About us

Governance

We are committed to ensuring that our business is well-run and that we are true to our social purpose and the vision and values which drive our success.

Our Overlap Boards are responsible for making sure we meet these commitments supported by our Executive Board. The overall role and purpose of the Executive Board is to ensure that there is effective leadership of, and a system of assurance between, the operations of the Aster Group and the Overlap Boards and their sub-committees.

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Governance

Our group structure

Aster Group brings together our specialist housing businesses under one brand, ‘Aster’. The parent company of our Group is Aster Group Limited. 

In 2014 we introduced an ‘overlapping’ or ‘integrated’ board structure. This means that the same people sit on the boards of a number of group companies and that these boards meet at the same time. The legal identities of these companies and the directors’ duties to each company remain separate. 

This cross-membership framework allows our parent company and five key subsidiary boards to meet regularly as  “Overlap Boards” ensuring that we think and act as one organisation with a shared purpose and vision. Our special purpose companies have their own board of directors. 

On 31 March 2020 East Boro Housing Trust joined Aster Group. As part of the Group, East Boro retains its own Board and governance structure.

more information about Aster companies

Our boards and committees

We annually appraise our board members and have robust selection and appointment processes to ensure our boards are fit for purpose. 

The role of our Overlap Boards

Our Overlap Boards are responsible for the strategic direction, vision and purpose of our organisation. They also make sure that we are efficiently run, compliant and accountable, and also, fair and open in our relationships with our customers and the communities we impact.

  • Bjorn Howard
  • Chris Benn
  • Mehul Desai
  • Caroline Wehrle
  • Amanda Williams
  • Tracey Peters
  • Mike McCullen
  • Clive Barnett
  • Claire Whitaker CBE
  • Stephen Trusler

TERMS OF REFERENCE

Aster Communities Board

In addition to the members of the Overlap Boards..

  • Richard Clewer

The Executive Board

Our Executive Board is the leadership team responsible for the day-to-day running of Aster Group and driving its success and corporate strategy and plan. The team is led by Bjorn Howard, our Group CEO.

  • Bjorn Howard
  • Chris Benn
  • Rachel Credidio
  • Dawn Fowler-Stevens
  • Amanda Williams
  • Emma O'Shea

Our Customer Overview Group

Our Customer Overview Group which reports to the Customer and Community Network, is led by our customer volunteers who review our performance, provide constructive feedback and ensure customer involvement in the shaping of our strategies and policies.

  • Debbie Cattell - Hampshire customer

  • Graham Warren – Hampshire Customer
  • Paul Goodall Devon Customer
  • Sue Cutler Dorset Customer
  • Mark Lee - Dorset customer

  • Judith Pamely – Wiltshire Customer
  • Karen Gregory – Wiltshire customer

Our Customer Scrutiny Panel

The Customer Scrutiny Panel (CSP) is an independent panel of customers and sits within the overall customer involvement structure and supports the Customer and Community Network (CCN) which forms part of Asters Governance structure.  It meets the co-regulatory requirements of the Regulatory Standards for social housing in England.

The CSP provides recommendations for change in its scrutiny reports..

Providing an independent and objective assessment of services and business processes from a customer perspective..

  • Kate Forth (Chair and Information Coordinator)
  • David Conroy (Vice Chair and Media Coordinator)
  • Richard Harrison
  • Roy Hunt

Read the ASB abridged report here.

Read the Planned Maintenance abridged version here.

Read the Lettings abridged version here.

Our committees

The work of the Overlap Boards is delegated to and carried out by five specialised committees for Audit, Customers and Community Network, Risk and Compliance, Treasury and Remuneration and Nominations.

Our Audit Committee oversees our financial reporting, audit, control processes and approves the annual accounts.

View the Terms of Reference.

  • Clive Barnett
  • David Finch
  • Claire Whitaker CBE
  • Mat Cooling

This committee makes sure that we put our customers at the heart of our decision-making. It oversees our services and monitors our community impact.

View the Terms of Reference.

  • Claire Whitaker CBE
  • Tracy Aarons
  • Bjorn Howard
  • Emma O’Shea
  • Jean Dalziel
  • Stephanie Taylor
  • Denise Harper
  • Angela Powney
  • Phil Insuli
  • Andrew Loudon
  • Rosalind Burford
  • Amanda Brown
  • Judith Pamely

The purpose of the combined Remuneration and Nominations Committee is to support the Board in discharging its responsibilities for the composition, succession planning and effectiveness of the Board; the remuneration strategy for non-executive directors and executive directors, and the principles and policy relating to the remuneration of all employees.

View the Terms of Reference.

  • Mike McCullen
  • Tracey Peters
  • Stephen Trusler
  • David Doyle

Our Risk & Compliance Committee helps to ensure that we have an effective framework and process to identify, assess and manage risk and compliance across our business.

View the Terms of Reference.

  • Caroline Wehrle
  • David Finch
  • Mike McCullen
  • Cathy Day
  • Gary McRae

Our Treasury Committee oversees the effectiveness of the group's treasury management.

View the Terms of Reference.

  • Clive Barnett (Chair)
  • Caroline Wehrle
  • David Doyle
  • Mat Cooling
  • Richard Teather

This committee leads the development of a strategic plan, offer and delivery model for the provision of over 55s services across the Group. 

View the Terms of Reference

  • Peter Walters
  • Bjorn Howard
  • Paul Shipley
  • Richard Teather

Rules of Associations

Aster Communities and Synergy Housing Limited have community shareholders and the rules of the associations are provided here for reference

Aster Communities Rules Synergy Housing Rules

Modern Slavery Statement 2022/23

As a provider of social housing and care services, we know that we have a responsibility to prevent and recognise slavery and human trafficking within all our business activities and supply chains. We will never knowingly support or deal with any business whose operations involve slavery or human trafficking in any way.

Our Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Policy reflects our commitment to acting ethically and with integrity across our own activities and to provide assurance we have effective systems and controls to ensure modern slavery is not taking place anywhere in our supply chains.

Read our full statement

Governance

Complying with regulations

Aster Group is a not-for-dividend developer and landlord.

We are subject to a diverse range of laws, rules and regulations relevant to our business which we must take all reasonable steps to comply with. Regulatory compliance describes the policies, systems and processes we use to achieve compliance. Operating with a framework to support our ongoing compliance and providing assurance to our decision-makers, ensures they can make informed decisions based on accurate and credible information.

Examples of Aster’s regulators are:

  • The Regulator of Social Housing (RSH)
  • Information Commissioners Office (ICO)
  • Health & Safety Executive (HSE)
  • Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).

The Regulator of Social Housing (RSH), sets ‘Economic’ and ‘Consumer’ standards all housing associations are expected to meet.  Aster holds a rating of G1 (governance) and V1 (financial viability), meaning Aster is well run and financially sound.

Economic standards relate to governance, financial viability, rent-setting and value for money. Consumer or ‘customer’ standards determine the services our customers can expect to receive. These include expectations about involvement, the physical quality of their home, their tenancy arrangements and the landlord’s role in their neighbourhood.

Tax Strategy

The tax strategy for Aster Group was approved on 19 December 2023. The strategy includes our general tax arrangements and policy, how we manage UK tax risks, what our attitude to tax planning is and how we work with HMRC.

Tax Strategy 2023

For claims after July 30th 2018

Arthur J Gallagher Housing Ltd (portal ID G00315)
27-30 Railway Street
Chelmsford 

Essex 
CM1 1QS 

Insurance number for property claims – 18/RSL/10340/A

Insurance number for liability claims – 100657745CLP

For claims up to and including July 30th 2018

Zurich Municipal 
Zurich House 
2 Gladiator Way 
Farnborough 
GU14 6GB

Insurance Number - JHA22S086-0013

Speaking Up

Aster Group is committed to the highest standards of openness, probity and accountability.

We will not tolerate fraud, dishonesty or impropriety and will investigate all suspected instances by employees, board members, customers or external partners.

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Governance

Our RSH rating

We are assessed by the RSH (formerly called the HCA) on governance and viability. Aster has received a G1/V1 which is the RSH's highest rating in both of these categories.

  • Governance - G1: The provider meets the requirements on governance set out in the Governance and Financial Viability Standard.
  • Viability - V1: The provider meets the requirements on viability set out in the Governance and Financial Viability Standard and has the capacity to mitigate its exposures effectively.

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Contact our press office and read our latest news.

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