Our Board provides strategic leadership and consists of ordinary members and our CEO. The Board meets regularly, and we are proud of how well we are governed. We have adopted the 2020 NHF Code of Governance and review our compliance with the Code twice each year. Every year we review how effective our governance is, using questionnaires and external meeting observations.

It’s also important that we can demonstrate that our Board members always act on behalf of Local Space. For this reason, we ask our Board members to make a full declaration of any interests, and if there’s ever a conflict of interest they withdraw from the meeting and take no part in the decision making.  

Local Space has identified the key skills and competencies that it needs on the Board and it reviews these on an annual basis. Our last review confirmed that our Board members are skilled in areas such as strategy, finance, housing and asset management and customer service and that they are highly collaborative and communicative, empathetic and multiculturally diverse.

The Board is supported by three committees – the Audit and Risk Committee, the Governance and Remuneration Committee, and the Customer Services Committee. Board members also work closely with the Tenants’ Panel.

The Audit and Risk Committee ensures that we protect our business and run it successfully. The Committee helps to protect what we own, so that it doesn’t lose its value. It also makes sure we think about how we can protect ourselves from business risks and threats and don’t break any rules or laws.

The Governance and Remuneration Committee leads on the recruitment of Board members, reviews the composition of the Board and has oversight of Board members’ induction, training, skills analysis and appraisal. It is also responsible for ensuring that there is appropriate remuneration for Board members and the Chief Executive and that the Chief Executive is effectively appraised.

The Customer Services Committee ensures that Local Space delivers high-quality services that meet residents’ needs. Bringing together Board and resident members and chaired by Alwyn Lewis, the committee monitors performance, promotes accountability and advises the Board on service improvements. Complaints are a key focus, as they provide valuable insights that help shape better services and enhance the overall resident experience. The committee reviews our annual complaints report and ensures compliance with the Housing Ombudsman’s Complaints Handling Code.