At the recent 2024 Annual General Meeting (AGM) of Cornwall Housing Limited (CHL), several key updates were shared, including board changes, achievements from the past year and a forward-looking strategy for continuing improvements to services for residents.
The AGM acknowledged the retirement of two board members. Peter Nourse resigned from his position as a Non-Executive Director on 20 April 2024. Additionally, Mike Hanrahan stepped down from his role as Chair and Non-Executive Director on 30 June 2024, after four years of service.
Vivienne Horton was appointed by the Council as Interim Chair of the Board in July, having previously served as a Non-Executive Director and Senior Independent Director of the Board.
To replace Peter and Viv (who had stepped into the Chair’s role) , two new Independent Non-Executive Directors, Graham Clarke and Rob Dustan, were appointed to the board on 1 September 2024. Their expertise will help guide CHL through the next phase of its development.
Managing Director Su Spence presented CHL’s 2023/24 Annual Report, which highlighted major accomplishments and set out the challenges ahead. The report reaffirmed CHL’s commitment to its mission of providing safe and affordable homes in strong communities.
Su emphasised the improvements made in safety checks, and resident services over the past year. CHL has focused on addressing long-standing issues, ensuring homes meet required safety standards, and enhancing the quality of life for residents. One key initiative was the rollout of new Estate Rangers, aimed at making staff more visible and responsive to local community needs.
As CHL moves forward, several priorities were outlined to further improve service delivery and the overall resident experience. These include:
A key change discussed at the AGM was the introduction of three new contractors to handle home repairs. With the current contractor, Corserv Facilities, stepping down in March 2025, CHL will divide Cornwall into three geographic "patches" for repairs. This approach aims to reduce travel times and improve the quality of service by assigning a dedicated contractor to each area.
In addition, there will be a separate contract for home safety checks and heating systems. A specialist contractor will handle gas, heating, and electrical testing across the county to ensure expertise and reliability.
Acting as the Shareholder during the meeting, Peter Marsh expressed his gratitude to the CHL team for their hard work over the past year. He emphasized that while there are challenges ahead, the Shareholder has full confidence in the board and management team. Peter noted the progress made in improving homes and services and encouraged the focus to remain on the needs of residents.
In closing, Su reaffirmed CHL’s dedication to continuing its journey of improvement. "We are committed to creating positive change in three key areas: our residents, our homes, and our organisation," she said. “This will ensure we continue to meet regulatory standards and exceed expectations.”
The AGM provided an opportunity to reflect on the past year’s achievements and to set out an ambitious vision for the future of Cornwall Housing. The board remains committed to delivering safe, high-quality homes and services for all residents across Cornwall.
The minutes from the 2024 Cornwall Housing Ltd AGM are available here.
Email: info@cornwallhousing.org.uk
Telephone: 0300 1234 161
