Region 5: BEEM

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 interest 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.

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.

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. I was elected Secretary in June 2012. 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

Catherine McArthur

I am a retired administrator/secretary, having worked for the NHS for 33 years. I am currently Chair at East Lothian Tenants and Residents Panel and Chair at Windsor Park Tenants and Residents Association (Estbl. 1996) as well as volunteering at VSS (Heart and Stroke Club). I am also a member of the Public Partnership Health Forum and Musselburgh Town Centre Task Force. I have Committee experience in the following areas 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 and in June 2012 I completed a 10 week Community Activist Course with East Lothian Community Learning Partnership. My previous interests have been in School Council, School Board, Community Council, East Lothian. Voluntary Organisation Network and J.P./Magistrate. Volunteering widens your experience, keeps you motivated and forges friendships while hopefully serving your committee.


In June this year, I was thrilled to be given a birthday present from my family of a Title Deed confirming purchase to plot of land on a Highland Estate in Glencoe which by ancient tradition, the ownership of land in Scotland, allows me now to be titled ‘Lady Catherine McArthur’.

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.