Long-serving Lister Director to retire after more than 30 years’ service
Mr Cant has been at Lister for over 32 years and has been a constant part of the success of Lister, the first registered housing co-op in Scotland.
The long-serving Director of Lister Housing Co-operative, in central Edinburgh, Alistair Cant, has announced his retiral, which will take place later on this year.
He has been at Lister for over 32 years and has been a constant part of the success of Lister, the first registered housing co-operative in Scotland. Before that, he worked in local authorities housing in England, in Walsall, Leeds and then in Kirklees, West Yorkshire. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH), having originally become a member of the CIH through a NALGO correspondence course. In those days, he said, "Zoom was an ice lolly".
Highlights at Lister include several ground-breaking energy conservation and renewable projects; promoting good financial governance, including the paying off of both loans on Lister's properties; helping on a SFHA working group that produced the major repairs sinking fund guidance; and participation in a domestic abuse working party in Edinburgh.
Jennifer McCuaig, Chair of Lister's Management Committee, said: "Alistair has served the Management Committee and tenants for a long, long time with dedication and skill. His warm manner and expert advice have been a great help as well as his role leading the team at the Lister office."
Alistair Cant said: "I shall miss my day-to-day contact with the committee members, staff and tenants, never mind these wonderful old buildings.
"After 30 years of winging-it, I have finally realised, a couple of years ago, that I can do the job well, only now to find the age of 65 has crept up on me unexpectedly.
"I wish the co-op a long and successful future."
Lister will be advertising shortly for his replacement, having completed the normal options appraisal process.