Transfer notes

I took a puritanical line, urging that reimbursement of expenses was one thing but payment for board work was another. I want to continue that theme here and look at schedule 1.

This is a set of draconian provisions in the 1996 Housing Act. Discussing these with a transferee board the other day reminded me how fierce and often unrealistic schedule 1 is.

It prohibits payments and benefits and extends the ban to individuals' businesses and their families. There have been some extensions to the exemptions available through the Housing Corporation, but there are demanding tests to take advantage of them.

Not all the tests are practical and the question arises as to whether we should press for relaxation. It is tempting, and the largest organisations certainly need more flexibility.

Nevertheless, schedule 1 is a precious counter-argument to those who think the worst of anything in the "private sector".

No contractor or professional volunteers for a board without being clear about the self-denial this involves. Let us hang on to that. In fact, let us make more of schedule 1. The "no payment" rule is made clear in the consultation document. There certainly should be some PR reward for the practical pain.