About Us

How does SLDHA work?

SLDHA is a corporate charity with almost 100 members. Each member pays £1 to buy a redeemable share, and then has the right to vote in electing a Management Committee to oversee the Association. The Management Committee brings together representatives from the two Dioceses of London and Southwark, and each Diocese elects a co-chairman to share the overall leadership.

The Management Committee has the following responsibilities:

  • To ensure that the Association complies with the law and, with the requirements of the Financial Services Authority and the Tenant Services Authority, and with the National Housing Federation's Code of Governance.
  • To ensure that the Association provides good service to tenants and prospective tenants
  • To ensure that the Association acts prudently over finance
  • To ensure that the Association manages its risks prudently
  • To decide policy direction for the Association
  • To review the performance of the Director
  • To review the performance of the Association as a whole

The Management Committee employs the Director and the staff. It meets about 8 times a year, including one 24-hour session to look more deeply at overall policy and direction. Members must be shareholders in the Association, and are expected to take an active role in the Association's work, receiving training where necessary, preparing thoroughly for and attending most Management Committee meetings, and often serving on specialist working groups set up as needed by the Management Committee.

Members are not paid, although they may claim travelling expenses. They are protected by insurance against unforeseen problems arising from their decisions, although this insurance would not cover against the consequences of reckless or fraudulent actions.

Currently the Management Committee has established the following working groups:-

Emergency Panel:

Stephan Welch (Chair), Les Alden (Vice-Chair), Steven Essayen (Hon Treasurer)

Audit Committee:

David Freeman (Chair), Steven Essayan, Martin Day

Communications Group:

Janet Heatley (Chair), Yetunde Otesanya, Beverley Douglas-Blake, Stephan Welch, Martin Day

Services Group:

George Bush (Chair), Janet Heatley, Ngozi Okafor

Asset Management & Development Group:

John Ebenezer (Chair), Les Alden, Bill Dunmore, Sarah Finn

Consultants:

Molyneux Architects, Bryson-Richardson (Employers Agent), Dukes End (Financial Consultants), M. A. Newsome (Surveyors)

 

Development Partners:
Viridian Housing, Circle Anglia Housing, Hexagon Housing