RBH representative body elects new leadership team

Lynne Brosnan and Phill Worthington

Rochdale Boroughwide Housing’s community investment manager Phill Worthington has been elected as the new chair of the mutual housing society’s representative body, with previous chair Lynne Brosnan appointed as vice-chair.

Phill is RBH's community investment manager, looking after a range of RBH community services including work and skills support, the successful RBH paint shop and the management of the Strand community hub in Kirkholt. Phill is the first employee representative to take the position of chair

Lynne has served as chair of the representative body since RBH became a mutual housing society in 2013. She also plays a key role in national campaigns including the ‘See The Person’ campaign to tackle stigma towards social housing tenants.

Phill said: "It is a great honour to become chair of the RBH representative body and I am really pleased that I can count on Lynne's knowledge and experience as our vice-chair. This is an important year for the representative body, as early in the New Year we will approve RBH's priorities for the next three years.

“We hope to use our combined experience, knowledge and motivation to work together with our tenants and employees and make a real difference over the coming year."

Lynne said: "I'm really proud to have been chair of the representative body and our achievements together since RBH became a mutual in 2013.

“The last 18 months have highlighted the value of working together as a mutual society - looking out for our neighbours, our colleagues, and our communities.

“I know Phill will be a great chair and make sure that the voice of both tenants and employees is heard at the heart of RBH."

RBH was the UK's first mutual housing society to be jointly owned by both tenant and employee members.

Members elect tenant and employee representatives to act on their behalf. The representative body put RBH members at the heart of the decision-making process; representatives approve RBH's overall priorities and are responsible for appointing non-executive board members, including the chair of the board.