New Head of Housing Operations at NNDC

David Williams, NNDC's new
Head of Housing Operations

North Norfolk District Council has appointed David Williams to be Head of Housing Operations in the run up to the transfer of its housing stock to the new North Norfolk Housing Trust next year.

David, who has been acting Head since November 2004, will manage the housing department, ensuring NNDC's tenants' homes are in good condition and that they receive the service for which they pay rent, and will transfer to the new Trust along with other housing staff. He replaces Peter Whittall, who has stepped down for personal reasons.

Originally from Aldershot in Hampshire, David, 44, worked for Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council before moving to North Norfolk and joining NNDC in 1987. In almost two decades at NNDC, he has worked his way up through the Housing Department in positions that have kept him close to the public and tenants.

He has been a receptionist and housing assistant, a housing officer responsible for day-to-day relationships with tenants, a manager overseeing housing officers, a policy and development manager responsible for getting new homes built (like the 40-bed Lloyd Court scheme at Kelling for frail elderly people), and has had a previous stint as acting head of the department.

David said he hopes that his experience will keep the housing service focused on people's needs and aspirations. "Housing isn't about houses," he said. "It's about people. I have been a rent collector, a cashier, a receptionist and a manager, so I hope I can relate to people and understand their expectations.

"The new Trust's commitment is to improve the services people receive, and I'm determined to see that happen. The additional resources this will bring will mean we can bring properties up to standard, and offer better and extra services, rather than just do the best we can with limited resources. And hopefully we can encourage greater development and better meet the need for affordable homes."

The transfer of NNDC's housing stock to the new trust is timetabled to take place in January 2006.

ENDS