Falkirk Council's Housing Improvement Programme is set to meet all its targets, it was reported to the Housing and Social Care Committee.
The programme, covering a range of issues, was drawn up following the 2008 inspection of the housing service by the national Scottish Housing Regulator (formerly Communities Scotland).
The inspectors return next month for a follow-up inspection when they will be shown that 93 out of 99 key actions in the programme - covering the whole service including housing management, property maintenance and homelessness - have been successfully addressed.
Only six, which require co-ordination with other agencies, have not yet been fully concluded.
As well as reducing the number of homeless people being accommodated in B&B, the successful introduction of the Council's new choice-based Allocations Policy at the beginning of this year ensures that 50% of all lets are available to homeless households.
A housing stock survey is also underway which will provide detailed information on repairs and maintenance issues and enable the Council to create a capital programme to meet the Scottish Quality Housing Standard by 2015.
The Council is achieving 100% performance in gas safety checks which have to be carried out within 12 months of the previous one.
Tenants are also informed of their Right to Repair which means they can appoint another contractor if the Council fails to carry out the work within a set timescale.
Other achievements include:
* progress on reaching and beating targets on issues like responding the complaints and inquiries within a set timescale
* using information from service-users, to improve services
* introducing quality assurance processes to ensure consistency in assessments and decision-making in housing allocations
* improving information on housing and homelessness to the public and
* setting up a duty officer system at the Accommodation Resource Centre ensuring that homeless applicants can be interviewed on the same day
"Housing Services have consistently met and beaten the targets we set in the Improvement Programme following the Scottish Housing Regulator's initial inspection in 2008," said Councillor Jim Blackwood, Convener of Housing and Social Care.
"We have now met virtually all the key actions and I am confident that the inspectors will agree that we are creating the best quality service to the people of the Falkirk Council area."
(GK)
Time and date
CONSTRUCTION DIRECTORY
Latest Construction News
26/11/2024
Scottish Water has unveiled its largest-ever procurement initiative, aiming to modernise the nation's water and wastewater infrastructure while safeguarding the environment. The program, named Delivery Vehicle 4, is valued between £5 billion and £9 billion and is set to run from 2027 to 2033, with ...
26/11/2024
The City of Edinburgh Council has granted planning permission, subject to conditions, for the refurbishment of Calton Square, an office building currently occupied by Baillie Gifford until the end of December 2025. Promoted by Ardstone Capital on behalf of Manova Partners, the project aims to ...
26/11/2024
First Minister John Swinney, MSP for Perthshire North, praised the progress being made on the construction of the new Perth High School during a visit on Friday, 22 November. He was joined by Jim Fairlie, MSP for Perthshire South and Kinross-shire, alongside senior Perth and Kinross Councillors, ...
26/11/2024
A state-of-the-art playpark has officially opened at King George V Park in Bearsden, following the completion of a £100,000 refurbishment. Funded by a combination of East Dunbartonshire Council (EDC) Capital Funding and the Scottish Government’s Renewing Scotland’s Play Parks initiative, the ...
26/11/2024
Fife Council has launched a public consultation, inviting residents, businesses, and organizations to contribute ideas and propose sites for inclusion in the next Local Development Plan, known as Fife's Place Plan. The council is calling on community councils, landowners, and developers to share ...
26/11/2024
The Chief Executive of East Lothian Council has announced she is to retire in February 2025. Monica Patterson who has been Chief Executive for almost five years, has spent most of her professional career working in local government. Prior to joining East Lothian Council in 2010, she was Head of ...
25/11/2024
West of Scotland Housing Association (WSHA) and Connect Modular have jointly submitted a planning application to Glasgow City Council for the development of 33 affordable homes in Cowlairs. This project aligns with the wider Cowlairs Park regeneration scheme and the city's ambitious housing ...
25/11/2024
Arc-Tech (Scotland) has successfully completed a £6m Mechanical and Electrical (M&E) services package for the Lost Shore Surf Resort in Edinburgh. The state-of-the-art resort, which opened its doors earlier this month, features a range of amenities, including a wave pool, luxury lodges, and ...
25/11/2024
Scottish Water has successfully completed the construction of a groundbreaking hydro energy generation scheme at Whiteadder Reservoir in East Lothian. This innovative project, believed to be the first of its kind in Europe, will harness the power of water to offset a significant portion of the ...
25/11/2024
Work is set to commence on a £6.5 million project to upgrade the Double Dykes Gypsy/Traveller site near Perth. The initiative aims to replace outdated chalets with modern, energy-efficient accommodation and implement significant site improvements. Perth & Kinross Council secured £3.9 million from ...