Tenants’ views heard at event

Airdrie Academy was the venue for this year’s North Lanarkshire tenants’ conference, which had the theme of “building your future”.

More than 130 residents attended the event to meet housing staff and attend workshops on issues including anti-social behaviour and doorstep crime, energy efficiency ,“homes of the future” and welfare reform.

They also heard from guest speakers, networked with housing staff and partner groups, and visited a busy marketplace which included a display of the choices available to tenants due to have new bathrooms and kitchens installed; complete with a bathroom suite set up by contractors Mears.

Attendees even took part in a fundraising giant Slosh, raising £189 which will go towards next year’s British Transplant Games in North Lanarkshire; and also had the chance to win hampers and shopping vouchers donated by Mears, Saltire and Thistle in a prize draw.

Housing convener Councillor Barry McCulloch said:“It’s great to hear from tenants first-hand, listen to the progress the service has made over the year, and to outline our plans for benefiting tenants and communities.

“It’s exciting times for our housing service; we’ve just launched a new homes delivery plan, announced record investment of £250m to improve 25,000 existing council homes, and outlined our ambitious plans to build more than 2000 new ones.”