What does the Byker Community Trust Board do?
The Board has responsibility to ensure strong control and management is in place to protect BCT’s assets (properties, land etc).
With this in mind they consistently monitor and challenge management practice and service delivery because they must ensure that the organisation is operating to the best possible standards and achieving value for money. The same principle equally applies to the Board itself.
BCT is a Registered Provider of Housing (Housing Association) and must comply with a whole range of different regulatory and legal requirements, covering governance and management. Board set an annual governance and management timetable by which they monitor progress against this. Amongst the regulatory and statutory checks, this year we also tested our practices against the National Housing Federation Code of Governance 2015 and then adopted changes in response to the new rules.
We aim to make sure that the skills and experience of our Board are relevant to BCT’s business needs. Each Board member has an annual appraisal and skills audit, to make sure that we can identify any additional training needs which may be required.
The BCT Board presently comprises of 11 people. All Board members are committed to working with you and for you to make Byker a better place to live.
Some are tenants, others are independent professionals who have a range of skills and two are representatives of Newcastle City Council.
Board Members give their time, skills and expertise to help BCT achieve its mission in accordance with its vision and values.
The BCT Board is;
Jim Coulter
Chair of the BCT Board
Chair since April 2013. His housing experience included local government as a councillor and working in the housing association sector. Chief Executive of the National Housing Federation till 2005, Jim was subsequently a Board Member of three national public bodies. He chaired Bridging NewcastleGateshead, the housing regeneration partnership of the two Councils, until 2011.
Catherine Walsh
Tenant member since September 2016. Catherine is a mother of five, she has a degree in community and youth work studies and experience across the city of face to face community and youth work. Catherine currently volunteers at Byker Community Centre where she is also a trustee. Catherine wanted to be part of board to help address issues affecting tenants but also to help to ensure that Byker is the best it can be with a big community spirit.
Janice Logan
Tenant member since March 2017. Janice has lived in the Byker Wall for a number of years. She has been a member of the BCT Tenant Scrutiny Panel and BCT Communications Group.
Paul Callaghan
Tenant member since September 2015. Paul moved to Byker in 2014 and whilst living in the area Paul has seen the transition of the Byker Wall. Paul’s interest took him to the BCT web site, where he found the position advertised to be a Tenant Board Member. Paul wants to make a difference to the Byker community and is enjoying his time on the Board. Out with BCT Paul works in IT providing application support.
Martin Greenfield
Tenant member since September 2016. Martin has lived in the Byker Wall for the past three years and during that time he has been on the BCT Tenant Scrutiny Panel and BCT Communications Group. Martin has volunteered locally at Food Nation, who promote healthy eating and nutrition education in our local area. Martin has also worked with the Comfrey project, who provide an allotment sanctuary space for asylum seekers and refugees. As part of his studies Martin recently he gained a distinction in higher education for Food science and nutrition.
Alison Smith
Independent member since July 2012. Alison is a Corporate Banker managing a portfolio of large corporate customers for Lloyds Bank in the North East. Having started her career with Lloyds in Shields Road, Byker, Alison was keen to join the BCT as an Independent Board Member with a view to helping the BCT achieve its objectives for the area.
Nigel Emmerson
Independent Member since November 2015 (previously a co-optee from July 2013). Nigel is a solicitor in the Real Estate Team at Bond Dickinson, based in the Newcastle office. He works with many organisations in the residential world, including several housing associations. He is able to use this experience and expertise to help BCT in any legal aspects. Nigel is very proud to be a board member, and passionately believes in creating a better Byker.
Gordon Bell
Independent member since July 2012. Gordon’s professional background is in planning and regeneration. In addition to BCT Board, he is also a member of the Finance & Audit Committee and the Performance and Services Committee. Gordon is a governor of Hotspur School and a board member of the Ouseburn Learning Trust.
Christine Stobbs
Independent member since September 2016. Christine is a qualified chartered accountant and spent 13 years working with KPMG before moving into Industry. From March 2007, Christine worked at senior management level in private companies as Finance Direct/Group Financial Controller, responsible for all Statutory Financial reporting requirements.
Nick Kemp
Local Authority member since July 2012. Nick Kemp is a Labour Party councillor representing the Byker ward since 2002. Nick worked with local residents and the local MP to start the whole process which led to the creation of the BCT. Nick is passionate about helping make Byker a great place to live and work. He runs his own business which is based in Byker.
Amanda Senior
Local Authority member since September 2014. Amanda is Head of the Fairer Housing Unit at Newcastle City Council.
Upcoming Board Meetings (all held at BCT Office)
| Date | Time |
|---|---|
| Wednesday 19 July 2017 | 6pm - 8pm |
| Wednesday, 20 September 2017 | 6pm - 8pm |