Housing Association looks for Board Members

USE: IMMEDIATE ISSUE DATE: MONDAY 16 MAY 2005

New Highland Housing Association Seeks Voluntary Independent Board Members

Council house tenants and interested members of the public are being invited to apply to join the Board of a new not-for-profit housing association, which will take responsibility for the 15,000 homes presently in the ownership of The Highland Council if tenants vote for the transfer following a ballot in October 2006.

The new Highland housing association will be developed and run initially by a Board comprising 5 Council tenants, 5 independent members and 5 Highland Councillors. The Board will develop the new organisation and seek registration as a social landlord with Communities Scotland.

The association is particularly interested in hearing from people with experience or knowledge in one of the following areas:

	Running a business or a not-for-profit organisation;
	Managing a tenant organisation;
	Involvement in social rented housing;
	Financial management;
	Legal expertise.

The role is unpaid but travel and other reasonable expenses will be paid. A full training and support package will also be provided.

David Goldie, Community Ownership Programme Manager, said: "This will be a demanding role and if anyone is interested in becoming involved it is estimated that they may have to spend two days a month preparing for and attending meetings. In return for this investment of time, experience and commitment, there is the opportunity of making a real contribution to housing in the Highlands."

Anyone wishing an informal discussion or to receive an information pack and application should contact David Goldie, Community Ownership Programme Manager on tel: 01463 702818, or e-mail david.goldie@highland.gov.uk

Closing date for receipt of applications is 30 May.

The Highland Council recently appointed the following five councillors to serve on the Board: - Katrina MacNab, Drew Millar, Stuart Black, Brian Murphy, and Helen Carmichael.

The Council agreed in October, last year, to apply to join the Scottish Executive Community Ownership Programme for housing stock transfer. The benefits envisaged are: -

	The Highlands will now receive an additional Ł50 million investment in new affordable housing for rent and low cost home ownership through Scottish Executive Regeneration Funding. This will allow around an extra 1,000 houses to be built.
	The Council’s housing debt will be written off if whole stock transfer takes place.
	The new landlord will have more money to invest in the housing stock, because it will not have the same level of debt as the Council.
	Stock transfer will allow the opportunity for greater community involvement in the ownership or management of the housing stock;
	Tenants will continue to have the same tenancy rights through the Scottish Secure Tenancy as they currently have.

-ends-

Date Last updated : 16/05/05