A MAN who lives in sheltered housing in Stroud district will soon become one of the first tenants in the UK to sit on a council housing committee.

Ian Allan from Dursley will join elected councillors at Stroud District Council’s housing committee meeting on December 20 as a ‘tenant representative’.

Mr Allen was selected for the ground-breaking voluntary role by independent panel back in October.

Since then he has been meeting resident groups in preparation for making sure the voices of all the district’s council tenants are heard in Ebley Mill.

Stroud District Council (SDC) is believed to be among the first councils in the UK to allow such a unique appointment.

While he will express the views of tenants, make motions and debate, Mr Allan will not have the power to vote on housing decisions.

His job will be to represent the views of over 7,000 council tenants and create a “vital link” between residents and councillors.

“I’m delighted to have been chosen to represent tenants,” he said.

“I see this role as a vital link between tenants and the council. It’s about opening a line of communication in both directions.

“I want to help tenants to make the most of the opportunities available to them. I’m not afraid to speak up and say what works, and what doesn’t.”

A council tenant for five years, Ian hopes that his background as a chartered insurer and business owner will help him to help tenants communicate with the council.

His interest in tenant involvement started shortly after he moved to Vizard Close, Dursley, when he joined the council’s assets service development group which aimed to link tenants with council staff.

He went on to become the chair of Stroud Council Housing Forum which has now been succeeded in favour of tenant roles on the housing committee.

Chair of the council’s tenants and residents’ forum Shirley Histead said: “I think Ian’s appointment is a positive move and we will learn a lot about the workings of the housing department from him.”

A panel of councillors and tenants appointed independent housing experts The Housing Quality Network (HQN) to carry out the recruitment process which resulted in Ian’s appointment, and the search is now on for a second tenant.

Cllr Mattie Ross, chair of the council’s housing committee said: “This is a natural progression on the way we work with our tenants at SDC and I believe that having two tenant reps on our housing committee, who are engaged in debate and discussion, is the right way to go.

“I am delighted that housing committee has taken this step to work more closely with our tenants, and we all look forward to working together for everyone’s benefit.”

Mr Allan’s appointment cost the council £6,000, due to the appointment procedure. He will now sit on the committee for two years.

Cllr Debbie Young (Conservative, Chalford) has opposed the creation of another similar role, arguing the cost is too great.

Any tenant who is interested in applying for the role and would like more information should contact HQN on 01904 557191 or email stroudtenants@hqnetwork.co.uk

The deadline for applications is Sunday January 8, 2017.