Major new housing agency launched

Communities Scotland, the new national agency to replace
Scottish Homes, was officially launched by Jackie Baillie, minister
for social justice.

The re-vamped agency will concentrate its work on social
inclusion and regeneration of communities. The chief executive, Bob
Millar, also announced the appointment of two key members of
staff.

Heather Koronka, formerly chief executive of Objective 3
(Scotland), becomes Communities Scotland’s new director of
regeneration. Koronka will head up the neighbourhood renewal
centre, managing social inclusion partnerships and building better
links with the voluntary sector.

Angiolina Foster, formerly deputy director of housing for
Edinburgh Council, becomes director of regulation and inspection.
Foster is responsible for the regulation of all social housing in
Scotland, including council owned property, and will head up the
agency’s homelessness function.