Policy
Openness and Transparency
To ensure that our approach to transparency:
Summary of Document:

Demonstrates that we are open and
accountable

Complies with legal & regulatory
requirements
Who Does it Apply To?
Group
Policy Author:
Philippa Jones
Referenced and Hyperlinked
Documents:
Data protection policy
Approved By:
Group Board
Date of Original Approval:
10/ 01 / 2012
Governance Framework
Review History
Last Review Date:
n/a
Review Period: annual
Bi-ennial
Next Review Date:
January 2014
Our Space / Group Key Documents / Governance
1. Introduction
We want to be open with our customers, colleagues and other
stakeholders and show them that we operate and use our resources
fairly, efficiently and effectively. Expectations and legislative and
regulatory requirements are evolving in this field and we will continue
to seek to influence the debate around transparency in our sector to
ensure it is relevant, meaningful and cost effective to deliver.
2. Know, Feel, Do



We want people to know - that we are open and accountable
We want people to feel - that we are prudent in how we spend our
money.
What we want people to do – trust us and do business with us
3. What we will share
We will share much more information than is required by law.
In deciding what to share and how, we will consider:




who will find the information useful
the most appropriate format, tailored to the relevant audience
value for money, ensuring that the value to the audience justifies
the cost and that the way we produce the information is cost
effective
any commercial or individual sensitivities
The table below sets out what we will publish and where:
Remuneration and
Expenses
Executive
Remuneration
Other colleague
salaries
Non Executive
Directors’
remuneration
Expenses
Recruitment
How we recruit our
colleagues
How we recruit Board
members
How we manage
performance
Financial and value
for Money
All our expenditure
over £500
Our approach to
procurement and
value for money
Reward packages for
CEO other Executives
By bands
Web and intranet
Annual Report
Web and intranet
Remuneration by role
Web and intranet
Annual Report
Policy
Actual payments made
to NEDs and executives
Web and intranet
Policy
Outcomes
Statement
Outcomes
Policy summary
Web and intranet
Details
Web
Policy
Web and intranet
Web and intranet
Web and intranet
Web and intranet
2
How we award
contracts
Value for money
outcomes
Rent and service
charge setting
Annual Report and
accounts (which
include Code
disclosures)
Service and
performance
Access to our homes
and services
Customer Service
Standards
Complaints Policy
Governance
Governance
framework including
the Code disclosure
requirements
Board & Board
Committees
Customer influence
and engagement
Probity Policy
Our approach to
equality and diversity
Strategy
Strategic Plan
Policy
Web and intranet
Annual VfM Statement
Web and Report to
Customers
Web
Key benchmarking
information from annual
accounts
Regulatory reports as
required
Policy
Average rents by LA
Full details
Web
Web and intranet
Web and intranet
Web and intranet
Policy
Web and intranet
Customer Deal and our
Customer Offers
Performance and
outcomes against
Customer Offers
Policy and process
Outcomes
Web and Intranet
Summary
Compliance outcomes
(in Annual report)
Web and intranet
Web and intranet
Membership
Terms of Reference
Policy
Outcomes
Policy
Outcomes
Policy
Outcomes
Web and intranet
Strategic Plan
Summary of strategy
Intranet
Web
Annual Report to
customers
Web and Intranet
Web and Intranet
Web and intranet
Web
Web
Web
Web
Web
Web
and
and
and
and
and
and
intranet
intranet
Intranet
intranet
intranet
intranet
4. Legislative and regulatory framework
Currently the relevant legal and regulatory requirements applying to
Bromford are:


FRSA requirements to publish in our statutory accounts
information on remuneration of board members and the Chief
Executive
Regulatory requirements to publish standards and performance
and value for money information to customers
3

UK Corporate Governance Code (the “Code”)– the governance
code we have adopted
The Freedom of Information Act does not apply to housing associations
except where they are carrying out statutory duties on behalf of a local
authority or other public body.
The Data Protection Act does apply to us and we have a comprehensive
set of policies and procedures to ensure compliance. Data protection
constraints may limit the information we can share in some
circumstances.
In addition there are some contractual requirements to publish data,
specifically the Homes and Community Agency Contract for the Affordable
Rent Programme 2011-2014. This requires us to publish all expenditure
over £500 in relation to this contract. We will comply with this and with
any similar specific requirements where we enter into contracts.
5. Equality and Diversity
Bromford aims to ensure all its policies and practices are nondiscriminatory and sensitive to the diverse needs of individuals. There
are no implications in this policy that specifically affect particular
groups of people.
Click here to view Equality Impact Assessment
4