Structure

Members, Branches, Council and Boards

The Chartered Institute of Housing's work is directed by its members and a formal Council is in place to ensure that elected officers steer the work of the CIH.

Members of the CIH are organised into Branches across the UK and Asian Pacific. Each Branch then elects one person to sit on the Council. Other Council Members are nationally elected by members. Council members serve for a period of three years, after which they can put themselves forward for re-election.

Council Meetings are held four times a year:

• February (held at the time of the London Presidential Dinner)
• April/May (held during the OneCIH Conference)
• September
• November

As well as the main Council meetings, the following Council Boards also meet:

Policy Board - broadly responsible for:

• Reviewing progress with and updating aspects of CIH Business Plan relating to Policy and Practice
• Reviewing and advising on policy and practice work programme
• Considering and making recommendations to Council on key CIH policy documents
• Review of campaigning and political strategy
• Advice on major professional practice projects

Professional Development Board - broadly responsible for:

• Ensuring fair and consistent conduct of all examinations directly managed by the CIH (TPP, Direct Final, etc.)
• Moderation of examination marks
• Advice on major Education, Training and Membership projects
• Review CIH Education Strategy and oversee work of review groups
• Updating list of education qualifications providing eligibility for membership through Byelaw 9
• Overseeing reviews of Membership grades and associated fee structures
• Recommendations on the structure, operations and composition of the CIH Council
• Overseeing consultation process with CIH members relating to the structural review

Management Board - broadly responsible for:

• The financial affairs of the Institute, arrangements for the keeping of the accounts and records, audit, investment of funds, matters relating to assessments for rating and income tax
• Reviewing the Institute's finances on a regular basis and to deal with financial matters including regular review of the Institute's investment portfolio and the establishment of investment income targets
• Reporting to Council on proposals affecting the finance of the Institute
• Establishment, appointment, dismissal, rates of pay, management and discipline of staff, superannuation, consideration of proposals of the other standing Committees affecting staff and, where appropriate, to approve levels of delegation for such functions
• Deciding staffing issues and agreeing annual salary review and individual salary levels
• Considering arrangements for the conduct of the administrative work of the Institute
• Considering all matters having been decided by the standing committees working groups for appropriate report to, or reference for further consideration, and/or decision by Council

International Board – broadly responsible for:

• Developing and reviewing CIH strategy in relation to international matters
• Progressing Corporate Objective 5 within the CIH Business Plan, “Uniting a Global Housing Community”
• Reviewing relationships and agreements with organisations and professional bodies from other countries
• Reviewing services for international members of CIH
• Establishing CIH as a broker to facilitate international organisational placements and study visits
• Monitoring all international activities undertaken in the name of CIH

The CIH Council has recently established Boards for Wales and Scotland, and an Advisory Panel for Northern Ireland.

The President

Each year the CIH elects a President to head Council and attend official functions on behalf of the CIH. Duties of the President involve attending and speaking at Branch Conferences, liaison with other professional bodies, lobbying of Parliament, and so on.

The President changes every June and the Vice President takes over the role. The current President is Howard Farrand. His term of office runs until the CIH Annual General Meeting in June 2010.

The Charter and Bylaws

The granting of the Royal Charter means that the CIH is governed by 'The Charter and Byelaws of the Chartered Institute of Housing'. A full copy of the Charter and Byelaws is available from the CIH. It lays down rules for the running of the CIH, including sections on the election of Members, the disqualification of Members, Entrance Fees, AGMs and the Composition of Council, as well as containing full definitions of each membership grade.

If the CIH wishes to change any item that is contained within the Charter and Byelaws, they must present this before the Privy Council.

The Charter and ByLaws (PDF: 149 kb)