Welcome to Freebridge Community Housing
Recruitment Pack for the role of
Independent Member of the
Bridgegate Homes Board
2018
About Freebridge
Freebridge Community Housing was set up in 2006, transferring from the Borough Council of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk. The transfer took place after 77% of voting tenants voted in favour of the transfer. We are registered with the Regulator of Social Housing and own and manage around 7,000 homes and 17 sheltered schemes in West Norfolk.
We employ around 200 people, including our own Property Services team of operatives. We are investing on average £8m annually in the local economy, meaning that we are having a big impact within our local communities.
Freebridge is making a real difference in West Norfolk. Our Hillington Square regeneration project is transforming an estate in the heart of King’s Lynn, whilst our Providence Street Community Centre provides a much needed resource for local people. We are delivering a range of activities around our strategic goals of:
- More and diverse homes to meet the needs of a wider group of people;
- Empowering people to be the best they can be; and
- Delivering a high performance housing service.
Our vision, mission and values
Our vision is Supporting A Better West Norfolk, and our mission is Developing Homes and Creating Opportunities for People Within West Norfolk. Our values are the principles which we live by and they guide all that we do; they are Working Together, Customer Focus, Enthusiasm, Empowerment and Integrity.
About Bridgegate Homes
Freebridge Community Housing is in the process of establishing a subsidiary company, called Bridgegate Homes. It is intended that Bridgegate Homes will build houses for sale, the profits from which will be fed back into Freebridge for the development of social housing.
The Bridgegate Homes Board will consist of the Freebridge Board Chairman, two other Non-Executive Freebridge Board Members, the Freebridge Director of Finance and Resources, and an Independent Specialist. It is anticipated that the Independent Specialist will chair the Bridgegate Homes Board, the fee for which will be £5,500 per year.
Commercial House-Building Experience
The Independent Specialist will have significant commercial house-building experience at senior management level, ideally with a large, national house-building company. This is an essential requirement of the role.
Board Member Role Profile
The successful candidate will be able to fulfil the following role profile of a Board Member.
1.1 The role as an individual Board Member has the following requirements:
- Leadership and Governance: To be accountable for both the direction and control ofBridgegate Homes.
- Commercial Leadership: To scrutinise the actions of management to ensure that Bridgegate Homes operates commercially to achieve its profit aims.
- Performance: To scrutinise the performance of management in meeting agreed goals and objectives and to monitor the performance on key performance indicators.
- Risk: To satisfy yourself that information is accurate and that controls and systems of risk management are robust and defensible.
- Legal: To act within constitutional and legal powers and satisfy yourself that Bridgegate Homes complies with all legal and statutory obligations, and that all regulatory requirements are met.
- Personal Development: To keep yourself up to date about the key challenges and risks faced by Bridgegate Homes, particularly in areas where you are able to contribute specialist expertise and experience. You should also involve yourself in discussing, agreeing and participating in Board development/training activities.
- Representation: To work to enhance the reputation, image and values of Freebridge/Bridgegate Homes at both internal and external events and ensure that any external communications and activities do not have the potential to harm the reputation of the organisation or bring its integrity into question.
- Judgement: To exercise independent judgement and reasonable care, skill and diligence, avoiding conflicts of interest.
1.2 In fulfilling their duties, Board Members must have regard to:
- The likely consequences of any decision in the long term
- The interests of customers and employees
- The need to foster business relationships with business partners, suppliers, and other stakeholders
- The impact of Freebridge/Bridgegate Homes’ operations on the community and the environment
- The desirability of Freebridge/Bridgegate Homes maintaining a reputation for high standards of business conduct
- The need to act fairly
1.3All Board Members are expected to work with and through the Board. Non-Executive Board Members are not expected to undertake executive duties or to take on executive responsibilities.
1.4The Board as a whole is collectively responsible for ensuring and promoting the success of Bridgegate Homesand ensuring its compliance with all legal and regulatory obligations by directing and supervising Bridgegate Homes’affairs.
1.5The Board and the senior managers will work together in a way that:
- Demonstrates mutual respect
- Draws on their respective skills, knowledge and perspectives
- Ensures sharing of information about Freebridge/Bridgegate Homes and the context in which they operate
- Recognises the clear separation between governance and management roles and responsibilities
- Enables an active and ongoing dialogue about the Bridgegate Homes’ performance and future direction
- Identifies opportunities and risks, maximises performance and enables learning and development
1.6Board Members are expected to allocate enough time to enable them to meet the requirements of the role. As well as attending meetings and training sessions, this includes reading papers before a meeting and contacting officers in advance of the meeting for further information. If a Board Member is unable to attend a meeting, they should submit apologies in advance, either to the Chairman of the Board or to the Governance team.
1.7A Board Member who is going to be unable to attend Board meetings for a period of time must seek special leave of absence from the Board. Freebridge’s Rules stipulate that a Board member will be removed from the Board if they have absented themselves from three consecutive Board meetings without special leave of absence. This will also apply to the Bridgegate Homes Board.
1.8The Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Bridgegate Homes Board will be provided with an additional role profile and expected to adhere to this.
Obligations of Board Members:-
.The obligations of a Board Member include:-
(a)Commitment to the values and objectives of the organisation;
(b)Commitment to the organisation’s core policies;
(c)An obligation to contribute to, and share responsibility for, Board and Committee decisions;
(d)An obligation to read Board and Committee papers;
(e)An obligation to prepare for and attend meetings, training sessions and other events;
(f)An obligation to declare any relevant interest;
(g)An obligation to maintain the confidentiality of any private information relating to the Board’s decisions or the business of the organisation.
How to Apply
To apply for this position, please send the following documents to :
- An updated C.V.
- A covering letter stating the reasons why you are applying/why you feel suited to this position. You should also indicate in your letter how you would demonstrate your commitment to our values - Working Together, Empowerment, Integrity, Customer Focus and Enthusiasm.
- Completed Rehabilitation of Offenders and Equal Opportunities Monitoring forms (on our website)
If you would like an informal discussion about the role, please contact Angus MacQueen, Company Secretary, on (01553) 667754 or email .
The closing date is: Friday 1 June 2018.