Forres Community Council chairman Shaun Moat tenders resignation due to work commitments
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THE leader of a group of volunteers working for the town is stepping down.
Due to personal business commitments, Forres Community Council (FCC) chairman Shaun Moat has informed his colleagues that their next virtual meeting on Thursday, April 15, will be his last.
He explained: “This has been a hard decision as I really enjoy serving the community but my business needs to take priority just now. I run a local social media and digital marketing agency which has just purchased a web design company in Elgin. A lot more of my time will be taken up servicing existing clients and building on it so I can’t give FCC the commitment it needs.”
He added: “I am also looking to move outside FCC’s boundary so this would also stop me from holding the position.”
Shaun joined FCC in 2018, going on to be the secretary then, last year, becoming chairman when fellow local businessman Graham Hilditch resigned after three years.
Shaun said: “Before I became chairman, during the pandemic, FCC wasn’t meeting up and there was a lack of joined up approached with other organisations. We now meet virtually on the third Thursday of every month via MS Team, which has allowed us to get a regular police attendance, something that hadn’t happened for a long time. I also have regular face-to-face meetings with the town’s police inspector.”
The former chairman of Forres Area Soccer Sevens plans to carry on chairing Osprey Bus and Forres Skate Park Initiative.
He said: “If you want a great town to live in, it’s important to give back where you can.”
Moray councillor and former FCC chairwoman Lorna Creswell believes Shaun’s boots will be hard to fill.
She said: “Shaun is good at engaging the other community councillors so the meetings are efficiently run.
“He will be a hard act to follow.
“Chairing is a big responsibility as, alongside the secretary, they have to prepare agendas, guide meetings and ensure minutes are corrected and distributed. Communication is key.”
She added: “I wish Shaun all the very best.”
