Housing campaigner joins the Cabinet
Mayor Marvin Rees has appointed experienced housing and mental health campaigner Councillor Tom Renhard as the new Cabinet Member for Housing Delivery and Homes. Cllr Renhard, who was elected as a Labour member for Horfield earlier this month, is a director at tenant’s rights group and community union ACORN. He also served on the Bristol Homes Board for almost four years, supporting the city’s work to get more affordable housing built in the city. The priorities for Cllr Renhard include tackling the housing crisis by ensuring that the city builds 2,000 homes a year by 2024, of which 1,000 are affordable. There will also be a focus on pursuing a Living Rent in the city to make renting more affordable, and taking a ‘housing first’ approach to supporting people with complex needs who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. Mavin Rees, Mayor of Bristol, said: "Addressing the housing crisis and building more affordable homes remains one of our top priorities, and we know that Tom has a lot of experience working in housing and as a new councillor will bring a fresh perspective.
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“Tom has worked with ACORN supporting tenants and campaigning for housing rights for many years, and he has a vast amount of knowledge to share with us. Providing homes that people can afford and creating communities where people feel proud to live remain two of our main goals.” Cllr Renhard said: “I am deeply humbled to have been asked to serve as part of Mayor Marvin Rees’ Cabinet. I am looking forward to hitting the ground running and building on the strong foundations that have already been laid down. “I have been involved in campaigning for greater protections for renters in the private-rented sector in Bristol and I am passionate about making sure communities are involved in the decision-making about what goes on in their area. “There is a lot to do and it will take strong trusted partnerships to achieve our aspirations, while continuing to be a leading city that innovates and delivers.” Working with the Cabinet positions and portfolios now announced, the Mayor will retain direct responsibility for transport, helping to get people moving around the city in a clean and sustainable way, as well as planning and city design.
