ABOUT US
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As well as being involved in local issues some of the forum members are also involved in committees which cover the whole of Moray, and further still we have members involved in the regional networks which deal with issues on a national level. If all that wasn't enough some members are involved in the organisation of the annual tenant's conference which is held each September in Elgin.
A TENANTS FORUMWhat is a Tenants Forum? A Tenants Forum can be what the tenants decide. It can be a loose group of tenants who meet occasionally to discuss maters that affect them, or wish to be consulted by their landlord on such matters as the next rent increase, the repair service they receive from their landlord, upgrading of their house, etc. It can be a group of tenants who meet regularly for the same reasons or it can b a formal group of tenants with a constitution and office bearers. All forms of a tenants forum will receive support from their landlord to cover the costs of a meeting place and travel expenses, however a formal forum will receive a grant to run the forum. Being constituted means that the forum has to be consulted by the landlord on all matters that affect their tenancy. It also means that they have access to funds from their landlord and from external sources such as the lottery, the Scottish government, etc to finance projects which will enhance the lives of the tenants. There are only two rules, the forum must be independent and it must cover a specific area such as a street, an area in a town, a town, a village, several villages, a rural area, etc.
ARMCHAIR TENANTSArmchair tenants are tenants who do not wish to belong to a formal or informal forum but wish to be consulted by their landlord on all matters concerning their tenancy. The council has a register of armchair tenants and when the forums are consulted the tenants on the register are consulted. Any tenant can join the register and be consulted. Armchair tenants can attend their local forum, as can all tenants in the forums area, without joining the forum to give their opinion on the consultation or any other matter. For further information about Armchair Tenants or to register please contact Graeme Davidson at the Moray Council on 01343 563588 or Steve Christie at the Bilbohall Estate Forum on 01343 540524.
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The Bilbohall Estate Forum meetings are well attended with the ward councilors in attendance at every meeting along with the Area Housing Officer and there are occasional visits to our meetings by the Community Warden. The meetings are usually quite lively with discussions as to what works and improvements are required in our area. Some of these improvements are funded through the forums annual environmental budget, and although the group has no direct access to the money awarded each year they do have a say as to where it is spent.