Governance and Decision-Making Structure
Tangram Housing Co-op is a member-led organisation made up of approximately 40–50 tenant members. Its governance is based on democratic participation, with decisions made collectively through elected committees and general meetings.
Below is more information on the structure of the organisation, how decisions are made and how your money is spent.
For further detail, members should refer to Tangram’s Code of Governance, which sets out the principles and rules guiding how the co-op operates.
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Management Committee (MC)
Responsible for overseeing the day-to-day running of the co-op.
Composed of 7–15 members
Members are:
- Elected at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) (held in May or June), or
- Co-opted by the committee if necessary
- Meets fortnightly
Responsibilities include:
- Supervising the two staff members
- Overseeing operational matters
- Ensuring the smooth running of the co-op
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General Meetings (GM)
General Meetings are the main decision-making forum for the co-op.
Open to all tenant members
Require a quorum of one-third of the membership
Held approximately four or more times per year
Responsibilities include:
- Agreeing co-op policies
- Approving budgets
- Making decisions on admissions and allocations
-Authorising significant expenditure
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Sub-Committees
Sub-committees focus on specific areas of the co-op’s work and report back to the Management Committee.
All members are encouraged to participate in any group.
Current groups include:
Maintenance Group - Meets fortnightly, oversees repairs and upkeep
Treasury Group - Meets monthly, manages financial matters
Admissions and Allocations Group - Meets fortnightly, handles new member applications and housing allocations
Complaints and Mediation Group - Meets as needed, deals with disputes and conflict resolution
Secretary Group - Meets as needed, supports administration and governance processes
Communal Garden Group - Meets as needed, oversees shared outdoor spaces
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Member Participation
All members are welcome to:
- Attend Management Committee and group meetings
- Join sub-committees
- Stand for election to the Management Committee
- Contribute ideas and suggestions
Confidentiality
Some discussions (e.g. housing need, rent arrears, or allocations) require confidentiality. Non-group members may be asked to leave during these parts of meetings. -
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Staff Roles
The co-op employs two staff members who support its operations:
Christina MacDonald – Building Works Coordinator
Lotte Shaw – Freelance Finance Worker
How your money is spent
Grants and Spending
Tangram expects to receive match funding of £52,500 in 2026 from West Yorkshire Combined Authority for energy improvement works for seven properties. No other funding is expected in 2026.
Tangram maintenance budget and plans
Tangram has an overall maintenance budget of £106,876.00 for 2026.
This is made up of £65,000 for cyclical maintenance, £28,000 for day-to-day maintenance, £11,096.00 for required safety checks, £2300 for decorating allowances and £480 for improvements.
Tangram continues to work towards achieving energy performance certificate ratings of C for all of its properties by 2030.
Tangram services
As well as providing low-cost housing, Tangram members benefit from the use of the Tangram communal rooms, with tea and coffee, the communal washing machine, the communal gardens and signposting to other services
How are Rents and service charges spent
Rent is spent on things like maintenance and repairs of buildings, improvements to homes and communal areas, insurance administration & office overheads, staff wages, accounting services & insurance.
Service Charges are spent on utilities, cleaning for communal rooms and fire safety checks. Some tenants also pay additional service charges for utilities and fire safety checks that relate to their shared hallways.