This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Two new members for Scottish Homes
02/09/2002
Two new members have been appointed to the Board of Scottish Homes.
Eric Gunn, Head of Business Financial Services at the Clydesdale Bank, and Donald MacRae, Strategy and Finance Director with Lloyds TSB Scotland, join the Board with effect from today.
These new appointments, announced by Social Justice Minister Margaret Curran, are to fill an existing vacancy and also one created by the recent resignation of Lewis Shand Smith, bringing the total number of Board members to six.
Until November 1 last year, Scottish Homes was the principal agency for achieving Scottish Ministers' aims for Scottish housing.
Since that date, most of Scottish Homes' staff and functions transferred to a new Executive Agency, Communities Scotland. Scottish Homes will be wound up in due course, when it has completed its remaining tasks. These appointments will run until Scottish Homes is eventually wound up.
Ms Curran said: "I welcome the appointment of Eric Gunn and Donald MacRae. They will bring additional financial expertise to Scottish Homes' Board at a time when it is vital to ensure that we have the appropriate skills to manage the tasks associated with the wind-up of the organisation".
Reflecting the diminished responsibilities of the board following the creation of Communities Scotland, Members' remuneration fell from £7,674 to £2,500 plus expenses per annum, with effect from 1 April 2002.
Neither Eric Gunn nor Donald MacRae has declared any political activity nor do they currently hold any other ministerial appointments.
The appointments have been made in accordance with the Code of Practice issued by the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments.
The various declared interests of the Scottish Homes board can be viewed on the Scottish Homes web pages contained in the website of Communities Scotland - www.communitiesscotland.gov.uk.
Four of the existing members have declared a political activity. William McKelvey served as the Member of Parliament (Labour) for the Kilmarnock and Loudoun constituency between 1979 and 1997. Patricia Greenhill served as member of Stirling District Council (Conservative) between 1984 and 1996. Christine May has been involved in local government since 1988 and has been leader of the Administration at Fife Council (Labour) since 1998. Lewis Shand Smith was an independent member of Shetland Islands Council from 1990 until 1999. John Ward, the Chair of Scottish Homes, did not declare any political activity.