HISTORY
Formation and Background
Cotman Housing Association (CHA) is a non-profit-making housing association registered as an Industrial and Provident Society with the Registrar of Friendly Societies and having the status of a charity.
The Association was founded in 1970 and was registered by the Housing Corporation in 1975.
In 1981 Cotman Housing Association established a 'sister' organisation, Cotman Housing Services Ltd (CHS), to promote low-cost home ownership initiatives. Changes in charitable law subsequently enabled CHA, subject to certain restrictive conditions, to undertake low cost home ownership. In view of this the Associations mutually agreed that there was no benefit in CHS continuing as a separate entity, and the transfer of CHS engagements to CHA consequently took place in 1997.
In 2000 the Association moved from its original premises at Bishopgate, Norwich to larger accommodation at St Martin's Lane, Norwich.
Structure
The affairs of Cotman Housing Association are directed by the Board of Management, which meets nine times a year, and its Audit Committee, which meets quarterly.
The Association has a consultative body of the Residents Forum, and the Forum Panel. The Residents Forum offers residents more flexibility in the way they can contribute to the work of the Association. The Chair and Vice-Chair of the Forum Panel serve on the Board, representing residents interests.
The formal business of the Board is supported by the work of Special Interest Groups, consisting both of Board members and senior staff, working under the delegated authority of the Board to progress specific, one-off, initiatives or to oversee areas of the Associations ongoing work. In addition, Board members are expected to champion areas of the Association's work in which they have particular interest and expertise.
Following extensive consultation with the Association's Residents and stakeholders during 2007, it was agreed that Board members would receive a modest annual payment for their services, in acknowledgement of their responsibilities and contribution. This payment was introduced with effect from July 2007.
Under the direction of the Board of Management the Association is managed by an Executive Team consisting of its Chief Executive and the Finance and Housing Services Directors. The Executive Team combines with the Finance and IT Manager, Office and HR Manager, Operations Manager and Property Services Manager to form the Management Team, which oversees progress with achieving corporate objectives.