SWAN HOUSING ASSOCIATION BOARD

MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 19 NOVEMBER 2014 @ 1.50 PM

Present:

Members:Valerie Owen (Chair); Peter Baynham (Vice-Chair); Sheila Lewis; Marie Li Mow Ching; Alan Palmer; John Synnuck and Jamie Smith

Officers:Geoff Pearce (Executive Director – Regeneration & Development); Mary Gibbons (MD Vivo Support Ltd and Executive Director – Strategy & Support);Sandra Fawcett (Executive Director - Housing); Suzanne Wicks (MD – Hera Property Services Ltd), Malcolm O’Brien (Executive Director – People & Communications) and Jan Collier (Board Secretary).

Also in

Attendance:Mark Sweeny – Altair

Julian Barker– Devonshires

Phil Jenkins - Centrus

Paul Stevens - Centrus

Caroline Wilson – Campbell Tickell

17/14/15

CLOSED SESSION

Caroline Wilson from Campbell Tickell was present to give feedback on the Chair and Board Member recent appraisals. The Board agreed actions.

Caroline Wilson left the meeting at 2 pm

18/14/15

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

No apologies received – all Members present.

19/14/15

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

The Chair declared an interest as Non-Executive Director of Hanover Housing Association.

Marie Li Mow Ching declared an interest as Non-Executive Director of Axiom Housing Association.

Peter Baynham declared an interest as Non-Executive Director of Victory Housing Trust and Radian Group Housing Association.

Alan Palmer declared an interest as Chair of the Audit Committee of Moat Homes Limited.

20/14/15

UPDATE ON FUNDING ARRANGEMENTS

RECEIVED AND NOTED.

AGREED:

  1. That Peter Baynham, Alan Palmer and Douglas McCann meet as a subcommittee to monitor, offer guidance through the project and report back to the Board;
  2. That delegated authority is granted to the Group’s Chief Executive and Deputy Chief Executive to proceed with the refinancing of the Group’s existing debt and the issuing of a bond assuming that there are no material changes to the terms and conditions of either the restructure of the existing facilities or the anticipated outcome from the bond issue;
  3. To proceed with the refinancing subject to receiving a satisfactory credit rating and market conditions hold.

James Carr, Phil Jenkins, Paul Stevens and Julian Barker left the meeting at 2.40 pm

21/14/15

a)APPROVAL OF SWAN HOUSING ASSOCIATION LTD BOARD MINUTES –18 SEPTEMBER2014

AGREED:the minutes of the Swan Housing Association Ltd Board meeting held on 18 September2014be signed as a correct record.

b)MATTERS ARISING

Action Sheet

RECEIVED AND NOTED.

22/14/15

HALF YEAR TREASURY REPORT

RECEIVED AND NOTED.

23/14/15

UPDATE FROM THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE

RECEIVED AND NOTED.

24/14/15

REPORTS FROM THE CHAIRS OF THE AUDIT & RISK COMMITTEE, OPERATIONS COMMITTEE AND THE DEVELOPMENT & NEW BUSINESS COMMITTEE, PLUS MINUTES

Operations Committee – 8 October 2014

AGREED:The minutes of the Operations Committee meeting held on 8 October 2014.

Development & New Business Committee – 5 November 2014

AGREED:The minutes of the Development & New Business Committee meeting held on 5 November2014.

Audit & Risk Committee – 11 November 2014

AGREED: The minutes of the Audit & Risk Committee meeting held on 11 November 2014.

25/14/15

EXECUTIVE UPDATE – presented by Sandra Fawcett – Executive Director Housing

PRIVATE & CONFIDENTIAL

26/14/15

BALANCED SCORECARD AND PERFORMANCE REPORT

RECEIVED AND NOTED.

27/14/15

PROJECTS OF STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE

PRIVATE & CONFIDENTIAL

28/14/15

ISSUES OF STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE

a)Office Strategy

RECEIVED AND NOTED.

b)Equality & Diversity

RECEIVED AND NOTED.

c)Market Trends

RECEIVED AND NOTED.

29/14/15

NEW/SIGNIFICANTLY REVISED CORPORATE STRATEGIES

a)Value for Money Strategy

RECEIVED AND NOTED.

AGREED:the Value for Money Strategy.

30/14/15

REGULATION AND GOVERNANCE

a)Altair Review

RECEIVED AND NOTED.

b)Viability & Governance Reports

RECEIVED AND NOTED.

c)Excellence in Governance Action Plan

RECEIVED AND NOTED.

31/14/15

ANY OTHER BUSINESS

a)Board Workplan

RECEIVED AND NOTED.

AGREED:the Board Workplan

b)Charity Dinner – 4 December 2014

Geoff Pearce said that a charity dinner was being held on the 4 December 2014, with all proceeds going to the Swan Foundation, and extended an invite to Member. A formal invitation would be emailed as soon as possible.

32/13/14

DATE AND TIME OF NEXT MEETING

The next meeting of the Swan Housing Association LtdBoard will take place on Thursday 22 January 2015 at 1.30 pm at Tramway House, Stratford. A sandwich lunch will be provided from 1 pm.

The Chair closed the meeting at5.10pm

……………………………………………Chair

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