Development & Assets Committee (DAC)Terms of Reference

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Terms of reference (ToR) set out the working arrangements for the Committee and can list vital information about the group, such as its purpose, chair and membership, meeting schedule, level of administrative support, and dispute resolution processes. Below is the ToR for the Development & Assets Committee (DAC).

The purpose of DAC will provide strategic direction and leadership to ensure that Agamemnon Housing Association “Focuses on property-based issues including the improvement of our existing homes and the building or purchasing of new ones”. The DAC sets out to achieve: (the outcomes)

• To provide safe homes
• Develop new homes that offer the best value for money
• Make our homes and business environmentally sustainable and reduce our contribution to and prepare for climate change
• Use data and research to improve our decision making
• Optimise our assets to provide more for our tenants
• Make sure we have the right resources to deliver
• Review policies & practices to promote the “lived experience” of tenants

This ToR is effective from November 2022 and will be ongoing until terminated by agreement between the members. The Chair of the DAC will rotate on a 12-month basis between Director’s sitting on the DAC or unless a further extension is agreed by members.

The Committee will comprise of:

• Mark Newton – Director (Chair of the DAC)
• Steve Lambert – Director
• Chris Flynn – Director
• Carl Dixon – CEO
• Paula James – Asset Manager

The DAC is accountable for:

• Fostering collaboration between tenants, colleagues, and the Association
• Removing obstacles to the Associations successful delivery and adaption of strategies
• Maintaining the focus of the DAC on the agreed outcomes and benefits
• Monitoring and managing the factors outside of the DAC’s control that are critical to its success.

The membership of the DAC will commit to:

• Attend all scheduled DAC meetings
• Champion the DAC within and outside of the Association
• Share all communications and information across all DAC members
• Make timely decisions and taking action so as not to hold up the business of the DAC
• Notify members as soon as practical, if any matters arising may be considered to affect the development or running of the DAC
• Put tenants and colleagues at the heart of DAC decisions.

Members of the DAC will expect:

• That each member will be provided with complete, accurate and meaningful information in a timely manner
• To be given reasonable time to make key decisions
• To be alerted to potential risks and issues that could impact the DAC or Association as they arise
• To have honest and open discussions, without resorting to any misleading assertions
• Ongoing “health checks” to verify the overall statues and “health” of the DAC.

All meetings will be chaired on a rotating basis between Directors sitting on the DAC for a period of 12 months or unless a further extension is agreed by members.

A meeting quorum will be three members of the DAC.

Decisions made by consensus (i.e. members are satisfied with the decision even though it may not be their first choice). If not possible, the DAC chair makes the final decision.

Meeting agendas minutes will be provided by Carl Dixon (CEO), this includes:

• Preparing agendas and supporting papers
• Preparing meeting notes and information.

The DAC will meet at least 3 times per year and:

• Prior to a face-to-face Board meeting
• When the Board requires information to deal with exceptional circumstances.

If further committee meetings are required these will be arranged outside of these times at a time convenient to committee members.

This ToR’s may be amended, varied, or modified in writing after consultation and agreement by the DAC members.

1. NHF Together with Tenants Charter: https://www.housing.org.uk/globalassets/files/together-with-tenants/together-with-tenants-charter.pdf
2. “Delivering Net Zero Carbon’ and how smaller Housing Associations are preparing for going Carbon Neutral. https://youtu.be/z0BSIBdz0wY