humberside Independent Members’ Forum. He is married and has a son and a daughter. Tony is self employed and enjoys most sports and has supported Barnsley Football Club for many years. Tony is on the Berneslai Homes Audit Committee.
Sub-Committees
Berneslai Homes has three sub-committees that report to the Board. These are the Customer Services committee, Human Resources committee and the Audit committee. You can download the terms of reference in the useful information section below.
Other useful information: