Board members are failing to hold housing association managers to account because they are intimidated by them. Liz Potter, chair of Orbit Group, said that the result was that boards were approving schemes they had doubts about and suggested that boards should climb back into the driving seat of organisations. She added that housing associations needed to catch up with arm’s length management organisations by holding open board meetings. Greg Campbell, a partner at consultancy Campbell Tickell, said: ‘There’s an issue about training [of board members] and an issue about clarity of roles. To help combat this issue the Housing e-Academy has written a Board Induction package, aimed at enabling board members to understand the complexities of the housing sector. Due to be released Autumn 2008 the package covers topics such as; What is Housing?, The Role of the Board, The Governance of Housing, Cultural Awareness and much more. Chloe Weatherhead, Housing eA Manager feels that the e-learning package will help organisations within the housing sector offer cost effective training to their board when the training need arises. ‘Board members are employed because of their expertise, but this is not necessarily an expertise of the housing sector. This package allows housing providers to train their board effectively using flexible and consistent methods. As the training is accessed via the internet board members can fit the training they need in around their already busy schedules.’
For more information contact info@housingea.co.uk or ring 01943 605976.

Sources: www.insidehousing.co.uk,  www.housingea.co.uk

11th August 2008