Plans to give tenants a bigger say and more involvement in how one of North Wales’s biggest social landlords operates have been given a massive thumbs up.
At an Extraordinary General Meeting tenants packed into the Peulwys Community Centre at Ysgol Tan Y Marian, Old Colwyn and voted unanimously in favour of changes to the constitution of the Cartrefi Conwy Tenant Forum.
The changes are aimed at making sure Cartrefi Conwy’s tenants are more actively involved in how the housing association operates and at encouraging more of them to take part by offering a variety of opportunities to do so.
The changes will see Tenant Forum meetings being held as part of bigger and better events.
They will incorporate a social element as well as giving tenants more opportunities to share their views and access information from staff and other agencies about matters related to their homes and communities.
Cartrefi Conwy’s Community Involvement Manager, Phil Jones, said: “It is important tenants exercise their right to influence how their views are represented and the Tenant Forum facilitates this.
“Members of the Tenant Forum Management Committee together with Tenant Board Members and Cartrefi Conwy staff have been exploring ways of how we can improve the way the Tenant Forum operates.
“We want to ensure tenants are more effectively involved in the decision making process of Cartrefi Conwy and that those who do get involved fairly reflect the diversity and needs of our communities..”
David Lloyd Williams, Chair of the Cartrefi Conwy Tenants’ Forum, welcomed nearly 100 tenants as they packed the Peulwys Community Centre hall at to listen to the proposed changes and to vote on them.
Other tenants helped explain why it was important including Mair Jones, a Cartrefi Conwy Tenant Board Member.
She said: “As tenants we have to ensure Cartrefi Conwy listen so that our needs are met. They do listen actually, but perhaps on occasions we, the tenants, need to do more to make our views known.
“By voting in favour of changes we can move forward together with Cartrefi Conwy.
“That’s why we, the tenants, are so important and why we need to ensure our voices are heard.
“I am really glad so many tenants have come along to this meeting.
“I would encourage every tenant to get involved one way or another so we can ensure the views of all are heard and everyone has a say in how Cartrefi Conwy operates on a day-to-day basis.”
Phil Jones added: “Any of our tenants can attend a Tenant Forum meeting and can put themselves forward to be a member of the Tenant Forum Management Committee or working groups.
“The Tenant Forum Working Groups are groups of up to seven tenants that meet to look at specific matters relating to the services provided by Cartrefi Conwy.
“We’d really like to hear from anyone that feels they would like to join the Tenant Forum Management Committee or a working group so that they can be appointed at the AGM in August.
To tie in with the garden related theme of activities throughout the afternoon, tenants were invited to vote on the proposed changes by holding up a picture of a green pepper for yes or a red tomato for no.
Phil Batty, a member of the Tenant Forum Management Committee, officiated over the vote and the proposed changes were carried unanimously – in fact there wasn’t a red tomato picture to be seen anywhere in the hall.
After the vote, Pam Lonie, Chair of the Board of Cartrefi Conwy, said: “I’m really pleased that the tenants have approved the changes.
“I’d really like to see more of them coming forward to get involved, especially the younger tenants.
“Young people have so much to offer in helping to define and monitor our services so that we continue to meet the needs of all for the future.
And there was something for everyone as the 200 Cartrefi Conwy tenants and their families from across the county got together – including a bouncy castle, garden planting demonstrations, a penalty shoot-out and face-painting.
There was also a fire prevention display by North Wales Fire and Rescue along with recycling and information stands.
A free-to-enter raffle was held for all tenants who attended and voted with a state-of-the-art LCD television up for grabs thanks to the sponsorship of G Purchase Construction, the contractors working with Cartrefi Conwy on their Home Improvement Programme.
Llandudno Junction tenant Iris Goldbourne, 75, was all smiles after her ticket was the first to be pulled out of the hat.
Iris said: “I’m thrilled to bits; I have never won a raffle before. I’ve only got an old fashioned telly that doesn’t work very well; I’ll be all posh now.
And to finish the day there was a children’s fancy dress competition with children dressed as Bill and Ben, flowers and lots more exciting costumes.
Tenants of Cartrefi Conwy interested in joining the Tenant Forum Management Committee or any of the working groups should contact the Community Involvement team on 01492 805564.
