A FORMER borough councillor who is a trustee of four local charities has been appointed chairman of Golden Gates Housing Trust (GGHT) in Warrington.
Roy Smith (pictured) will take the role for a year and will be supported by Fran Murray, a tenant, as deputy chairman.
Before joining the GGHT board in 2009, Roy was a member of the housing options panel which proved helped determine the future of Golden Gates’ housing stock prior to transfer.
He lives in Great Sankey and served as a councillor for 11 years. He is currently a trustee of four local charities, including Golden Gates Housing Trust. In May the council nominated Roy to continue to serve as its representative on the GGHT board of directors.
He said: “I am looking forward to developing upon the successes and achievements of GGHT over the next 12 months.”
Sue Smith has also joined the board as an independent. She is director of finance and performance at Halton Housing Trust.
The board has also appointed two co-opted members, Greg Bones who is the director of resources at Cheshire, Peaks and Plains Housing and Greig Lees who is head of regeneration at Northwards ALMO.
Peter Mercer, chief executive of GGHT, said: “I look forward to working with Roy and the rest of the board over the next 12 months to achieve our vision of being a leading housing provider and to continue to invest in our homes and neighbourhoods.”
Ex-councillor is housing boss
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Gary Skentelbery
Experienced journalist for more than 40 years. Managing Director of magazine publishing group with three in-house titles and on-line daily newspaper for Warrington. Experienced writer, photographer, PR consultant and media expert having written for local, regional and national newspapers. Specialties: PR, media, social networking, photographer, networking, advertising, sales, media crisis management. Chair of Warrington Healthwatch Director Warrington Chamber of Commerce Patron Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace. Trustee Warrington Disability Partnership. Former Chairman of Warrington Town FC.
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Is this paid? Is it a case of keeping the money in the family? What experience does Mr Smith have for this position and who is he answerable to? Who are the other individuals and what do they have that will be to the benefit of Warrington?
Who elected Roy Smith or anyone else, to these public positions? Who elects those who have elected Mr Smith etc, is he or are any of his colleagues on the board paid for his/their involvement on the GGHT, if so how much? This is not to doubt Roy Smith’s experience or the sincerity of his intention of “looking forward to developing upon the successes and achievements of GGHT over the next 12 months.” But the public have right to know more than what has so far emerged in the fanfare of the official announcement. 2011 was WBC’s annus horribilis, with charges of failures in corporate governance being laid against it. Where any public money is spent, the need for complete openness and transparency is paramount. Until our politicians and council officers begin to recognize this, they will face an uphill job in convincing the people of Warrington that they are at last starting to their house in order.
talk about jobs for the boys