The under-noted towns and villages form part of the Spey Coast Forum area : - Arradoul Buckie, Cullen, Deskford, Drybridge, Findochy,Fochabers, Lintmill, Mosstodloch, Portgordon, Portknockie and Rathven.

The Spey Coast Forum receives an annual grant from the Moray Council to cover the cost of running the Forum and an environmental grant of approximately £43,000. This is in order to enhance the environment for tenants and improve other facilities.

During 2007/2008 the Forum committed funds for replacing fencing in Castlehill Road/Carnie Place and Murryfield Fochabers

Upgrading of public footpath in Turner Street/Sutherland Place, Buckie and repairing the steps in Reid Terrace, Portgordon.

The Forum is now actively looking for projects to be undertaken during 2008/2009

The Spey Coast Forum Meeting on the second Thursday of each month at 7.30.p.m in the Committee Room, Community High School, Buckie, and all tenants are welcome to attend.

A TENANTS FORUM

What 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 TENANTS

Armchair 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 Helen Milne at the Spey Coast Tenants Forum on 01542 834640