There may have been mince pies, crackers and carols at a Tenants’ Forum Christmas celebration in Llandudno but there was also a serious intent alongside the celebrations.
For the event at the Imperial Hotel was another opportunity for Cartrefi Conwy to get to know their tenants better and to pass on important information about the housing association’s services.
More than 120 people from across the county attended the get-together, which culminated in a performance by children from Ysgol Morfa Rhianedd, Llandudno.
The youngsters sang a number of carols including one written by headteacher Nesta Evans for an S4C competition. The previous day the pupils had appeared on TV singing the carol, titled Carol y Clychau (The Carol of the Bells).
Ever since taking over responsibility for housing matters from Conwy County Borough Council in 2008, Cartrefi Conwy has striven to work closely with the tenants who live in its 3,800 homes to obtain their views and explain its services and policies.
The Christmas celebration the first one of its kind, was suggested by the Tenants’ Forum and chairman John Roberts said he was pleased with the response.
“We would like more people to be involved, and for every estate to have its own Tenants’ Association represented on the Forum,” he said.
There were presentations by officers and tenants on some of the past year’s activities and on the role of the Forum’s working groups.
The Tenants Forum Christmas celebration was supported by Cartrefi Conwy and Phil Jones, Community Involvement Manager said, “We are committed to improving communications with the tenants and to give them an opportunity to tell us what they would like,”
Community Involvement Co-ordinator Vicky Kelly recapped on the success of Cartrefi Conwy Family Fun Day held in the summer at Ysgol John Bright, she said it had been a great day and that next year it would be held in conjunction with the council’s two-day Olympic celebrations in Eirias Park.
Kiera Vogel, the head of the Cartrefi Conwy’s building maintenance unit, explained the workings of the Opti Time system introduced in July which helps to ensure that the most effective use is made of the workforce, that tenants’ concerns are answered as quickly and efficiently as possible, and that lines of communication between the tenants and staff are clear.
Operations Director Gwynne Jones urged those present to make their views known on the structure of the organisation and on what improvements they would like to see in their communities.
“In the three years we have been in existence we hope you as tenants have seen the difference in your homes, in your lives and in your communities, and we are committed to working with the Tenants’ Forum and management committee for the benefit of everybody,” he said.
