KFTRA is run by a Management Committee of 28 people who are elected each year at the Annual General Meeting. There are four officers; Chair, Vice Chair, Treasurer and Publicity Officer and six management committee members from each of the four Kirklees Neighbourhoods.
The Management Committee meets monthly and takes overall responsibility for the running of the organisation, including control of spending. However day to day decisions are taken by the Executive Committee, made up of four elected officers and a lead management committee member from each of the four neighbourhoods. The Executive Committee also meets regularly with senior management officers from Kirklees Neighbourhood Housing and from other relevant council services.
Background to KFTRA
KFTRA was started in November 1987 by a small group of tenants and residents from the Kirklees area who were worried about the threat to council housing from a new Housing Bill, which consequently became the 1988 Housing Act.
KFTRA’s overall objectives remain the same today as they were in 1987:
- Unite tenants and strengthen the tenants’ movement by supporting and developing local Tenants & Residents Associations (TRA).
- Represent tenants’ views to Kirklees Neighbourhood Housing (KNH), the council and other agencies.
- Defend and extend tenants’ rights and promote council housing.
KFTRA is a Company Limited by Guarantee. This means it is not a profit making company and individual members are protected from having to take personal liability for, what is now, quite a large organisation.
Over the years KFTRA’S membership has grown from about 20 TRAs to over 90 TRAs, with the membership being spread throughout the Kirklees area. There is no membership fee but all TRAs must accept the KFTRA Equal Opportunities Policy, with membership of each individual TRA being open to everyone living in the area which is covered by the association, without discrimination.
KFTRA have employed paid staff since early 1989, the staff team now consists of:
One co-ordinator, two part time fieldworkers, four full time fieldworkers and two part time administrators.
KFTRA’s administrative centre is in the village of Newsome, in the Huddersfield area of Kirklees. There is a general office and a meeting/training room. However whenever possible KFTRA alternate meetings between venues in South and North Kirklees.
KFTRA is funded mainly from the Housing Revenue Account and partly from the General Council Tax Fund. A small amount is raised through fundraising, used for social activities, and extra funds are sought to cover the costs of special events and projects.
KFTRA is a democratic organisation with a strong representative structure. Each member TRA chooses two Delegates to represent their association at KFTRA Delegates Meetings, conferences, events and activities.
Each year at the Annual General Meeting, KFTRA Delegates elect the KFTRA Management Committee. The Committee is made up of four officers; Chair, Vice Chair, Treasurer and Publicity Officer, plus six committee members from each of the four KNH neighbourhoods.
The Management Committee meets monthly and takes overall responsibility for the running of KFTRA, including control of spending. Day to day decisions are taken by an Executive Committee, made up of the four officers and one committee member from each of the four housing neighbourhoods.
