New Council Tenants’ Forum chair encourages new members

Tenants Association Chair
Tenants Association Chair Katy Holmes

MORAY COUNCIL TENANTS have a new champion with the election of Katy Holmes as chair of the Tenants’ Forum.

Ms Holmes is already a familiar face at the representative group having served as vice-chair – now she has stepped up to the plate with her first move a determination to recruit more Council Tenants to join the group.

“It is an exciting time to get involved and I hope that tenants will come along to our meetings so they can have a say about housing services,” she said.

“Our meetings are informal and friendly and anyone who is a council tenant is welcome to join us.”

Elected to the chair of the organisation that represents almost 6000 council tenants, Katy – who has herself lived in a council property for almost 20 years – is encouraging more tenants to attend their next meeting, which is being held in Elgin on June 21.

Pointing out that help is available to cover travel costs and childcare, she added: “I recently took part in a training programme and since then we have set up a service improvement panel to inspect aspects of the housing service.

“We are now using the training to prepare for our first scrutiny exercise.”

Councillor George Alexander, who chairs Moray Council’s Communities Committee, said: “I am delighted to welcome Katy Holmes as the new chairman of the tenants’ forum and I have no doubt that she will do a very good job representing the interests of all our tenants.

“I would strongly encourage other tenants to become involved in the forum and to help shape the future of housing services here in Moray.”

Tenants who would like to attend the next forum meeting or who would like more information on how they can have their say should call 0300 123 4566 or e-mail housing@moray.gov.uk.