Now that the clocks have gone back and darkness falls earlier, the forum wish to remind all residents to check their home security. Ensure that sheds and outhouses are securely locked and that all door and window locks around your homes are in sound working order.

The Forum are keen to promote home security and as such the guest speakers at this years AGM will be the Community Police Officers, who will cover this subject during the presentation.

Over the coming months the Forum will be busy, firstly identifying projects for next years budget both in Elgin and Rothes. All council tenants in these areas who have suggestions are invited to come along and explain them to the forum, and they will be taken forward for consideration. Secondly there will be some consultations for the Forum to get involved with such as Rent Setting, budget spending and the 3 yearly Tenants Survey which is due next year.

Some people have asked how does air source heating work? The forum asked the same question when the systems were installed into council houses in Rothes.

The easy answer is to describe it like a fridge working in reverse, in other words a fridge uses refrigerant gas to cool down the inside and air source heating uses it to heat up the inside (of your house) The system is very much like a gas installation with radiators a boiler etc, the only major difference is the unit which is installed outside of the property to draw in the air and warm the refrigerant gas. The boiler unit works in a similar way to a gas unit exept that there is no flame. And although slightly more expensive to install, these systems are very cost effective as the running costs are low and the air required is free. Some users have said this system has cut their heating costs by as much as 70%.

Air source heating - external unit.