NIFHA Governance
NIFHA is a not-for-profit organisation that is owned and democratically controlled by the affiliated housing associations in its membership. Each member has equal voting power in General Meetings and (if elected or co-opted) in meetings of the governing body (NIFHA Council).
NIFHA’s constitution guarantees that any financial surpluses are re-invested to help the Federation accomplish its mission.
NIFHA Council
This is NIFHA’s governing body and comprises up to 21 members elected at the Annual General Meeting and up to 4 co-optees appointed by NIFHA Council. The Council meets about six times per year and members serve for terms of three years and one third of them retire each year.
The key roles of the Council are to:
- set the Federation’s objectives;
- approve plans and policies to achieve those objectives;
- establish and oversee a framework of delegation coupled with suitable systems of control;
- establish and oversee a framework for the identification, management and reporting of risk;
- deal with business that presents major risks for the Federation or its members; and
- ensure the Federation’s actions are consistent with the law, its values and generally accepted standards of probity.
NIFHA Council Members 2009-10
 |  |
|---|---|
| Ray Cashel NIFHA's Chair | Members of NIFHA's Council 2009-10 |
| Chair | Ray Cashell | SHAC |
| Vice-Chair | John Patterson | Flax HA |
| Council Members | Chris Alexander | Triangle HA |
| Kevin Butler | Connswater Homes | |
| Arthur Canning | Trinity HA | |
| David Duly | Habinteg (Ulster) Ltd | |
| Frank Dunne | North & West HA | |
| Ian Elliott | Oaklee HA | |
| Jean Fulton | Helm Housing | |
| John Gill | Dungannon & District HA | |
| Peter Howard | Abbeyfield UK (NI) Ltd | |
| David McCallum | Co-ownership Housing | |
| Clare McCarty | Clanmil Housing | |
| John McLean | FOLD HA | |
| Joe McKnight | Wesley HA | |
| Robert Roulston | Ulidia HA |
With the exception of certain decisions which must be taken by the whole membership in General Meetings, the Council is responsible for everything the Federation does. It achieves this by delegating authority for operational matters to a number of committees and concentrating on strategic issues.
Four committees support the Council:
Housing Operations Committee (HOC)
HOC considers all significant matters relating to:
- the development, management and maintenance of housing association homes and
- the provision of housing support services.
It also considers recommendations made by the relevant Fora.
Resources and Standards Committee (RSC)
The RSC considers all significant matters relating to:
- human resources,
- finance,
- continuous improvement,
- efficiency,
- performance standards,
- regulation and inspection of housing associations.
It will also consider recommendations made by the relevant Fora.
Federation Business Committee (FBC)
The FBC considers:
- the viability of the Federation and the proper stewardship of its human and other resources; and
- all other aspects of the Federation’s corporate affairs.
It will also consider recommendations made by the relevant Fora.
NIHACT
Within the limitations set by charity law, the Trust Deed and NIFHA’s constitution, this Committee considers all significant matters relating to the Northern Ireland Housing Associations’ Charitable Trust (NIHACT). It recommends to NIFHA Council a strategy, criteria for determining applications for assistance, a draft budget and draft audited accounts.
Each committee make recommendations to NIFHA Council on matters within their scope they consider likely to:
- expose housing associations or the Federation to major risk;
- impose major resource commitments on housing associations or the Federation; and/or
- raise major issues of principle for housing associations or the Federation.
The Fora
The fora are self-help groups of housing association personnel with a special interest in particular fields of activity. Their purpose is to facilitate learning from each other by sharing information, good practice and experience. They elect their own office-bearers and administer their own meetings.
There are eight Fora:
- Development – purchasing land in areas of housing need, commissioning architects and other construction professionals, securing planning consent, satisfying the government’s value for money criteria.
- Finance– budgeting, accounting, cash flow, borrowing, treasury management, audit issues.
- Housing Management - matching applicants to available homes, maximising the income of tenants and associations, tenants’ rights and responsibilities, community development activities.
- Human Resources – staff recruitment, appointment, appraisal, development and retention
- Improvement – continuous improvement, best value, benchmarking, quality systems
- Information and Communication – management information systems, internet, websites, telephony, service centres, media work and data protection.
- Maintenance - responding to tenants’ repair requests, arranging maintenance and improvement programmes, controlling quality and costs.
- Housing Support - supported housing, Supporting People and related issues.
