How we are run

Our Board is made up of ten non-executive directors (8 independents and 2 GCH tenants) who provide strong, focused governance on behalf of our residents.

The Board plays an important role. They bring independence, impartiality and a breadth of experience and specialist knowledge to the organisation. They represent and reflect our communities with an active commitment to achieve equality of opportunity, diversity and inclusion in all our services and activities.

The Board is served by three main Committees: Audit and Risk Committee; Investment and Development Committee and Remuneration and Nominations Committee.  It is supported by Tenant Panel who review and challenge our customer facing policies, service delivery and performance. Panel members are also involved in all high-level complaint reviews and decisions, ensuring that the relevant learning is fed back into the organisation.

Our subsidiary company, Nerva Homes Limited to provide design and build services to GCH with a view to creating efficiencies with any future savings channelled to support the GCH’s core charitable objectives.

The Board has adopted the National Housing Federation Code of Governance 2020.

The role of our board is to: 

• Set and monitor our strategic direction, making sure our plans are financially viable and effectively delivered..
• Set and actively drive our social purpose, mission, values, and ambitions..
• Regularly consider and define the culture and behaviours that best enables us to deliver its mission and values..
• Embed resident focus, integrity, openness, and accountability..
• Have systems in place that are open and transparent to our residents, regularly publishing information about our performance and our services.

Manage all of our risks and obtains robust assurance that we:

• Have effective systems and measures in place to keep our residents and staff safe.
• Comply with all legal, statutory, regulatory and constitutional requirements.
• Have systems in place that provide for strict financial and budgetary control that safeguards our viability and protects the long-term interests of our residents and taxpayers
• Protect our social housing assets and the reputation of the sector.
• Help GCH to be the best it can be.

GCH has a Board of Directors who are responsible for setting the policies of the organisation and overseeing the running of the company. Their work is co-regulated by Tenant Panel.

Board members normally serve for three years however upon completion of their term they may stand to serve for a further term.

If you have any questions about the board and their work, would like to ask them a question or would like to know the date of the next upcoming meeting, please email governance@gch.co.uk.

We hold 7 Board Meetings a year which are usually held on Wednesday evenings.

Click here to access our Board Member ‘Declarations of Interest’.

Click here to read our Board Equality and Diversity data.

Works on behalf of the Board to ensure the development and effective operation of robust systems of internal control and corporate governance including:

• Risk Management and Board Assurance Framework including risk identification, evaluation, tolerance, appetite and controls.
• Information systems controls and security.
• Business Continuity.
• The management of any whistleblowing allegations.
• Corporate governance monitoring and reviewing compliance with the Board’s adopted code of governance, including the decision-making processes.
• Making sure the policy, systems and controls for the prevention and identification of fraud are in place.

Independent Assurance to the Committee and Board is further provided through:

• A programme of Internal Audits is undertaken independently by our internal auditors, as part of the performance and assurance process.
• Our annual financial statements and company accounts are independently audited by our external auditors.
• A half yearly assessment against our quality management systems through the BSI: ISO 9001:2015 standard that assesses our ability to consistently provide services.

Works on behalf of the Board to ensure there is effective scrutiny and oversight of our:

• Development and Regeneration activities including the evaluation of scheme appraisals, monitoring progress of on-site developments, scrutinising project costs and delivery timescales, all aspects of risk, particularly compliance with health and safety requirements.
• Asset Management investment programme including all annual investment activity, major refurbishment and community investment programmes; a review of viability assessments for high-risk stock in terms of cost that ensures value for money on behalf of residents.
• Major investment projects that involve a significant level of resource investment, including ICT projects and other projects which are intended to deliver business change and transformation.
• Opportunities for commercial growth and make recommendations to the Board having regards to cost, quality, market analysis; risk evaluation (cost / benefit analysis) and impact on core service.

Works on behalf of the Board to ensure:

•  There is a fair and objective remuneration policy for the organisation that is representative of the sector, considering all factors which it deems necessary including relevant legal and regulatory requirements