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Two new faces on housing board

25/ 8/2008

TWO new board members have been appointed at the firm which looks after more than 14,000 of the town's council homes.

After a summer election campaign two tenant candidates have been appointed unopposed to serve on the board at Rochdale Boroughwide Housing after submitting applications.

The board is responsible for directing company business and comprises 13 members including tenants, councillors and independent members, with the majority being tenants.

Thomas Hilton, 43, from Falinge has lived and worked in Rochdale all his life and currently works in sales in an electrical shop.

He grew up in the Spotland and Greave area attending the former Redbrook and Greenhill High schools.

He also spent a period of time in College Bank and Syke with his two sons, and is a keen Rochdale Football Club fan and fisherman.

Mr Hilton thinks that his time living on the estates will help him provide a tenant’s viewpoint.

He said: “I'm a firm believer in opportunity for everyone and hope that by helping in any way I can to provide safe housing will help promote the local area to businesses and continue the good work being done by RBH to improve the quality of life for local people.”

Peter Brierley, a retired engineer from Wardle, has a long track record in championing tenants’ views. He has been a tenant since 1976 and is an avid collector of Observer Books and Corgi models.

Peter’s term of office is for three years and Thomas’ term of office is for two years, as he fills a vacancy created by a board member who moved away from the area.

Their appointments as board members will be formally accepted at the RBH annual general meeting on Tuesday 23 September.