APPROVED Minutes - Housing and Communities 20 08 25
West Dunbartonshire Council · 20 August 2025
Back to Housing & Communities Committee — 20 August 2025 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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HOUSING AND COMMUNITIES COMMITTEE At a Hybrid Meeting of the Housing and Communities Committee held in the Civic Space, 16 Church Street, Dumbarton on Wednesday, 20 August 2025 at 10.00 a.m. Present: Provost Karen Murray Conaghan and Councillors Kevin Crawford, Ian Dickson, Gurpreet Singh Johal, David McBride, Michelle McGinty, Lawrence O’Neill, Lauren Oxley, Martin Rooney, Hazel Sorrel and Sophie Traynor. Attending: Peter Barry, Chief Officer - Housing; John Kerr, Housing Development and Homelessness Manager; Nicola Pettigrew, Housing Operations Manager; Laurence Slavin, Chief Officer - Resources; Alistair Norris, Contracts Manager; Iain Skene, Procurement Manager; Christopher Anderson, Section Head and Principal Solicitor and Nicola Moorcroft, Committee Officer. Also attending: Superintendent Mark Stirling and Superintendent Colin Cameron, Police Scotland; Group Commander Kevin Rennie and Watch Commander Chris Spence, Argyll and Bute, East and West Dunbartonshire, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. Apologies: Apologies for absence were intimated on behalf of Councillor William Rooney. Apologies for absence from Divisional Commander Gary I’Anson, and Chief Inspector Simon Shanks were also noted. Councillor Gurpreet Singh Johal in the Chair STATEMENT BY CHAIR – AUDIO STREAMING Councillor Gurpreet Singh Johal, Chair, advised that the meeting was being audio streamed and broadcast live to the internet and would be available for playback. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST It was noted that there were no declarations of interest in any of the items of business on the agenda.
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RECORDING OF VOTES The Committee agreed that all votes taken during the meeting would be done by roll call vote to ensure an accurate record. OPEN FORUM The Committee noted that no open forum questions had been submitted by members of the public. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING The Minutes of the Meeting of the Housing and Communities Committee held on 7 May 2025 were submitted and approved as a correct record. SCRUTINY REPORTS (a) POLICE SCRUTINY REPORT A report was submitted by the Divisional Commander, Police Scotland providing Members with an update Quarter 1 for 2025/26 on local policing in West Dunbartonshire. After discussion and having heard, Superintendent Mark Stirling and Superintendent Colin Cameron, in further explanation of the report and in answer to Members’ questions, the Committee agreed to note the update provided. (b) FIRE AND RESCUE SCRUTINY REPORT A report was submitted by the Local Senior Officer, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service providing appropriate performance data against priorities in the West Dunbartonshire Local Fire and Rescue Plan. After discussion and having heard Group Commander Kevin Rennie and Watch Commander Chris Spence, Argyll and Bute, East and West Dunbartonshire, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, in further explanation of the report and in answer to Members’ questions, the Committee agreed to note the update provided. HOUSING EMERGENCY DECLARATION ACTION PLAN A report was submitted by the Chief Officer - Housing providing an updating on the Housing Emergency Declaration Action Plan (HEDAP) which was formulated to
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address the emergency following the Council’s housing emergency declaration on 1st May 2024. After discussion and having heard the Chief Officer - Housing and the Housing Development and Homelessness Manager in further explanation and in answer to Members’ questions, the Committee agreed:- (1) to note the progress to date and the implementation of the key actions of the Housing Emergency Declaration Action Plan as summarised in paragraphs 4.1 - 4.10 of the report and in the action plan update within Appendix 1 of the report; and (2) to note the Chief Officer - Housing would continue to bring an update report to future Housing and Communities committee meetings. MORE HOMES WEST DUNBARTONSHIRE – WEST DUNBARTONSHIRE COUNCIL AFFORDABLE HOUSING SUPPLY DELIVERY PROGRAMME A report was submitted by the Chief Officer - Housing providing an update on progress with West Dunbartonshire’s More Homes Programme, which oversees the delivery of the Council’s new home building programme. After discussion and having heard the Chief Officer - Housing, the Housing Development and Homelessness Manager and the Housing Operations Manager, in further explanation and in answer to Members’ questions, the Committee agreed:- (1) to note the content of the report and the progress made to date in the delivery of the Council’s More Homes West Dunbartonshire approach, including the final handover of new homes at the zero carbon Pappert and Mount Pleasant developments which completed two significant housing-led regeneration projects; (2) to approve a temporary suspension of letting activity at Young Street Sheltered Housing Complex until the consultation exercise is completed, regarding future housing provision at Young Street/West Thomson Street; and (3) to approve the Chief Officer - Housing, to directly award a design and build contract to deliver the Silverton regeneration project up to the budgeted costs for project (Dumbuie Avenue and Smollett Road). SCOTTISH SOCIAL HOUSING CHARTER/REGULATION OF SOCIAL HOUSING IN SCOTLAND ANNUAL UPDATE REPORT A report was submitted by the Chief Housing - Officer providing an annual progress report on meeting the requirements of the Scottish Social Housing Charter and the Scottish Housing Regulator’s Regulatory Framework for social housing, including the approval of the Annual Assurance Statement.
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After discussion and having heard the Chief Officer - Housing and the Contracts Manager; in further explanation and in answer to Members’ questions, the Committee agreed:- (1) to note the content of the current Engagement Plan published by the Scottish Housing Regulator (SHR) on 31 March 2025; (2) to note performance in terms of achieving the Scottish Social Housing Charter (SSHC) outcomes during 2024/25; (3) to note that a comprehensive assessment of 2024/25 performance has been carried out and that this has informed a Charter Improvement Plan covering all the outcomes within the SSHC; (4) to note the key areas of focus for the Housing Improvement Board (HIB) during 2025/26 which are outlined at paragraph 4.16 of the report; (5) to note that our assessment of 2024/25 performance will inform the production and publication of the annual Charter Performance Report for tenants and other customers; (6) to approve the Annual Assurance Statement (AAS), attached as Appendix 1 of the report, to be signed by the Housing and Communities Committee Convener, on behalf of the Committee and submitted to the Scottish Housing Regulator as per regulatory requirement; (7) to note and commend the achievements of the West Dunbartonshire Tenants and Residents Organisation (WDTRO) in receiving national recognition for its work by being awarded the “Tenant Group of the Year” and Outstanding Achievement Award” from the Tenant Participation Advisory Service Scotland (TPAS Scotland); and (8) to agree that a further progress report on the Scottish Social Housing Charter be submitted to the November 2025 meeting of the Committee, which will include benchmarking data comparing the Council’s performance against all local authorities in Scotland, as well as Wheatley Homes Glasgow. HOME AT THE HEART - WEST DUNBARTONSHIRE’S RAPID RE-HOUSING TRANSITION PLAN UPDATE AND NEW APPROACHES TO HOMELESSNESS PROGRESS REPORT A report was submitted by the Chief Officer - Housing providing an update on “Home at the Heart” WDC’s Rapid Re-housing Transition Plan (RRTP) for the period 2019- 25 and new approaches to homelessness. After discussion and having heard the Chief Officer - Housing, the Housing Development and Homelessness Manager and the Housing Operations Manager in further explanation and in answer to Members’ questions, the Committee agreed:-
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(1) to note and agree the progress and challenges made in the six years of “Home at the Heart”, which will inform a report to the Scottish Government at the start of October 2025 and note the main objectives for Year 1 of “More than a Roof” in paragraphs 4.27 – 4.43 of the report; (2) to note that the Council’s housing allocation letting target for homeless households is 59% for 2025/26, as set out in paragraph 4.35 of the report and note the Chief Officer - Housing will keep this target under close review based on current modelling projections; (3) to note the continued uncertainty around future funding referenced in paragraph 6 of the report; and (4) to note that Scottish Government funding of £257,000 has been awarded for 2025/26 for the specific delivery of West Dunbartonshire’s Housing Solutions Strategy. (5) that the Housing and Communities Committee Convener, in conjunction with the Chief Officer – Housing, write to both the Scottish Ministers and Westminster to highlight the challenging situation being experienced with Utility Companies which is hampering progress of delivery and directly affecting residents. BUILDING SERVICES PROCUREMENT PROVISION UPDATE A report was submitted by the Chief Officer - Housing advising of updated tender requirements information for Building Services and seeking approval for the award of contracts by the Chief Officer - Housing to successful bidders. Reference was made to two Briefing papers which had been circulated prior to the meeting. ADJOURNMENT The Chair adjourned the meeting for a short recess. The meeting reconvened at 11.40 a.m. with all those Members listed in the sederunt in attendance. After discussion and having heard the Chief Officer - Housing, the Contracts Manager and the Procurement Manager in further explanation and in answer to Members’ questions, the Committee agreed:- (1) to note the contents of the report; (2) to approve the contract award to the contractors listed within the table in paragraph 4.2 of the report; and (3) that any reference to GKL Plumbing & Heating Ltd be amended to GKL Facilities Services Ltd.
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CAPITAL BUDGETARY CONTROL REPORT TO 30 JUNE 2025 (PERIOD 3) A report was submitted by the Chief Officer - Resources providing an update on the HRA capital programme to 30 June 2025 (Period 3). After discussion and having heard the Chief Officer - Housing and the Housing Development and Homelessness Manager, in further explanation and in answer to Members’ questions, the Committee agreed:- (1) to note the current position of the 2025/26 HRA capital estimates and the HRA Capital Plan; (2) to note that in year financial performance would be monitored against a 2025/26 capital expenditure estimate of £55.547m and a 2025/26 capital income estimate of £6.290m, a forecast borrowing requirement of £49.257m; (3) to note that project life performance would be monitored against a project life expenditure estimate of £345.311m and a project life income estimate of £80.378m, a five-year borrowing requirement of £264.933m; and (4) to note that at this early stage all projects are on track regarding achieving their planned completion dates and delivering within the updated capital estimate. HOUSING REVENUE ACCOUNT (HRA) BUDGETARY CONTROL REPORT TO 30 JUNE 2025 (PERIOD 3) A report was submitted by the Chief Officer - Resources advising of the 2025/2026 HRA revenue budget position on 30 June 2025 and the forecast position of the HRA reserves as of 31 March 2026. After discussion and having heard the Chief Officer - Housing in further explanation and in answer to Members’ questions, Councillor Gurpreet Singh Johal, seconded by Councillor David McBride moved that the Committee: The Committee agrees to the recommendations at paragraph 2.1 of the report to: (1) note the HRA revenue account is forecasting a deficit of £0.282m. If required, HRA reserves will be used to fund the adverse variance. (2) note that the forecast deficit would reduce HRA reserves to £0.329m on 31 March 2026. (3) note that forecast HRA revenue reserves are less than the HRA revenue prudential target for 31 March 2026 of £1.160m; and
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(4) note that work will continue to explore opportunities to remove the in-year deficit and to rebuild reserves, including the targeting of efficiencies across all areas of the HRA revenue account budget. In addition, Committee notes the motion approved by the IRED Committee on 13th August 2025 which included the requirement the Housing and Communities Committee to approve: That subject to Housing and Communities Committee approval and subsequent Council approval, Greenspace services are restored as follows: One-Off Costs for the Current year 2025/26 to: Apply a one-off cost of £65,000 from the HRA reserves to fund additional grass cutting capacity over the rest of the year at a cost of £65,000. Contribute £75,000 towards the costs of the retention of ten seasonal workers to cut back the areas of long grass to the 2024/25 levels. Recuring costs for financial year 2026/27 to: Increased recurring cost to fund grass cutting services at a cost of £150,000 to the Housing Revenue Fund for 2026/2027. The Housing and Communities Committee agree the above proposals relating to the Housing Revenue Account (subject to consultation with the West Dunbartonshire Tenants and Residents Organisation in respect of the 2026/27 costs) and approval of the General Spending commitment at Council. The stepped approach means next year that we will restore our grass cutting service capacity to its 2024/25 levels in a planned and achievable way. As an amendment, Councillor Sophie Traynor, seconded by Councillor Ian Dickson, moved that: Committee notes with concern the Labour Administration’s Greenspace motion, which proposes to remove £140,000 from the Housing Revenue Budget in the current year and a further £150,000 in 2026/27. Committee recognises that the Housing Revenue Budget is already under severe financial pressure, with West Dunbartonshire Council having declared a Housing Emergency in 2024 as a result of the extreme pressures facing housing and homelessness services. Committee believes that diverting money ringfenced for housing will only worsen these challenges and exacerbate the crisis, placing an unfair burden on council tenants who may face increased rents as a direct consequence. Committee further notes that no consultation has taken place with tenants regarding the use of their rent contributions for general greenspace maintenance, and that the West Dunbartonshire Tenants and Residents Organisation (WDTRO) has expressed clear opposition to these proposals.
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In light of these concerns, Committee does not support the removal of money from the Housing Revenue Budget for this purpose and agrees that the matter should be referred to next week’s meeting of full Council, to ensure that all elected members have the opportunity to represent their constituents on such an important financial decision. On a roll call vote being taken 5 Members voted for the amendment, Provost Murray Congahan and Councillors Crawford, Dickson, Oxley and Traynor and 6 Members voted for the motion namely, Councillors Johal, McBride, McGinty, O’Neill, Rooney and Sorrell. The motion was, accordingly, declared carried. GENERAL FUND HOUSING AND COMMUNITIES FINANCIAL REPORT 2025/26 AS AT PERIOD 3 (30 JUNE 2025) A report was submitted by the Chief Officer - Resources providing an update on the financial performance to 30 June 2025 (Period 3) of General Fund Revenue services under the remit of the Housing and Communities Committee. After discussion the Committee agreed:- (1) to note that the account currently showed a projected annual adverse variance of £0.097m (10.8% of the net expenditure budget); and (2) to note the progress on efficiencies incorporated into 2025/2026 budgets. The meeting closed at 12:57 p.m.