Region 5: BEEM

Committee

Ellen Robertson

I joined Midlothian Tenants Forum at its inaugural AGM in 2006. I was voted as treasurer in 2008. I enjoy being part of a group that is involved in tenant participation and liaising with Midlothian Council on tenants behalf. I have been involved in BEEM since the steering group was set up and I enjoy attending the meetings and feeding back information to MTF to ensure tenants in Midlothian are kept informed of national housing policy developments.

Peggy Ferguson

I am a tenant representative from Peebles and was nominated by Eildon Tenants Organisation to be a Borders committee member on BEEM. This is my first year on the committee. I joined ETO from its inception and have been involved for nearly 10 years. The group works with Eildon Housing Association on the development of housing policy. I also have a keen interest in responding to national consultations and this lead me to become involved with BEEM. I am involved with the Tweedale Access Panel and have a particular interest in access to housing for people with disabilities.

Jim Maryniak

I live in East Lothian and have been involved in tenant participation since 2001. Prior to that I worked in heavy engineering but had to retire after a works accident in 1995 in Cheshire, England, 4 years before returning to Musselburgh where I was born and raised.

I got involved with tenant participation when I helped form Eskview tenants and residents association when tenants and residents in the area come together to combat anti social behaviour on the estate. We became members of the East Lothian Tenants and Residents Panel, within 2 months I joined the publicity sub group writing and editing articles for the Panel News which is distributed on a quarterly basis, and now hold the position of group convener.

I was elected to the position of vice chair, a post which I held for 2 years before the Panel realised I had a head for figures and was appointed as treasurer, a position I have now held successfully for 5 years, during which period I have had to take further training in Excel and Sage accounting. I have also completed a college course gaining a C.I.H. level 2 certificate in housing.

I am involved in several sub groups within the panel representing tenants including tenant participation, road safety estate inspection and rent setting responsive repairs, and capital programme meetings with the Local Authority.

I take a lot of interesting in all tenant related issues particularly when finance related, I take tenants rights very seriously and believe in equality and everybody’s right to a home of a reasonable standard, these are some of the reasons I agreed to take the Chair's position of Region 5 also known as BEEM.

Lillias Reid

I became involved in tenant participation when Midlothian Tenant's Forum was formed in March 2006, and was registered as an RTO in November of that year. I was elected Secretary at the Inaugral General Meeting held the same month and have been voted back each year since. MTF is still a very young forum and in that respect I am on a learning curve. I have attended conferences, seminars and TPAS training sessions, gaining experience in tenant participation along the way. I am also a member of BEEM Region 5 Committee and was also part of the initial short term steering group. My main interest is making sure that tenants get the best deals possible from Central & Scottish Governments and the Local Authorities through consultation and mutual agreement.

Jeanette M Boyd

Occupation: Senior Administration Officer – Retired, City of Edinburgh Council – 28 Years

Previous Interests: Community Council, East Lothian Mediation Service, Sacro.

Present: Tenant Regulation Advisory Group (TRAG) Scottish Housing Regulator, Tenant Assessor, Scottish Government, Executive Board Member, Tenants Information Service. Tenant Participation.

TP Experience Secretary – East Lothian Tenants and Residents Panel Secretary – Windsor Park Tenants and Residents Assoc.

Committee Experience: Responsive Repairs, Affordable Housing, Voids, TP Sub Group, Strategic Review, Project Monitoring Group, Budget Monitoring Group, Re-housing Panel, Musselburgh East Community Learning Centre, Management Committee, Estate Inspections, Local Housing Plan, Strategy and Development.

Others: Meet with Senior Managers, Meet with Senior Councillors

Elaine Ferguson

I have been a council tenant in Midlothian for the last 36 years. I became very interested in housing matters over 3 years ago. I am a founder member of Midlothian Tenant Forum (MTF) our local RTO and have attended most meetings. I was treasurer of MTF last year. I am particularly interested in the allocation of housing, especially for homeless families.

I was elected on to the steering group to represent Midlothian Tenants, which then led to my election to BEEM (Region 5) Regional Network where I have the opportunity to promote tenants issues and discuss housing policies and allows me to be active in representing the present and future tenants of Midlothian and our region.

Harry Sunderland

I was a founder member and the first chair of NBTA. I joined Edinburgh Tenants Federation (ETF) after they helped with early teething troubles in NBTA. I became an executive member of ETF and I am currently convenor of the housing association tenants forum, convenor of information and publishing, and I am involved as a tenant inspector. I am a member of the housing and regeneration forum within ETF and I am treasurer of ACLP which is a customer liaison panel for Castlerock Edinvar Housing Association.

Catherine McArthur

Occupation: Administration/Secretary – Retired, NHS – 33 Years

Previous interests: School Council, School Board, Community Council, East Lothian. Voluntary Organisation Network, J.P./Magistrate.

Present: VSS (Heart & Stroke Club), Tenant Participation.

T.P. Experience: CHAIR – East Lothian Tenants & Residents Panel. CHAIR – Windsor Park Tenants & Group (Estbl. 1996)

Committee Rep: Allocations, Housing Revenue Account, Responsive Repairs, Estate Inspections Overview Group, Community Safety Forum, Community Planning Strategy Partnership, Tenant Participation Sub Group, Anti- Social Behaviour Overview Group, Project Monitoring Group, Tenants Information Service Strategic Review.

Tina Beattie

I have lived in the same house in North Bughtlin for 24 years and have been a member of the NBTA Committee since 1999, was elected Secretary in 2002, and have just recently again been renewed as Secretary/Treasurer, this time until 2011. In addition to this, I have been attending Estate Walkabouts with CREHA since 2003, producing and Editing our Newsletter since 1999, helping to run our Gardening Competition since 2004 and am a founder member of the East Craigs Wider Action Group which was started in 2005.

I am also an NBTA rep on the Housing Quality Standards Focus Groups, Landscaping Panels, and Pre-Let Inspections, and represent NBTA at Lothian District Council Meetings (since 2003), Drum Brae Community Council Meetings (since 2006) and Western Neighbourhood Partnership Meetings and Sub Groups since early 2008.

I also represent NBTA at Edinburgh Tenants Federation Meetings and am a member of their Executive Committee (since 2004) have been their Secretary since July 2007 and am a member of the Housing Association Tenants Group (founder member since 2003). I am also a founder member of the Area Customer Liaison Panel (since 2004); have been a member of the National Tenants Issues Group since 2003, and have been a member of the PfP Focus Group/Futures Group since 2006.

I am a member of TRAG (Tenant Regulatory Advisory Group), the Scottish Housing Quality Standards Tenant Consultation Group (since 2004), and am both the Edinburgh Tenants Federation and NBTA rep for the Tenant Information Service.

And finally, I am a Tenant Inspector with the Scottish Government's Regulation and Inspection Team and a founder member of the National Engagement Working Group (started in 2002) which became 9 National sub groups (Regions), and am a member of the Committee for Region 5 (BEEM) which covers the Borders, Edinburgh, East Lothian and Mid Lothian.

I am particularly interested in working with landlords to improve living conditions for all, (all aspects of tenant participation) supporting special needs tenants to live independently and in environmental issues.

Gerry Moss

I am vice chair of BEEM. I live in the Borders town of Galashiels and have two daughters aged 11 and 14 and a son aged 16. I became involved locally with the Waverly Tenants Organisation (WTO) over two years ago and became chairman again last year. AS Chair of the WTO I have instigated many local community projects including the setting up of two community gardens within the Langlee area of Galashiels. This year with the help of a Scottish Government grant the WTO will be embarking on a road show setting up local meetings in Kelso, Jedburgh, Hawick, and St Boswells.

I was part of the steering group assisting with the set up of BEEM and became the vice chair of BEEM following the inaugural AGM in 2008.

I enjoy sports and coach the local ASDA football team. In an effort to keep fit I am a regular runner with the Gala Harriers and completed the 2009 Edinburgh half marathon.

Kath Beaton

I am the secretary of BEEM regional network and was involved with the establishment of the regional networks as a founder member of the National Engagement working group. I chaired the first regional conference for tenant representatives from the Borders, East Lothian, Edinburgh and Midlothian. I live in Selkirk in the Borders and I am actively involved in a number of local groups. I am currently the secretary of Bannerfield Residents Association, a committee member of Scottish Borders Tenants Organisation, and a board member of Scottish Borders Housing Association. I am particularly interested in the impact that Regeneration can have on improving local communities.