Helen White reports on the latest work by the Regulatory Board.
Supporting good governance
It was great to be asked to chair the Community Housing Cymru (CHC) Governance Conference in Llandrindod Wells earlier this month. The event attracted a record number of delegates. I’m hopeful this is a real indication of how housing associations and their board members are focused on the learning and networking opportunities that come from spending two days talking about all things governance.
The wide range of topics covered at the conference reflects the reality that being a housing association Board Member is a job that requires a wide variety of skills. Boards need to remain strategic and focused on the future whilst making sure current performance and services to tenants are of a high quality. This is no easy feat!
Getting governance right is difficult. At the conference the Regulatory Board launched The Right Stuff, its progress review of housing association governance in Wales (March 2018). We have been clear that the aim of this review is to prompt governance improvement across the whole sector. I hope it will help every housing association to continuously and rigorously consider the quality of their own governance to prompt improvement.
The CHC used the conference to launch the consultation on its Code of Governance (see pxx). I’m really pleased to see the code focus on culture not processes. This in itself is evidence that the sector has made some good progress on governance. I hope the code, based on a set of principles, will challenge boards to really think about how they apply it in their organisation to best fit their vision and values. We at the Regulatory Board look forward to submitting our response to the consultation.
Keeping tenants at the heart
Ensuring the voice of tenants is heard in the Regulatory Framework is a personal passion of mine, which is shared by the whole Board. Following changes to how the Regulatory Board has been hearing the voice of tenants we now want to understand even more about what ‘keeping tenants at the heart of regulation’ really means. This is why over the next year we will be undertaking an important piece of work looking at tenants and service users role in governance.
Scrutinising regulation – Regulatory Framework review
We are clear on our remit as a Board: to advise the minister on the performance of the sector, and to scrutinise the work of the regulation team.
I am pleased to confirm that the regulation team has published 34 regulatory judgments – 100 per cent coverage – in the last year. This is an amazing achievement and a testament to the hard work of the team. As we are now a year into the new framework we have, as we promised, commissioned a review. It has been noted that some stakeholders feel it is too soon to be undertaking this work. We will be proceeding at this stage but the review will be ‘light touch’.
Commitment to openness and transparency
The Public Accounts Committee challenged the sector to become more transparent. The Regulatory Board for Wales fully supports this and we are pleased that stakeholders will shortly be able to access some performance and cost data via the Welsh Government’s website. The ability to compare information with other housing associations will allow stakeholders and indeed board members to ask questions about satisfaction and service costs.
Regulation of Registered Social Landlords (Wales) Bill
The Bill is progressing through the scrutiny process. Stage 2 began on 14 February and tabled amendments were considered by the External Affairs and Additional Legislation Committee on 12 March. Full details can be accessed at www.senedd.assembly.wales/mgIssueHistoryHome.aspx?IId=19962.
The next Regulatory Board meeting is being hosted by Cartrefi Conwy at its offices in Abergele. Once again we look forward to a full day of debate and discussion.
Helen White is chair of the Regulatory Board for Wales