Committee

The formal hierarchy of decision-making and delegation
Impact is a Charitable Housing Association, registered with the Industrial and Provident Society and acting under Charitable Rules. Any individual or organisation can apply to become a member of the Association, on purchase of a £1 returnable share. The Membership elects the Board ("Management Committee") at the Annual General Meeting who have formally delegated powers to run the Association. Those powers are laid down in our Rule Book. The Board appoints Sub-Committees and staff to carry out their responsibilities. At present, Sub-Committees have formally delegated powers from the Board. Staff also have delegated powers from the Board. The role of the Board is to Direct and to Monitor. The role of the staff is to Manage.

Background
Impact works in specific communities to meet housing need. Its affairs are managed competently and professionally. It strives to be accountable and has developed a structure to Board membership which will strengthen that accountability.

Criteria for Membership
1. All Board Members (including Members of Sub Committees) come with specific skills and/or representation. They take individual responsibility for their actions (within the limits of personal liability) but have regard to the basis of their representation.

2. All Board Members are selected from one of the four Constituencies. They are elected by Ballot from those Members of the Association who are in the relevant Constituency. Each year the A.G.M. will agree membership of the Constituency for the coming year, up to and including Constituency elections at the next A.G.M. Membership of the Constituencies is made up as follows:

A. Lay Constituency
Lay Members are elected by their Constituency according to their particular skills/ experience and to criteria laid down to ensure the Board’s broad competence.

Constituency: i) Those Members of the Association who are individuals

Selection Criteria: i) Board members act as individuals, but contribute their specific experience and skills

B. Group Constituency
Voluntary Group Representatives are elected by their Constituency to represent groups which manage our stock to provide specific care and support

Constituency: i) The Members of the Association who are voluntary groups which manage our stock to provide specialist care & support

Selection Criteria: i) They must be members of staff or Committee of those groups

C. Tenant Constituency
Tenant Representatives will be either individual tenants or nominated representatives of tenants’ groups with which we work in specific communities. The word “tenants” includes residents of supported housing schemes. The phrase “tenants’ groups” includes groups of residents which primarily represent our tenants' interests.

Constituency: i) Tenants’ groups, ii) Individual tenants

Selection Criteria: i) They must be a) Impact tenants

ii) They will speak as individuals with specific knowledge of the service we provide and of the needs of specific communities in which we work

D. Political Constituency
Local Authority Representatives will be Councillors who are nominated by the Local Housing Authorities with which we work

Constituency: i) The 5 District Authorities where we own stock

Selection Criteria: i) They are nominated by their Authority to speak as their organisation sees fit- either as delegates (representing their Authority but speaking personally) or nominees (representing primarily their Authority’s view)

Re-election
One third of Board Members stand down each year (according to length of service) and are eligible to stand for re-election. In the case of Sub Committees, half of Members stand down each year.

Chairman
Our Chairman is Mr Michael Bonner