Compliance with the code has been reviewed by the Audit and Risk Committee which confirms that Arhag complies with all areas of the code, other than in eleven (11) areas as shown below: 1. The current Arhag business plan is being renewed to demonstrate that the Board sets and actively drives the organisation’s social purpose, mission and values and through these embeds within the organisation resident focus, inclusion, integrity, openness and accountability. 2. Arhag is developing its Resident Scrutiny Panel and creating a Customer Engagement Strategy so that the needs and safety of the organisation’s current and future residents and other customers are placed at the heart of the Board’s decision-making. 3. Arhag is developing its customer KPI & reporting information, so the Board has access to insight into the views and needs of our residents and other customers (including insight into their concerns and complaints) and uses this to inform decisions where appropriate. 4. There are policies being put in place through our Building Our Foundations programme which reflect that the safety of residents and other customers (as well as that of the workforce and the wider public) is an overriding priority, and the Board receives reports annually on their operation. 5. Equality & Diversity is being incorporated as part of the Arhag People Strategy to enable the Board to demonstrate a clear and active commitment to achieve equality of opportunity, diversity and inclusion in all of the organisation’s activities, as well as in its own composition and has policies and statements which meaningfully demonstrate this commitment and sets priorities and objectives for the organisation to achieve. 6. Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (ED&I) updates are being developed to enable the Board to see regular assurance about how these commitments and objectives are being delivered in practice, and it can track progress against the priorities it has set. 7. The Value for Money Strategy is out of date and is being renewed and the data held on the condition of our stock is being updated by a comprehensive Stock Condition Survey. These will enable the Board to demonstrate that it gives specific consideration in setting its plans to value for money, financial sustainability, carbon neutrality and environmental sustainability, and social sustainability. 8. Staff surveys through the People Strategy are to be reported to the Board to provide it with access to insight into the views of staff, such that their opinions and needs are understood, and influence the Board’s decisions as appropriate. 9. A skills audit is to be completed to ensure the Board understands, states and regularly reviews the collective skills and attributes it requires to be effective. 10. Board membership in excess of 6 years is being reviewed to ensure that tenure for non-executive Board members (and independent Committee members) complies with the organisation’s constitution and is managed so as to enable the organisation to achieve an appropriately skilled, diverse and independent Board membership. 11. Arhag is working with the National Housing Federation to ensure that all Board members have access to their training to ensure that all members have an agreed programme of ongoing learning and development opportunities, including to address needs identified through the appraisal process. An Action Plan is in place to track progress in respect of these areas of compliance with the Code of Governance and the Action Plan is monitored by the Board. Annual Report 2021-2022 41
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