Argyll Community Housing Association (Acha) Update
Argyll and Bute Council · 3 June 2025
Back to Bute and Cowal Area Committee — 3 June 2025 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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Argyll Community Housing Association Update to Argyll and Bute Council Bute and Cowal Area Committee Michelle Mundie Chief Executive 3rd June 2025
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Energy Efficiency • 55 Solar Photovoltaic panels installed in ACHA properties in Bute and Cowal. Up to 50% saving on energy costs depending on usage. • 26 Air Source Heat Pump systems installed. Tenants have provided information which demonstrates approximately 30% saving on energy costs. 478 tenants from the Bute and Cowal area have received £1,181,990.42 from ACHA’s welfare rights service What we have achieved 2024/25 Adaptations 68 adaptations carried out in Bute and Cowal with a further 22 to be completed. Anti Social Behaviour • 59 Anti Social Behaviour cases closed • 28 of these are in the Bute and Cowal area 2 3 Repairs • 19,567repairs completed • 5,746 of these repairs are in the Bute and Cowal area New Tenancies • 416 new tenancies; • 140 of these are in the Bute and Cowal area Estate Walkabouts Residents liaise with ACHA’s Housing and Property Services teams Review of ACHA’s Sheltered Housing and Factoring Services being carried out Welfare Rights Sheltered Housing/ Factoring Future Development Proposals to be developed for 2 sites ACHA have acquired in Dunoon - up to 41 units
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Performance Benchmarking SHN Benchmarking 2023/24 Overall Satisfaction ACHA: 89.84% Scottish Average: 84.01% ACHA: 90.84% Scottish Average: 81.59% ACHA: 2.18 per 100 homes Scottish Average: 6.59 per 100 homes ACHA: 2.74 per 100 homes Scottish Average: 7.51 per 100 homes ACHA: 0.11% Scottish Average: 4.43% ACHA: 92.03% Scottish Average: 86.49% Rent ArrearsValue for Money Anti Social Behaviour Cases Complaints Quality of Home
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High Street/Russell Street, Rothesay • The Net Zero project in High Street/Russell Street, Rothesay was completed in November 2024. • This involved complete refurbishment and re- design of the buildings, which now have modern open plan living layouts, new kitchens, bathrooms, windows, external wall insulation, solar panels and air source heat pumps. • This brought some previously difficult to let properties back into the letting pool and all the properties were successfully re-let .
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Finbracken, Sandbank • Extensive works have been carried out at Finbracken in Sandbank, Cowal through our exemplar estate projects. • The work involved replacing windows, balcony railings, fitting of external wall insulation and work carried out to the bin stores. • Also landscaping work and replanting an avenue of trees. • Unfortunately two historical, distressed trees which commemorated the birth of local twin sisters had to be felled. However a bench has been made from the wood and installed and there is to be a plaque fitted and a ceremony held in the near future.
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Ferfadd Court, Rothesay • The old communal heating and hot water system has been replaced with a quantum storage heating system. • Each of the 33 sheltered housing properties now has an individual direct feed hot water system. • Alongside the replacement heating system, a full rewire of the building has been carried out.
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Working with our Communities Community Action Fund ACHA School Award Scheme 13 schools in Argyll and Bute have received an award of up to £1,000. 3 of the schools are located in the Bute and Cowal area: Sandbank Primary, Innellan Primary and Toward Primary. New Parliament Place Allotments Community Action Fund 38 registered charities have received an award of up to £500. 4 of the groups are based in the Bute and Cowal area; Dunoon Burgh Hall Trust, Dunoon Amateur Boxing Club, Kilmun Hall and Recreation Association and Colintraive Village Hall. ACHA School Awards Scheme
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ACHA is changing….. an update on our plans New Vision, Mission and Values A new corporate plan A new target operating model A values pilot New job roles A new staffing structure
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ACHA office, Fairmile, Dunoon • ACHA’s staff in Cowal have moved into new office facilities at Fairmile. • The new office provides modern, open-plan working facilities in the Digital Dock. • Board room/training suite in the Mylne Room.