What does the committee look like?

The committee comprises four SLH customers (tenants, leaseholders or shared owners), one of whom acts as chair with the relevant skills to guide the committee meetings. They are joined by two board members to form a committee of six in total.

Key responsibilities

The committee:

• Reviews SLH strategies and policies – giving customers the opportunity to shape things like our corporate plan, asset management, customer service and tenancy management policies.
• Provides customer insight – ensuring that our customer services promises are being met, the needs of different groups are understood and acted upon and that the principles of equality, diversity and inclusivity (EDI) underpin everything we do.
• Influences and monitors our key performance indicators – ensuring that they are relevant to our customers’ experience, compliant with the Regulator of Social Housing’s tenant satisfaction measures and regularly reviewed against our targets.

How often does the committee meet?

The committee meets at least four times a year, ahead of each SLH Board meeting.

How does the committee differ from the tenant Scrutiny Panel?

The committee complements Scrutiny Panel, which retains its remit to review any area of the business and conduct a series of deep dives and service reviews.

Are panel members paid?

Customer Services Committee members receive £4,800 per annum for their services.

Committee members

Debbie Rees-Armstrong - Chair

Debbie has lived in Speke for over 50 years. She is an active member of the community, volunteering for over 35 years at Speke Baths Swim Club, and is also a member of the Civilian Committee for ATC 90, Air Cadets based in Garston.

Over the years, Debbie has gained knowledge and experience in the housing sector, having worked at SLH from 2002 - 2011 and been an SLH Scrutiny Panel member since 2021. 

In January 2023, Debbie was appointed Chair of the newly-formed Customer Services Committee and a member of SLH Board.

Michael Gore - Independent Member

Michael has lived in Speke for 30 years and in Garston for eight. Michael has been an IT professional for most of his life, having studied IT and then video game development at Liverpool College, St. Helens College, and Liverpool John Moore's University. His first IT job was working with a Liverpool recycling company to provide low-cost PCs for children in African schools. Following this, Michael has worked for companies such as Bosch, providing IT support.

Today, Michael lives in Garston with his partner and provides search engine optimisation and copywriting services freelance for multiple clients across many sectors. When not working, Michael enjoys modern gaming and VR systems, builds and repairs laptops and PCs, and is "a keen yet very amateur photographer".

Adenson Gumbo - Independent Member

Adenson is a qualified social worker and has worked in the sector since 2019. He has lived in Speke since 2010 and has interacted with and supported people facing housing challenges in his professional role and informally through his local church where he is an active member.

Appointed to the Customer Services Committee in January 2023, Adenson looks forward to learning more about the social housing sector and contributing to ensure tenants’ interests and views are considered by the Board in their decision-making process.

Tracy Hindley - Independent Member

Tracy has lived in Garston and Speke for over 35 years. She has over 20 years of experience working within the property industry and is involved in the workplace with ED&I panels, Early Careers, and is a Mental Health First Aider.

Tracy is passionate about helping people and is a volunteer for Re-Engage and is currently training as a Safe Families volunteer.

As a Scrutiny Panel and Customer Service Committee member, she is committed to providing a voice for all.

Mike Rickett - Independent Member

Mike Rickett was a career journalist, having worked for Reuters, the London Daily Mail, and, latterly, the Liverpool Daily Post. He has experience as a crime reporter, feature writer, business editor, and senior sub-editor.

Apart from journalism, he was also Head of PR for Girobank and PR Executive for the Plessey Company.

Mike is now a practicing artist with a studio in Allerton and has also published three novels.

His qualifications include a BA (Hons) in English from the University of Liverpool, a BA (Hons) in Fine Art, and an MA in Creative Practice, both from Liverpool Hope University.

He has a daughter in Toronto, Canada, and a son in London. He splits his time between writing and art.