Feedback from CHC Board Member Conference

29^th Feb/1^st March 2008

What Challenges are Boards and Board Members Facing?

Performance

• Managing competing priorities

• Democracy vs. efficiency

• Diversification of services

Skills

• Balance of skills on board

• Recruitment/retention

Information

• Finding appropriate networks from which to learn

  • Community Gateway/mutual groupings in England and Wales

  • Local HAs current and possible future players

Partnership

• Seeing through a successful merger and ensuring a happy marriage

• Working with L.A’s at all levels

• Working with partner organisations

Involvement

• Tenant involvement

• Equality and diversity challenges

• Increase parricipation of vuilneable tenants

Consortia

• Governance issues relating to consortia

• Retaining HA identities within consortia

External Environment

• External audits/inspections

• Increased expenditure funded by reduced revenues WHQS requirement in the current High cost of development land and developments

• regulatory environment

• Integration of membership

• Challenges vary by life cycle, model, structure, size, client group [

What Should the Board Member Network Continue to Do?

Face to Face Meetings

• Be clear about what a network is for

• Continue to MEET

• Face to face networking vital

• With refreshments

Learning

• Continue to develop board members

• Continue to work with AM’s

• Share best practice

• Networking for BM’s

• Continue to share the highs and lows – constructively

• Recognise and celebrate difference

• There are pros and cons in separating meeting into general/specialism

• Increased information exchange

• Increase public awareness regionally and then nationally

What Should The Board Member Network Stop Doing|?

Stop Wasting Time

• Stop being just a talking shop

• Stop using up valuable time for giving updates ar meetings – briefings should go out in advance so people can read in advance

• Stop passing on information - we can get this elsewhere

• Stop 2 days conferences (like in Cwmbran) when 1 day will suffice

Stop Allowing Us Not To Network

• Stop allowing is not to mingle

• Stop splitting boards up (Shadow board networks and CHC Board Networks) – we are all in this together

North South

• Stop Giving preferential treatment ot the sout

What Should the Board Member Network Start Doing?

Effective Communication

• Effective dissemination of information

• Communicating Share /learn using factual evidence

• Get information tailored to board member around implications of change and opportunities

• Get information from beyond the world of housing – public service delivery/health

Agree Priorities

• Themed network meetings – possibly around 2008 priorities?

• Debate about how we measure social and economic impact

• Invite agenda items from board members

• Ask the hosting RSL to highlight what they think they are doing well and innovative best practice

• One/2 subjects as the focus for each meeting

• Have group input into prioritising agendas

• Use topical topics

• e.g. Essex Review, pay and performance of chairs, how we share with other HA’s when we are in direct competition

• Concentrate on Strategy

• Communicate more effectively

• Structure programmes

• Better notice of events

• More visiting speakers

• Social events

• Increase social networking for networking members – maybe network days

• Use conference to network people

• Smaller groups with more detailed dialogue

• Use network meetings ain consultations

• Opportunities for HA’s top present innovation

• Perhaps split the size of the southern region

• Networking time at the beginning on meetings

• Communicate more

• Ask members what they want/need?

On Line Networking and Learning

• Should develop an online portal for networking

Peer Support

• Look to develop a programme where chairs and vice chairs go to observe other boards

• Support shadow board members by enabling help from more experienced board members