RoFTRA appoints new chief officer

Rochdale Federation of Tenants and Residents Associations' new chief officer Steve Sharples.

Rochdale Federation of Tenants and Residents Associations has appointed a new chief officer.

Steve Sharples started his new job this week as the organisation pushes on towards the next stage of its development.

Mr Sharples was born and bred in Milnrow and has worked on many housing projects in the boroough in areas including Cloverhall, Turf Hill, Hollin, and Freehold as a Consultant in his role as a leading Consultant on housing, regeneration and tenant involvement.

The Consultancy he set up in 1995, PS Consultants, specialises in Tenant & Community Empowerment, Neighbourhood Renewal, Housing Options & Strategy and Community Engagement. He has worked for dozens of local authorities nationwide and has a well-established national reputation.

His association with RoFTRA began in 2002 when he delivered a new Resident Training course on Neighbourhood Renewal and acted as Advisor in the production of the Neighbourhood Action Plans for which RoFTRA was the Co-ordinating Agency.

He played a central role in the development of RoFTRA's Strategic Plan for 2004-2007 and his presentations at our two residential events at Burton Manor were vital stimulants for our discussions and decisions at them.

A spokesperson for ROFTRA said: "Steve's appointment is the final element of the restructure and relocation process agreed by RoFTRA's Board at its forward planning residential in August and provides the best possible basis for the organisation's vital wotk with and on behalf of the borough's social housing communities."