Draft Minutes - Housing and Communities 19 11 25
West Dunbartonshire Council · 19 November 2025
Back to Housing & Communities Committee — 19 November 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, 19 November 2025 at 10.00 a.m. Present: 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; Alan Douglas, Chief Officer - Regulatory and Regeneration; Craig Wilson, Building Services Manager; Iain Skene, Procurement Manager; Claire McKay, Housing Development Co-ordinator; Ryan Chalmers, Section Head (Revenues and Benefits); Christopher Anderson, Section Head and Principal Solicitor; Nicola Moorcroft and Lynn Straker, Committee Officers. Also attending: Divisional Commander Gary I’Anson 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 Provost Karen Murray Conaghan and Councillor William Rooney. 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 20 August 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 2 for 2025/26 on local policing in West Dunbartonshire. After discussion and having heard, the Divisional Commander, the Superintendent and the Chief Officer - Regulatory and Regeneration, 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 the Group Commander and Watch Commander in further explanation of the report and in answer to Members’ questions, the Committee agreed to note the update provided. HOUSING SERVICES DELIVERY PLAN 2025/26 MID-YEAR PROGRESS REPORT A report was submitted by the Chief Officer - Housing providing an update on progress of the Housing Services Delivery Plan 2025/26.
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After discussion and having heard the Chief Officer - Housing, the Housing Development and Homelessness Manager, the Housing Operations Manager and the Building Services Manager, in further explanation and in answer to Members’ questions, the Committee agreed to note the progress achieved at mid-year. HOUSING EMERGENCY ACTION PLAN A report was submitted by the Chief Officer - Housing providing an update on the Housing Emergency Action Plan (HEDAP) which was formulated to address the emergency following the Council’s housing emergency declaration on 1 May 2024. After discussion and having heard the Chief Officer - Housing, the Housing Development and Homelessness Manager and the Housing Development Co- ordinator 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; (2) to note a further West Dunbartonshire Housing Emergency summit would be hosted by the Council on 2nd February 2026; (3) to note the Scottish Governments response to the national emergency in paragraphs 4.11 - 4.12 of the report and what it means for West Dunbartonshire Council’s Housing and Homelessness services summarised in paragraphs 4.13 - 4.18 of the report; (4) to note the Housing Bill passed through Parliament on 30 September 2025 and note the future increased statutory requirements on the Council’s Housing and Homelessness services; and (5) to note the Chief Officer - Housing would continue to bring an update report on the HEDAP to future Housing and Communities committee meetings. ADJOURNMENT The Chair adjourned the meeting for a short recess. The meeting reconvened at 11.45 a.m. with all those Members listed in the sederunt in attendance. ‘MORE HOMES WEST DUNBARTONSHIRE’ – STRATEGIC HOUSING INVESTMENT PLAN (SHIP) 2025/26 - 2029/30 A report was submitted by the Chief Officer - Housing seeking approval for the More Homes West Dunbartonshire Strategic Housing Investment Plan (SHIP) for 2025/26 - 2029/30 which requires to be submitted to the Scottish Government.
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After discussion and having heard the Chief Officer - Housing, the Housing Development and Homelessness Manager and the Building Services Manager, in further explanation and in answer to Members’ questions, the Committee agreed:- (1) the draft SHIP 2026/27 - 2030/31 as appended to the report, designed to continue the delivery of an ambitious programme of new affordable homes in compliance with the West Dunbartonshire Local Housing Strategy 2022 - 2027; and (2) to note the SHIP is wider in scope than in recent years, with a requirement by the Scottish Government to demonstrate more clearly its contribution towards addressing local and national priorities such as homelessness, child poverty and the housing emergency; and (3) to invite the Chief Officer - Housing to implement the investment plan inclusive of the Council’s new home delivery in partnership with relevant stakeholders. 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 and the Housing Development and Homelessness 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: - (a) site starts at the Bonhill Gap site development (Campbell Street/Braehead), Bank Street and Queen Mary Avenue; (b) the formal completions of 133 new homes for social rent in 2025/26 to date which has led to 117 children being taken out of a homeless environment; and (c) amendments to the handover dates of the Gilmour Avenue and Willox Park Phase 1 projects; (2) to recognise the significant achievement of the Clydebank East new build regeneration project, which was awarded the Affordable Housing Development of the Year Award in the Herald Property Awards in September 2025; and
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(3) to note the continued 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. SCOTTISH SOCIAL HOUSING CHARTER ANNUAL BENCHMARKING AND MID- YEAR PROGRESS REPORT A report was submitted by the Chief Officer - Housing providing benchmarking information relating to 2024/25 and a mid-year update in terms of how the Council’s Housing and Homelessness service is performing against the Scottish Social Housing Charter indicators and meeting the requirements of the Scottish Housing Regulator’s Regulatory Framework. After discussion and having heard the Chief Officer - Housing in further explanation the Committee agreed:- (i) to note the content of the report recognising how the Council performed compared to its peers during 2024/25 and mid-year progress in terms of meeting the outcomes of the Scottish Social Housing Charter. (ii) to note that following the approval of the Annual Assurance Statement by the Committee on 20 August 2025, this has been submitted to the Scottish Housing Regulator as per the regulatory requirement and notes the progress made in relation to areas of non-compliance highlighted. (iii) to note that the annual Charter Performance Report for 2024/25 has been published and a summary will be provided to all tenants with the winter edition of the Housing News, and (iv) that a full annual progress report on the Scottish Social Housing Charter and Regulatory Framework inclusive of the Council’s Annual Assurance Statement will be submitted to the August 2026 meeting of the Housing and Communities Committee. FORMER TENANTS RENT ARREARS WRITE-OFFS A report was submitted by the Chief Officer - Housing seeking approval for the write- off of rent arrears for former tenants. After discussion and having heard the Chief Officer - Housing, the Section Head (Revenues and Benefits) and the Housing Operations Manager, in further explanation and in answer to Members’ questions, the Committee agreed to approve the write off of former tenant arrears accounts, totalling £135,418.22.
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BUILDING SERVICES PROCUREMENT (APPROVAL REQUIRED TO AWARD) A report was submitted by the Chief Officer - Housing seeking approval of completed tender processes for Building Services. After discussion and having heard the Chief Officer - Housing, the Procurement Manager and the Chief Officer - Regulatory and Regeneration, in further explanation and in answer to Members’ questions, the Committee agreed:- (1) to note the contents of the report; and (2) approve the contract award to the contractor listed within the table in paragraph 4.2 of the report. BUILDING SERVICES PROCUREMENT (APPROVAL REQUIRED TO TENDER) A report was submitted by the Chief Officer - Housing seeking approval of updated tender requirements information for Building Services. After discussion and having heard the Chief Officer - Housing, the Procurement Manager and the Building Services 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 procurement processes to tender the requirements listed within the table in paragraph 4.4 of the report; and (3) to delegate approval to award contracts to successful bidders to the Chief Officer - Housing. * Councillor McBride left the meeting at the point. HOUSING REVENUE ACCOUNT (HRA) REVENUE BUDGETARY CONTROL REPORT TO 31 AUGUST (PERIOD 5) A report was submitted by the Chief Officer - Resources advising of the 2025/2026 HRA revenue budget position on 31 August 2025 and the forecast position of the HRA reserves as of 31 March 2026. After discussion the Committee agreed:- (1) to note a projected favourable variance (underspend) on the HRA Revenue Account of £1.150m, a significant improvement on the period 3 forecast; (2) to note the forecast 31 March 2026 HRA reserve position of £1.761m which is £0.601m above the HRA prudential target of £1.160m; and
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(3) to note further opportunities to deliver an increased HRA surplus, including the targeting of efficiencies across all areas of the HRA revenue account budget, would be explored. HOUSING REVENUE ACCOUNT (HRA) CAPITAL BUDGETARY CONTROL REPORT TO 31 AUGUST 2025 (PERIOD 5) A report was submitted by the Chief Officer - Resources providing an update on the HRA capital programme to 31 August 2025 (Period 5). After discussion the Committee agreed:- (1) to note the position of the 2025/26 HRA capital budget and the HRA capital plan as 31 August 2025; (2) to note project life performance is monitored against a £345.311m project life expenditure estimate, a £80.379m project life income estimate and a £264.932m five-year borrowing requirement; (3) to note all projects are currently on track to achieve planned completion dates and that eleven projects are forecast to deliver a total underspend of £6.481m against five-year project life budgets; (4) to note in year financial performance was monitored against a 2025/26 capital expenditure budget of £55.547m, 2025/26 capital income budget of £6.290m and a one-year borrowing requirement of £49.257m; and (5) to note thirty-two projects are reporting as off track in 2025/26 with an anticipated under spend of £9.812m against 2025/26 budgets reducing the forecast one-year borrowing requirement to £39.445m. GENERAL FUND HOUSING AND COMMUNITIES FINANCIAL REPORT 2025/26 AS AT PERIOD 5 (31 AUGUST 2025) A report was submitted by the Chief Officer - Resources providing an update on the financial performance to 31 August 2025 (Period 5) of General Fund Revenue services under the remit of the Housing and Communities Committee. After discussion the Committee agreed:- (1) to note the account currently showed a projected annual favourable variance of £0.002m; and (2) to note the progress on efficiencies incorporated into 2025/2026 budgets. The meeting closed at 12.24 p.m.