About West Devon Homes

About Us

West Devon Homes is a locally based housing company set up to meet existing and future housing needs of people in the West Devon area. West Devon Homes, although an independent organisation, is committed to working closely with Local Councils and other Registered Providers to meet housing needs.

West Devon Homes is a non-profit making organisation ensuring that all income generated from rents and other charges is reinvested to improve or enhance services.

We are also a Registered Provider which ensures that West Devon Homes meets and maintains nationally agreed standards due to the monitoring of the Tenants Services Authority (TSA), the Regulator of Social Housing. The Company is also registered with the National Housing Federation.

Board of Management

The Board of West Devon Homes Limited is the Company’s governing body. It comprises twelve Trustees, with three members representing Tenants (nominated by the Tenant Panel), three members representing West Devon Borough Council (nominated by the Council but need not be Councillors) and six members who are Independent individuals (recruited from the general public through open advertising, but with particular skills being sought to complement those of existing Trustees). 

Tenant and Independent Trustees are normally appointed for a fixed period of three years, which can be renewed twice i.e. a maximum period of service of nine years. There is no similar restriction for the Trustees nominated by West Devon Borough Council. There are two Committees that report to the Board which deal with the specialised areas Audit (Financial Audit, Risk Management and Corporate Governance) and Remuneration Committee.

The Chair of the Board of Management is Marc Rostock. For full current Board membership details, please click here (PDF)

The committees are made up of Trustees from the Board of Management. People with particular specialist knowledge may be invited to assist the work of any service committee as needs require from time to time. The Board of Management, with guidance and support from professional staff, is responsible for setting policy and ensuring that the Company works effectively and efficiently. The ultimate responsibility for decision making lies with the Board. All members of the Board of Management are subject to strict rules which govern their conduct. Board members are not allowed to benefit financially from their duties. Members can, however, reclaim out of pocket expenses, such as travelling costs, incurred in carrying out their role as a Board Member. The Board meets formally at least eight times a year. Trustees receive no remuneration for the services they provide to the Company.

Management Team

West Devon Homes’ Management Team comprises the four most senior officers within the Company, who are the Chief Executive, the Director of Resources, the Housing Services Manager and the Technical Services Manager. The Management Team provides advice, information and recommendations to the Company’s Board of Management and has delegated authority to act on behalf of the Company as outlined in the Company’s plans, policies, procedures, financial regulations and standing orders.

Business Focus Group

The Business Focus Group at West Devon Homes Ltd comprises fourteen members of staff within the Company, namely the Chief Executive, Director of Resources, Housing Services Manager, Technical Services Manager (all of whom sit on the Management Team), Sheltered and Supported Services Manager, Senior Support Officer, IT Manager, Performance Improvement Manager, Human Resources Manager, Neighbourhood & Communities Co-ordinator, Rental Control Officer, Finance Officer, Admin Co-ordinator and Health, Safety & Welfare Officer. With the exception of the last named all other members of the new Group have line management responsibilities.

The main purpose of the Group is to advise and assist Management Team in strategic and operational matters. This will include, but is not limited to, delivering the Company’s objectives as set by the Board, reviewing the services delivered to our customers, assisting with the management of company performance, reviewing policies, procedures, systems and risks and reporting back on progress with specific Action Plans.

History

West Devon Homes was formed in 1997 by West Devon Borough Council. The Borough Council held a ballot of all tenants living in Council accommodation in February 1998 and 81% of tenants voted to transfer the ownership and management of their homes to West Devon Homes. West Devon Homes started trading in February 1999 following the transfer of the ownership and management of the Council's former housing stock. This led to 1400 homes being purchased from the Council by the newly created Company.