Our Homes board

Severnside is run by a board of directors who bring together their skills and experience to make important decisions about the homes and the services we deliver for our customers.

The responsibilities of the board include:

  • Making sure that we are run lawfully and ethically
  • Approving our business plan
  • Agreeing strategies, policies, financial and investment plans
  • Monitoring our performance and ensuring that we deliver value for money.

Our board members are listed below – please click on their names to learn more about them.

Paul Smith

Chairman
The former Chief Executive at the City and County of Swansea, Paul has extensive strategic management experience including governance, corporate and business planning, performance and risk management. He joined Severnside in January 2013 and became Chair of the Severnside Board in September 2013. Following the successful merger of Severnside and Housing Plus, Paul was appointed as Chair of the Homes Board.

Paul has a life-long interest in housing and community development and a passion for delivering excellent, value for money services. He is also Chair of Munslow Parish Council.

Paul told us “The reason for the merger between Severnside and Housing Plus is simple. Together, we are in a stronger position to provide more housing and care services, to a greater number of households, across our two counties and beyond, from a more efficient and effective organisational base. At a time when we cannot rely on public funding to meet all such needs, it makes perfect sense for us to position ourselves in a better place to expand and fill the void.”

Phil Ingle

Board Member
Finance Director & Deputy Chief Executive
Phil qualified as a Chartered Management Accountant with multi-national consulting engineers, WS Atkins. He went on to work for Somerset County Council before becoming Director of Financial Services at the newly-formed Hereford and Worcester Fire Authority.

He became Finance Director of South Staffordshire Housing Association in 2003. During his time with SSHA Phil has been very proud of its growth and excellent delivery of housing services to residents in and around South Staffordshire, in particular the development of Housing Plus Group.

Tony Pate

Board member
Tony's diverse career encompasses a wide range of operational and strategic responsibilities over a 34-year time span.

With more than 20 years' experience at executive level, Tony was the managing director of Arena Homes (part of the Arena Group) which has recently merged to form “Your Housing Group”.

Tony was an Executive Board Member of the Arena Homes Board, and since 2013 he has been a Non- Executive Board Member at South Staffordshire Housing Association.

“I fervently believe in the values of the social housing movement and think that the future holds many challenges for the sector,” he says. “The most exciting part of my role is being able to help shape what the new organisation will look like, drawing on my experience and non-executive roles.”

Rory O’Byrne

Board member
Rory is a partner at Wace Morgan solicitors in Shrewsbury and is a Social Housing and Development specialist.

He focuses upon residential development and has over twelve years’ experience in delivering social housing, strategic land acquisition, stock transfers and regeneration projects for housing associations, local authorities and the private sector.

Rory joined the Severnside Board in 2010 and was appointed to the Homes Board in 2016.

Peter Bell

Board member
Peter is a retired finance director and company secretary of an engineering group and a former non-executive director of a NHS Hospital Trust.

Peter’s skills in finance, governance, risk and pensions were developed during an executive career spanning 35 years. He has particular experience of the social housing sector, having been a board member for South Staffordshire Housing Association for eight years before the merger with Severnside Housing.

“I have a strong belief in the importance of providing affordable, good quality housing for those who cannot afford to purchase their own homes. As part of a larger group I hope that we will be able to develop more and better housing for the wider communities we serve,” he says.

Malcolm Price

Board member
An Executive Member of Shropshire Council, holding the Cabinet Portfolios for Planning and Housing, Malcolm also represents the Battlefield ward in North Shrewsbury, a position he has held for over 14 years.

As a former member of the Fire Service, Malcolm is particularly interested in the safety and well-being of residents.

He joined the Severnside Board in 2010 and was appointed to the Homes Board in 2016.

Malcolm told us “I want the new Housing Plus Group to provide excellent housing and care facilities to meet the needs of our communities in Shropshire and Staffordshire.
Being able to influence the outcome and direction of the new group and ensuring we are an exemplary landlord, that engages and listens to customers, is what excites me the most about my new role.”

Alyson Lanning

Board member
A former journalist, Alyson has a law degree and is a retired Director of the Hive Music & Media Centre in Shrewsbury. She is committed to community development and making the arts accessible to everyone.

Alyson joined the Severnside Board in 2010 and was appointed to the Homes Board in 2016.

Alyson told us “I am committed to supporting local people and local communities. I believe a compassionate, robust and equality-driven housing provider strikes at the heart of our communities and we should maintain a core belief to be that pillar; to provide good quality homes in desirable neighbourhoods, in addition to supporting those who are less able to afford, are vulnerable, or at risk. We should uphold and promote a diverse mix of tenure options as a responsible and responsive organisation to the need and expectation of our local tenants and residents.”
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Severnside Housing
Severnside House, Brassey Road, Old Potts Way, Shrewsbury, Shropshire SY3 7FA
Company Number: 04025816
VAT Number: 254048024