Decision Maker: Buchan Area Committee

Outcome: For Determination

Is Key Decision?: No

Is Callable In?: No

Date of Decision: January 14, 2025

Purpose: All Local Authorities are required by the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 to have a Scheme of Assistance (SoA) setting out the circumstances in which it will provide homeowners and private tenants with advice, practical support and financial assistance to help them repair, maintain, improve or adapt their homes. A review of Aberdeenshire Council’s SoA is required because of changes to service deliver in response to budget pressures. The Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 also requires local authorities to have a Below Tolerable Standard and Housing Renewal Area Policy within their Local Housing Strategies. These polices have been reviewed in line with the Policy Review and Development Framework and to take account of the recently published Local Housing Strategy 2024-29. The report seeks comments on the policies which will be presented to Communities Committee for approval in February 2025.

Content: Agreed to provide the following comments to Communities Cttee and Capital Plan Group – (1) whilst appreciating that budgets are tight, to highlight the AC’s concern in that by providing grant to clients who have been assessed as having critical or substantial risk and stopping provision of high cost equipment resulting in no longer carrying out early intervention/prevention work, will very likely increase and exacerbate problems elsewhere, that there will be a human impact, and therefore this move does not make good financial sense, (2) under The Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 Scheme of Assistance, to note with concern that those clients assessed with medium or low risk are given advice and assistance for self-help and that this may open them up to exploitation, and (3) that regardless of whether a private homeowner or Council tenant, everyone should be treated in the same way