Governance Structure Reviewed

30-Jun-05

Bolton at Home has recently undertaken a review of its Governance structure to identify how to achieve a more efficient and effective service.

Following extensive consultation with the Group and Area Boards and Sub Groups the two most appealing options considered were:

• Retain Area Boards and reduce some of the Sub Groups
• Retain and expand the Sub Groups and discontinue the Area Boards.

Area Boards were originally formed based on government guidelines for Arms Length Management Organisations (ALMO’s), which has now changed, and as Bolton at Home activities are generally either borough or neighbourhood based this reduces the need for separate Area Boards.

Group Boards decision was for specialist Sub Groups to remain, widen their remit and powers and create a new Performance Sub Group, to oversee and give direction to the operational performance of Bolton at Home.

The expanded Sub groups are now as follows:

• Finance & Audit Sub Group Board Members
• Personnel Sub - Group Board Members
• Standards Sub - Independent Members (external to BH)
• Regeneration Sub - Group and Ex-Area Board Members
• Equality & Diversity Sub - Group and Ex-Area Board Members
• Performance Sub - Group and Ex-Area Board Members
• Customer Involvement Sub - Group and Ex-Area Board Members plus Bolton Affiliation of Tenants and Residents Associations (BATRA) representatives

One outcome of the Governance Review is that all customer vacancies on Bolton at Home’s Board and Sub Groups will now be appointed via a recruitment and selection process, in the same way as are the Independent Members.

There will be two customer vacancies on the Bolton at Home Group Board from October; if you are interested in applying please see the separate article on page 6 for further information.

For further information contact Maureen Edwards or Deborah Thompson on (01204) 335453 or 335224.