Governance
The Board of Management decides the systems and structures which ensure proper control and direction of the organisation. While day-to-day this is the responsibility of the Chief Executive and Directors, longer-term strategy and standards are the responsibility of voluntary board members. This is why housing associations are often referred to as part of the Voluntary housing sector, and are regulated by the Tenant Services Authority.
For “Johnnie” Johnson Housing the Board of Management consists of 9 or 10 people from all walks of life, including residents from our housing schemes to ensure that the customer perspective is represented. They meet regularly to monitor performance, decide policy and provide direction for the work of the Trust. The Board has Sub-Committees for Audit and Risk Management, and Remuneration, and sets up Working Parties as required to oversee specific projects or work areas. Please click on Meet the Board below to meet our Board members.
The Board of “Johnnie” Johnson Housing Trust oversees all aspects of work carried out by the Trust.
- The Core Responsibilities of the Board
- Meet the Board
- Frequently Asked Questions - FAQ's
- Tenant Services Authority
- Summaries of Recent Board Meetings
The core responsibilities of the Board are as follows: -
- To define and maintain the values and objectives of the Trust
- To approve policies and plans to achieve the objectives
- To approve the accounts and the annual budget and business plans
- To ensure that there is adequate delegation and good internal controls
- To ensure proper risk management
- To make decisions on important financial matters, or on issues which carry major risk, or are matters of principle
- To monitor the performance of the organisation and measure it against others
- To appoint and (if necessary) dismiss the Chief Executive and fix his/her contract terms
- To ensure that the Trust acts within the law
- To ensure that governance standards are maintained
- To appoint and (if necessary) remove the Chair of the Board
FAQ's
How often does the Board meet?
The Board meets roughly 10 times a year in formal session, to receive reports from officers and make decisions on the future of the Trust. Board members meet at other events to discuss particular issues; for example, there is an annual "away day" to discuss strategy, and most Board meetings are prefaced by an in depth briefing on a particular issue. Individual Board members may become involved in special Working Parties looking at particular issues, such as Governance or Asset Management.
Board members may also be involved in other aspects of our governance, and serve as members of the Audit and Risk Management Committee. They may attend housing conferences and become involved with the voluntary members forum of the National Housing Federation. So apart from the actual Board meetings, members may give considerable time to their involvement with the Trust.
How do people come to be on the Board?
Some have been approached because they have particular skills or experience that we needed. Some have been recruited in response to advertising for members. There is a rota for retirement from the Board to ensure a reasonable turnover of members and under new rules we have adopted, no members will serve for more than 12 years to avoid the Board becoming stale.
Are Board members paid?
Until recently Board members received no remuneration, only repayment of any out of pocket expenses for travel etc. In 2004, the rules regarding this were relaxed and all housing associations are now able to remunerate their members, although payment limits are fairly low. The Trust has decided to make payments in line with industry guidance.
Tenant Services Authority (TSA)
The Tenant Services Authority regulates the housing association sector. We are continuously assessed on our performance, management and how well we have used any funds allocated from the Homes and Communities Agency. Back to top
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Chair of The Board |
Deputy Chair |
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Kath Lavery became Chair of the Board in July 2007. She is the first female Chair of the Board of “Johnnie” Johnson Housing. She is also the first Chair to have been recruited through open advertising in the national press and to have been subjected to a number of recruitment assessments and interviews. Kath took on the role of Chair from Mel Hill who stood down in 2007. |
Until February 2000, David Goodman was a Regional Director of the Audit Commission (District Audit) with ten years service on the District Audit Management Board where he acquired wide experience of strategic business planning, performance monitoring and corporate governance. David is also a non-executive Director of several charities in the Sheffield area relating to economic and social regeneration and the care of the elderly.
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David Evans From a scientific background, David has extensive business experience at Board level both in the pharmaceutical industry where he chaired overseas company Boards and as a non-executive Director in the NHS. He is also Chairman of a hospital charity, a panel chairman for Mental Health Reviews and a trustee of Age Concern, East Cheshire. |
Les Baker Until August 2000, Les was a Financial Director with specific experience of the finance, treasury, IT and supply chain management functions with a market leading, US multi-national. Currently a Director of several charities in the Sheffield area, which are involved in providing care services to disadvantaged groups of all ages.
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Joe Robinson Joe took early retirement in 2006 from the role of Housing Market Renewal Director with Sefton MBC on Merseyside. He holds qualifications in building technology, housing, and management studies, and has held senior positions in local authority housing throughout his career and has also served on the board of a stock transfer RSL. |
Barbara Garvey Barbara was co-opted to the Board at the AGM in 2003. Her career in housing began at the Trust in the late 1980s, since when she has worked in front line management and strategic roles in housing associations, local authorities and consultancy. Her interests and specialisms include performance management, customer involvement, staff and organisational development and the development and provision of services to vulnerable groups. |
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Pamela Allenby Pamela is a resident representative, a Parish Councillor and a Director of East Northumberland Regeneration Group. She is involved in community activities and prior to retirement held various positions in the logistics industry. |
John Mchale John is from Leeds. He has recently taken early retirement. The majority of his career was spent with the Housing Corporation and later the Tenant Services Authority in senior regulation roles. |
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Brenda Kirby Brenda is from Stockton on Tees. She retired from full-time employment at Christmas. She was most recently the Group Director of Corporate Services with the Fabric Housing Group. |
Mark Thomas Mark lives in Northwich, Cheshire. He is a surveyor by profession and has worked for a number of major developers, and as a property manager for United Utilities. He spent nine years as property director for the David McLean group, based in Chester, before establishing his own development consultancy company in 2005. |
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Val Healey Valerie is a resident at our Radford House scheme in Offerton, Stockport, where she has lived since spring 2011. She holds a Masters degree in English Literature, a teaching qualification and is a qualified piano tutor. For the last 20 yearsshe has been involved in relationship counselling and managing a team of drug treatment specialists. She also has experience of living with disability.
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If you are interested in attending one of the meetings of the Board of Management, please contact the Chief Executive by e-mail at general.enquiries@jjhousing.co.uk telling us why you would like to attend. We welcome observers with a genuine interest in our work whenever practical.
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