Veterans Scotland - Housing Maintenance Arrangements
North Lanarkshire Council · 31 August 2022
Back to Housing Committee — 31 August 2022 and its agenda
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North Lanarkshire Council Report Housing Committee Does this report require to be approved? ☐ Yes ☒ No Ref BL/MH/IP Date 31/08/22 Veterans Scotland – Housing Maintenance arrangements From Brian Lafferty, Head of Business (Housing Property and Projects) E-mail HendryM@northlan.gov.uk Telephone Michelle Hendry, 07960974797 1. Background 1.1 Committee approved in May 2018, to formalise the long-standing agreement between North Lanarkshire Council and the Veterans Scotland (previously Scottish Veterans Garden City Association – ‘SVGCA’) charity, to maintain and repair all Veterans properties within the North Lanarkshire area. The scope of works issued was generally emergency repairs as well as statutory and legislative maintenance requirements. 1.2 A Service Level Agreement (SLA) was also implemented at this time, ensuring clarity and transparency for both parties. This SLA stipulated periodic review of the current arrangement to confirm the process remained effective and satisfactory. Executive Summary The purpose of this report is to provide an update on the housing repairs and maintenance agreement between North Lanarkshire Council and the Veterans Scotland charity. Recommendations It is recommended that the Housing Committee: (1) Note the contents of this report. The Plan for North Lanarkshire Priority Improve North Lanarkshire's resource base Ambition statement (1) Ensure a housing mix that supports social inclusion and economic growth
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1.3 The total value for works issued against the 26 properties within North Lanarkshire, owned by the Scottish Veterans, has not exceeded £10,000.00 per annum. These costs have all been fully recovered from the landlord, in line with the details contained within the SLA. 2. Report 2.1 Veterans Housing Scotland is a registered charity which aims to provide appropriate accommodation to ex Service, Police, Fire and Merchant Marine personnel. With a presence throughout a number of locations within Scotland, there are currently 26 such properties within North Lanarkshire. 2.2 North Lanarkshire Council, through the Head of Housing Property & Projects, have maintained these 26 properties, providing a comprehensive repairs service similar to that offered to all council house tenants within the authority. All emergency, minor routine and legislative works have been instructed by NLC, with only major or Capital works not covered by the arrangement. 2.3 On the 11 April 2022, Veterans Scotland contacted the Service, to notify their intention not to extend the current arrangement beyond the expiry date of January 2024. They also enquired if North Lanarkshire would be agreeable to an earlier termination date, as they were wanted to implement new maintenance arrangements in line with that in place throughout their property portfolio. 2.4 Following detailed discussions with NLC Legal Services, it was agreed that the contractual agreement would be terminated on the 3 May 2022. This was agreeable to both parties and steps were taken to ensure a smooth and seamless transition. 2.5 Actual maintenance costs for 2022/23 were calculated, with a final invoice issued by NLC. This has been fully settled in line with the SLA. 2.6 All 26 properties have now been deleted from the Councils Repairs and Maintenance system, HSMS. This will ensure no further works can be issued against these properties. Full maintenance history remains available, however, and can be provided to any future contractors if required. 3. Measures of success 3.1 A seamless transition, ensuring no disruption to Veterans Scotland tenants was a priority. Also, maintaining a cordial and professional relationship with the Scottish Veterans, an organisation we have worked with over a number of years, was desirable.
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4. Supporting documentation 4.1 No appendices. Brian Lafferty Head of Business (Housing Property and Projects) 5.1 Public Sector Equality Duty and Fairer Scotland Duty Does the report contain information that has an impact as a result of the Public Sector Equality Duty and/or Fairer Scotland Duty? Yes ☐ No ☒ If Yes, please provide a brief summary of the impact? If Yes, has an assessment been carried out and published on the council’s website? https://www.northlanarkshire.gov.uk/your-community/equalities/equality-and-fairer- scotland-duty-impact-assessments Yes ☐ No ☐ 5.2 Financial impact Does the report contain any financial impacts? Yes ☐ No ☒ If Yes, have all relevant financial impacts have been discussed and agreed with Financial Solutions? Yes ☐ No ☐ If Yes, please provide a brief summary of the impact? 5.3 HR policy impact Does the report contain any HR policy or procedure impacts? Yes ☐ No ☒ If Yes, have all relevant HR impacts have been discussed and agreed with People and Organisational Development? Yes ☐ No ☐ If Yes, please provide a brief summary of the impact? 5.4 Legal impact Does the report contain any legal impacts (such as general legal matters, statutory considerations (including employment law considerations), or new legislation)? Yes ☐ No ☒ If Yes, have all relevant legal impacts have been discussed and agreed with Legal and Democratic Solutions? Yes ☐ No ☐ If Yes, please provide a brief summary of the impact? 5.5 Data protection impact Does the report / project / practice contain or involve the processing of personal data? Yes ☐ No ☒ If Yes, is the processing of this personal data likely to result in a high risk to the data subject? Yes ☐ No ☒
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If Yes, has a Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) been carried out and e- mailed to dataprotection@northlan.gov.uk Yes ☐ No ☐ 5.6 Technology / Digital impact Does the report contain information that has an impact on either technology, digital transformation, service redesign / business change processes, data management, or connectivity / broadband / Wi-Fi? Yes ☐ No ☒ If Yes, please provide a brief summary of the impact? Where the impact identifies a requirement for technology, has an assessment been carried out (or scheduled) by the Enterprise Architecture Governance Group (EAGG)? Yes ☐ No ☐ 5.7 Environmental / Carbon impact Does the report / project / practice contain information that has an impact on any environmental or carbon matters? Yes ☐ No ☒ If Yes, please provide a brief summary of the impact? 5.8 Communications impact Does the report contain any information that has an impact on the council’s communications activities? Yes ☐ No ☒ If Yes, please provide a brief summary of the impact? 5.9 Risk impact Is there a risk impact? Yes ☐ No ☒ If Yes, please provide a brief summary of the key risks and potential impacts, highlighting where the risk(s) are assessed and recorded (e.g. Corporate or Service or Project Risk Registers), and how they are managed?
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