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Committee of Management
Minutes of Meeting – 16th April 2025
Present: Colin Fraser (Chair)
Wendy Riordan (Vice Chair)
Jim Hemphill (Vice Chair)
Morag Orr
Stephanie Wilson
Lynn Jameson
George Thomson
Alan Lamont
Elizabeth Stewart
Jon Douglas
In attendance: Larke Adger (CEO)
David Mills (COO) 1. APOLOGIES
Cameron Durance
Liz Robertson
Amanda Aitchison
The Minutes of the meetings held on 19th March 2025 were approved by Committee.
5. GUESTS, VISITORS, OBSERVERS
Mr. Shem Dabrowski as a guest / observer, with a view to joining Committee Lorna Shaw (via MS Teams) to deliver Tenant Satisfaction Survey results
6. TENANT SATISFACTION SURVEY RESULTS, 2025
18.20hrs: Lorna Shaw of Research Resource joined the meeting, via MS Teams Lorna presented the headline results of the 2025 Tenant Satisfaction Survey to committee for approx. 20minutes with various statistics and findings from the TSS. Committee members asked for clarification on some findings and results to better understand the rationale of the results. Overall, WGHC have returned an outstanding survey.
• Committee noted the report.
• The Chair thanked Lorna on behalf of the whole Committee
18.42hrs: Lorna Shaw of Research Resource left the meeting
7. CASH IN BANK, INFLATION & INTEREST RATES
All cash balances across the 5 x WGHC bank accounts were presented by the CEO and a summary total provided, which stood at £740,860. This was an increase of £25k from the figure reported at the March meeting. Inflation was reported at 2.8% (3.0% in the previous month) and interest rates were reported held at 4.5% (4. 5% in the previous month). As requested by Committee, the CEO presented information on interest paid and balances of the 5 loans WGHC has with the Nationwide Building Society.
• Committee noted the report.
8. EWS CLADDING UPDATE
The COO gave an updated report to Committee regarding the potential for External Wall System (EWS) Cladding and progress on the Fire Risk Assessments and a Single Building Assessment being undertaken. The COO confirmed to Committee that a notifiable event, 31183, had been logged with the Scottish Housing Regulator on this matter. The SBA report is due for publication / issue by the end of April 2025.
As part of the process, WGHC have now officially submitted an ‘expression of interest’ to the open call cladding remediation fund, ref: 3R9UK5HD
In amongst other questions from Committee and further discussion, Committee were asked to approve Ben MacPherson, SNP MSP constituency MSP for Granton/Leith to raise questions at FMQs and ‘name’ WGHC.
• Committee unanimously approved for WGHC to be named and the issue raised within FMQs in the Scottish Parliament
9. SHR ENGAGEMENT PLAN FOR WGHC 2025-2026
The CEO presented a copy of the latest SHR issued Engagement Plan from 01 April 2025 to 31 March 2026. The current regulatory status for WGHC is compliant. However, the SHR is engaging with WGHC from a Financial Management perspective owing to the open notifiable event regarding EWS Cladding.
• Committee noted the report
10. REVISED BUSINESS PLAN & RISK REGISTER UPDATE
The CEO presented updated information regarding the revised business plan and risk register which was based upon the situation regarding the EWS Cladding and subsequent information likely to be identified within the Single Building Assessment.
This lead onto conversation regarding the future financial plans within WGHC, the Five Year Financial Projections, the SHR Loan Portfolio Return and the Audited Financial Statements. The CEO confirmed to Committee that our lenders were also being kept informed as to the situation.
• Committee noted the report
11. WGHC FINANCIAL AGENT CONFIRMATION
The CEO informed the Committee that due to fair and reasonable costs and exemplary service provision, the SLA between WGHC and Prospect Community Housing Association (PCHA) had been agreed for another year, 2025-2026. A copy of the letter/agreement was provided to Committee as evidence of the agreement.
• Committee noted the report
12. ANNUAL ASSURANCE STATEMENT, EVIDENCE BANK, REVIEW # 1
The CEO and COO reminded the governing body of the SHR requirement to submit an annual assurance statement that the Committee, as governing body, approve prior to publication and submission to the Scottish Housing Regulator. The CEO/COO have an electronic workbook, containing macro’s and evidence links that support the annual assurance statement. Committee were advised of the evidence bank and that it was likely our status might well change owing the EWS Cladding situation.
• Committee noted the report
13. TENANCY MANAGEMENT POLICY
Appendix 1 was presented to Committee by the CEO. The CEO informed Committee of the changes to the revised Tenancy Management Policy.
WR asked if all staff adhere to WGHC policies and whether they are aware of where they are etc.
The COO confirmed that staff are always advised of updates to policies and they are published in 3 locations: X: Drive, M: Drive and WGHC website.
• Committee unanimously approved the revised Tenancy Management Policy
14. TENANT PARTICIPATION STRATEGY
Appendix 2 was presented to Committee by the CEO. This was a revised Tenant Participation Strategy. There was discussion regarding the volume of surveys being undertaken at WGHC.
• Committee unanimously approved the Tenant Participation Strategy
15. UNACCEPTABLE ACTIONS POLICY
Appendix 3 was referenced by all Committee members. The COO discussed the changes most recently implemented within the unacceptable actions policy. Some anonymised examples were presented to Committee to demonstrate why the policy was required.
• Committee unanimously approved the Unacceptable Actions Policy
16. INTERIM FINANCIAL AUDIT 2025
The CEO notified Committee of the interim financial audit for 2025. The initial planning meeting was held in February 2025. The indicative plan was provided to Committee.
• Committee noted the report and the dates for the financial audit
17. VARIOUS STOCK SURVEYS
The COO advised Committee of the various surveys being undertaken and conducted around the WGHC stock. In 2025, WGHC are undertaking: Insurance Reinstatement valuation surveys, Stock Condition Surveys, Asset Management Surveys and Electrical Installation Condition Report Surveys. All are being undertaken by different contractors or consultants.
• Committee noted the report
18. STRATEGY DAY WEEKEND
The CEO reminded Committee members of the Strategy Day Weekend being implement over Friday 25 and Saturday 26 April 2025. An indicative agenda was provided to Committee. Confirmation of attendees, catering and accommodation preferences were also recorded.
• Committee noted the report
19. GOVERNANCE, RISK, COMPLIANCE, HEALTH & SAFETY REPORT
The COO presented his governance, compliance, health and safety report to Committee. As accepted practice and to give Committee assurance, the COO also reported:
FOISA / EIR Requests since last meeting = NIL
Subject Access Requests since last meeting = NIL
Information Data Breaches since last meeting = NIL
Open Notifiable Events with SHR = One (31183)
The most prevalent and serious risk to WGHC in the current climate is the issue of EWS Cladding (Notifiable Event 31183). The COO was pleased to inform Committee that there had been no health & safety issues to report since the last meeting.
The COO confirmed that quarterly statistics (January to March 2025) had been provided to the Office of the Scottish Information Commissioner (OSIC)
• Committee noted the report
20. MEMBERSHIP & USE OF THE COMPANY SEAL
The COO reported that since the last meeting, there have been:
NIL new memberships:
One cessations of membership:
Membership Number 514
Date of cessation: 30th March 2025
Reason: End of Tenancy (Joint to Sole)
• Committee noted the report
21. ROLLING ACTIONS ITEM LIST
The Rolling Actions Items were discussed with many having now been completed. Completed items will now be removed.
• Committee noted the report
22. ANY OTHER COMPETENT BUSINESS
The CEO informed Committee of the joint attendance of the CEO / COO at the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Scotland on Thursday 01st May 2025.
WGHC has joined the Glasgow and West of Scotland Forum (GWSF)
5 x Committee members have committed/agreed to attend a joint training event at Hawthorn Housing Co-operative on 14th May 2025
The CEO has been invited to speak at Co-ops UK Congress in Manchester in July 2025.
23. DATE OF NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING
It was proposed the next meeting be held on Wednesday 21st May 2025 at 6.15pm. Doors will open at 6.00pm for Committee to chat / network and have refreshments prior to the formal meeting start.
• Committee approved the next Committee Meeting to be held on Wednesday 21st May 2025 @ 6.15pm
Signed REDACTED INFORMATION Chairperson Date: 21st May 2025
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