The Board members are Liz Smith (Chair), Chris Eccles, Jonathan Bayliss, Karen Evans, David Howell, Ro Day, Robin Evans, Claire Hodson and Barbara Shaw.
The Board agendas include items for decision, discussion and information, such as:
• Strategies for approval (such as Resident Involvement Strategy, Allocations and Lettings Strategy, Development of New Homes Strategy)
• New projects and initiatives (such as social enterprise, funding bids for new homes, etc)
• Risk updates
• Achievement of the corporate plan aims and objectives
• Performance and financial information for the previous quarter
• Minutes of the committees
The board directs strategy and oversees the work of staff and subsidiaries, Tarka, Westcountry and Horizon Homes (the commercial development subsidiary).
The common purpose board meets six times a year and holds regular training events and annual away days and appraisal. Westward has committees that concentrate on Audit and Risk, and Governance
The Governance Committee:
• considers matters relating to the good governance
• recommends the remuneration paid to staff and Board members
The Audit and Risk Committee:
• monitors and assesses the controls of the Group to ensure that the Group is operating at appropriate levels of risk
• has the responsibility of external audit and internal control matters
• oversees the internal audit work programme and performance quality
• reviews the annual financial statements
This committee also liaises closely with the Resident Scrutiny Panel.
These committees generally meet four times a year and the minutes are provided to the Boards.