Derby Homes

Dennis Rees OBE (Tenant Board Member North East and Vice Chair of Derby Homes)

Dennis Rees is a Vice Chair of Derby Homes. Dennis has lived in Derby for 25 years and is very active in the local community. He speaks locally and nationally about the benefits of ALMOs and works to ensure that Derby Homes’ tenants receive the best services possible.  He is also a Board Member of Tenants and Residents Organisations of England (TAROE) and Tenant Services Authority (TSA).  In 2009, Dennis was awarded the OBE for his services to social housing. 

Fiona Walker (Tenant Board Member South West)

Fiona was born in Derby and has been a Derby Homes tenant for the last 5 years. Before becoming a Board member, she sat on the City Board for 12 months. She is keen to ensure that Derby Homes continues to provide a good, efficient and accountable service to its residents.

As an urban design, planner and development surveyor, she feels that her professional experience together with her experience as a tenant will add value to the Derby Homes service.

Ken Whitehead (Tenant Board Member South East)

Born in London and married with two adult children, Ken is a part qualified accountant, having spent a large part of his working life working in the Middle and Far East. His interests include sport, classic cars and motorcycles and collecting antiques and collectibles. Ken has lived in Derby for nearly 20 years and, for a large part of that time, he was involved with the Osmaston Community Panel as a member and later as Chair. He has always tried to work for the betterment of both Derby Homes’ tenants and all residents of Osmaston.  Ken has been a member of the Local Housing Board South and City Board for the last six years.

Brian Perry (Tenant Board Member North West)

Brian has been a member of the tenants’ movement for several years. He was Chair of the Riverside West Community Panel, and its representative for the Local Housing Board  and the Derby Association of Community Partners (DACP). He was instrumental in getting Derby Homes to implement a parking permit scheme that has now extended across the City.  Within his own locality he has encouraged his fellow tenants to have a say on a number of issues, one of which was the choice of drying area fencing.  It was felt that the metal fencing commonly used in other places was unsuitable and as a consequence Derby Homes installed fencing made from re-cycled materials much to the satisfaction of tenants.  Brian is determined to further the tenants’ cause, encourage tenants to get involved and to help make sure Derby Homes continues to improve. Brian lives in Chester Green and, with the introduction of the City wide Neighbourhood Forums, has become active within that group as the voice of tenants in the Darley Neighbourhood Board.

Tony Holme (Leaseholder Board Member)

Tony grew up in London but has lived on the Rykneld estate since 1970 with his wife and son, initially as a tenant and, for the last 27 years, as a leaseholder. Tony is a past Treasurer of the Rykneld Residents’ Association and supporter of the Derby Leaseholders’ Focus Group.  As a leaseholder he sees the cost of many of the services provided by Derby Homes and is keen to ensure that they are effectively and efficiently delivered to all residents.  Tony currently chairs the Derby Homes Audit Committee and Value for Money Strategy meeting.  Tony retired from Rolls-Royce in 2008 where he ended his career managing aspects of Process Improvement and Quality.