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Governance

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We are governed by a Board, drawn from the local community, which sets our direction, monitors progress towards our goals and ensures we meet the standards set by the Regulator for Social Housing.  

Our Board is drawn from the local community and is supported by three key Committees:  

  • Customer and Home – is responsible for providing oversight and assurances in the delivery of operational strategies and services
  • Audit & Risk – is responsible for overseeing the audit and risk assurance, including agreeing the annual internal and external audits
  • HR, Remuneration and Governance – is responsible for ensuring CHS has an adequate and effective HR function, recommending remuneration, pay and benefits, and providing assurance on governance requirements

There are two further groups that strengthen our commitment to draw upon our tenants’ skills and experience – the Tenant Committee, which sets its own agenda and makes recommendations on service policies and standards, and a tenant-led Scrutiny Panel which has the remit to review any part of our operation and make improvement recommendations to the main Board. 

CHS is required to meet the relevant standards published and regulated by the Regulator of Social Housing. CHS’s Board is responsible for meeting the standards and being transparent and accountable for the delivery of our social housing objectives. 

CHS is a society registered for the benefit of the community with the FCA under the Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies Act 2014, HMRC Charity no X81275.  CHS complies with the National Housing Federation 2020 Code of Governance and the 2022 National Housing Federation Code of Conduct 

Regulatory Judgement – January 2024 

This regulatory judgement regrades our previous published assessment of The Cambridge Housing Society Limited’s financial viability from V2 to V1 and confirms its existing G1 grade for governance. 

Our previous judgement noted that The Cambridge Housing Society Limited (CHS) continued to commit to a wide range of community-based activities, ranging from support services to extra care. It had successfully taken action to de-risk some elements of its business plan, including the removal of market sales from the development programme, and continued to pursue further de-risking opportunities. 

In line with CHS’s strategy it has since disposed of its last remaining care homes and nurseries. Wider changes in its care provision have allowed for further asset disposals. As a result, CHS’s reliance on non-social housing income is reduced. CHS’s board has also reduced its development programme. Together these changes mean that CHS has the financial capacity to deal with a wide range of adverse scenarios. 

The regulator’s assessment of CHS’s compliance with the governance elements of the Governance and Financial Viability Standard remains unchanged. On the basis of the Stability Check, the regulator has concluded that there is no evidence to indicate a change to CHS’s current governance grading. 

Regulator of Social Housing 

Regulatory Standards 

A Board member Declaration of Interest Register is maintained by CHS and is available to view upon request by writing to the Company Secretary. 

Meet the Board

The CHS Group Board is made up of experienced individuals with extensive knowledge of the different elements of housing provision, management and social enterprise.

Martin Wheatley – Chair of the Board

Martin joined the CHS Board in October 2022 and became Chair of the Board in November 2022. Martin Wheatley is a specialist in governance, research and advice in the fields of housing, planning, social policy, public service management and the environment. He has over 20 years’ experience at national and local level where he has focussed particularly on strong internal leadership skills and developing sector partnerships and coalitions. Martin has 6 years’ experience on the Board of another housing association where he chaired their Business Effectiveness and People Committee. He also chairs the Croydon Independent Housing Improvement Board which provides advice and independent assurance to Croydon Council on improving their housing service. He grew up in Cambridge and has recently moved back to the area.

Heidi Allen – Board Member

Heidi joined the Board in September 2021. Formerly the Member of Parliament for South Cambridgeshire, Heidi is also a Trustee of the charity Feeding Britain and a policy committee member for the Child Poverty Action Group. She brings a range of expertise to CHS and with her strong local and national networks, is a valuable asset in supporting the organisation’s mission to provide affordable housing and community support services across Cambridgeshire.

Nick Brown – Board Member

Nick was appointed to the Board in 2016 and has previously chaired the Development and Asset Management Committee from 2017 until 2022. Originally from Cambridge, Nick runs a family-owned local property management, investment and development company having previously gained experience in a number of roles within the financial services industry.

Alex Colyer FCCA – Chair of Audit & Risk Committee

Alex was appointed to the Board in 2019 and chairs the Audit and Risk Committee. He retired from his position as Deputy Chief Executive and Chief Financial Officer at South Cambridgeshire District Council and has held senior positions at a number of Local Authorities. He brings a wealth of experience in financial management and business efficiency.

Gareth Hillier – Chair of Customer and Home Committee

Gareth joined the Board in September 2019 and is Chair of the Customer and Home Committee. He is the Board member responsible for Complaints as required by the Housing Ombudsman. He is the Head of Digital Technology, Performance, Business Improvement and Modernisation at Herts County Council, Hertfordshire. Gareth is an experienced manager in the public and third sector with a passion for health and social care, housing and service accessibility and inclusivity having extensive vocational experience in transformational programme and contract management, business development, performance management, operational management and compliance.

Cara Jackson – Board Member

Cara was appointed to the Board in November 2023. Cara currently works at Accent Housing as Head of Leasehold and Homeownership, she has significant experience within the social housing sector having also held senior roles at other local providers. Cara’s particular expertise lies in sales, leasehold management, service charges, and income recovery.

Tim Jennings – Board Member

Tim joined the Board in July 2022 and sits on the Audit & Risk Committee. He has over 35 years’ experience across both the private and social housing sectors. After qualifying as a chartered accountant, Tim spent around 25 years in the private sector, primarily with Capita Plc, as Finance Director for businesses in property design and consultancy, maintenance and property management. Tim joined Aldwyck Housing Group in 2015 as Executive Director of Finance, and subsequently CEO prior to the merger with Catalyst, whereupon Tim became the Executive Director of Finance for Catalyst. Tim is also a Board member at Ability Housing and Community Housing.

Anita Mobberley- Board Member

Anita was appointed to the Board in November 2023. Anita is a solicitor and Chartered Company Secretary and has worked in the housing sector since 2004. In her current role she is Head of Governance and Regulation at Platform Group and prior to that, worked for a large national housing association and care operator. Anita has worked across multiple functions and has held senior roles in Legal, Policy, Governance and Company Secretarial. She has Board experience having previously been on the Board of a Midland’s based Citizens Advice Bureau.

Jacquie Taylor – Board Member

Jacquie Taylor was appointed to the Board in September 2022 and sits on the Customer and Home Committee and the HR, Remuneration and Governance Committee. Much of Jacquie’s working life has focused on people, firstly working as an administrator then Manager of an Adult Education department at a local Village College, then as Eastern Regional Operations Manager for the Worker’s Educational Association. She is passionate about empowering people to be the very best they can be and has seen, first hand, how rewarding that can be. Jacquie has been a CHS volunteer since 2017, as a member of Scrutiny Panel, Complaints Panel and Chair of the Tenant Committee. Working with the Board to ensure that all tenants have the chance to live and thrive in a safe and comfortable home is a high priority for Jacquie.

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