Interview with Cllr Michael Carten
Monday 18 April 2011
After many years service on the Housing Council Cllr Carten retires. We felt now was a good time to get his views on the progress of the Housing Council.
How long have you been a member of the Housing Council and what other involvements do you have?
I first represented Limavady Borough Council on the Housing Council in June 2001.
I’m sure you have seen many changes over the years. What strikes you as the biggest change and do you think it is for the better?
The main changes that I have seen over the years is the Housing Executive’s change away from building new housing themselves to enabling the Housing Associations to build while the Housing Executive concentrates more on managing its own property and tenants’ problems while planning for future needs and services. Dealing with the problems of anti social behaviour and the special needs of vulnerable people is increasingly as important as rent arrears and maintenance issues therefore I think this shift is for the better.
Any funny stories of your time there?
During a debate about fuel poverty at a Housing Council meeting everyone had a chuckle when I told them that my wife Maureen threw her half of the duvet over me when she got too warm so I was never cold!!
What would you say have been the biggest challenges to the Housing Council?
I believe that the run up to RPA and the future role this would bring to the Housing Council is the biggest challenge facing the Housing Council.
Can you tell us a joke?
A car was speeding on the motorway at 70mph; the police switched on the siren and went in pursuit only to find that the driver increased his speed to 80mph, then 90mph and 100mph before finally pulling over. The policeman was surprised to see that the driver was an elderly gentleman and was of mind to overlook the speeding offence if he was able to give a good reason as to why he was driving at such speed. The elderly man went on to explain that his wife ran off with a policeman 6 months ago and that he thought this was him trying to return her to him!!