Can You Help?

We have recently received the following question by 1 of our members and we are wondering if anybody can help?

We’ve just had a Board discussion about what, if any are the implications for HA Boards of the Companies Act (2006) that came into effect on 1st October last year.

We think that, assuming the Board is acting in compliance with best practice on governance, there is no real implication – but others may have read this differently. Have you had any information on this, and if not, could you post my query on the message board for others to contact me, particularly if they have concluded that there is no implication, or if they have done something specific in order to ensure compliance?

If you can offer any help please leave a comment.

Swansea Board Member Network Meeting

A big thanks to all board members who joined the Board Network which met in Swansea last night. Colleagues from Family, Gwalia and Coastal joined the discussion.

David Hedges gave this presentation:

| View | Upload your own

It was followed by a discussion that picked up key messages from the Board Member Network Conference in March - namely that:

• Meeting face to face is absolutely vital and the precious time that board members commit needs to meet their needs
• There should be more time spent networking with peers – mingling is important – especially with new shadow board members
• Conversations need to be more delegate led – with agendas focusing on agreed key topics
• Network meetings should stop using up valuable time giving updates– briefings should go out in advance so people can come prepared in advance
• Innovation and best practice is key – and more opportunities are needed to enable boards to learn from each other
• There is an appetite to get information on, say governance, from beyond the world of housing – especially around public service delivery and health
• More needs to happen between meetings - networking, information exchanges, learning and more – the development of on line networks could add real value here.
  

It was agreed that future network meetings would be a mix of formal presentations on agreed crunch issues - followed by space for board let discussions on priorities. It was felt that it was very important for board members to have the chance to share and learn from each other - and that the benefits far outweighed any issues of competition between associations.

The top 2 crunch issues that were identified for the next network meeting were:

• The credit crunch will have on housing associations and the lives of tenants
• How to recruit and support stronger board

There was also strong interest in how to use online spaces - like this blog - as a places for giving board members access to more information and networks:

• Before meetings so valuable time can be spent with 'up to speed' discussions
• After board network meetings - to enable discussions to continue

About half of those who attended the network meeting thought this would be a valuable additional way of increasing the effectiveness of boards and board members.

Many thanks to all who joined the discussion.

Board Member Mentoring Training

Community Housing Cymru is running a training sessions targeted at Board Members and Chairs on

* What is Mentoring
* Benefits of Mentoring
* Starting a Mentoring Relationship
* Ongoing Mentoring Relationship
* Ending a Mentoring Relationship

It will be held CHC offices, Fulmar House, Beignon Close, Ocean Park, Cardiff on Friday, 25 April 2008.

Contact Jenny Horton on 029 20 557410

Information can be downloaded here

And a booking form here

Sorry for the delay - some compelling viewing

Sorry for the delay in posting some of the best of conversations at the Community Housing Cymru Board Member Governance conference.
We have 2 clips of Sue Essex talking about her review





Then 3 clips fro Neil Wooding - Public Service Management Wales







And Duncan Forbes, Bron Afon Community Housing

Swansea Chair and Board Network Meeting

The next Chairs & Board members network meeting to be held in Swansea takes place on ednesday 9 April 2008. The venue is the Swansea Grand Theatre, Singleton Street, Swansea SA1 3QJ/

The meeting will commence at 5.00pm in the Roof Top Cafe with a few light sandwiches and refreshments and then move into the Rear Studio by 5.30pm for the meeting actual. We anticipate that you should be away by 8.30pm

The agenda is:

* Introductions
* Discussion of feedback on the content and format of Board Network meetings
* Agreement of future themes for discussion
* Information share
* Networking

The format will be interactive and board member led. This agenda is designed to respond to key messages that came out of the February Governance Conference - that included:

* Meeting face to face is absolutely vital and the precious time that board members commit needs to meet their needs
* There should be more time spent networking with peers – mingling is important – especially with new shadow board members
* Conversations need to be more delegate led – with agendas focusing on agreed key topics
* Network meetings should stop using up valuable time giving updates– briefings should go out in advance so people can come prepared in advance
* Innovation and best practice is key – and more opportunities are needed to enable boards to learn from each other
* There is an appetite to get information on, say governance, from beyond the world of housing – especially around public service delivery and health
* More needs to happen between meetings - networking, information exchanges, learning and more – the development of on line networks could add real value here.

There are still spaces - contact Jenny Horton at CHC on 029 2055 7410 or email Jenny on jennifer-horton@chcymru.org.uk.