Purpose

All Local Authorities are required by the
Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 to have a Scheme of Assistance (SoA)
setting out the circumstances in which it will provide homeowners
and private tenants with advice, practical support and financial
assistance to help them repair, maintain, improve or adapt their
homes. A review of Aberdeenshire Council’s SoA is required
because of changes to service deliver in response to budget
pressures.

The Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 also requires local authorities to
have a Below Tolerable Standard and Housing Renewal Area Policy
within their Local Housing Strategies. These polices have been
reviewed in line with the Policy Review and Development Framework
and to take account of the recently published Local Housing
Strategy 2024-29.

The report seeks comments on the policies which will be presented
to Communities Committee for approval in February 2025.

Content

The Formartine Area Committee provided the
following comments to Communities Committee:
 
a)   
How many people are currently on the waiting list and how many
applications are due to be added to the waiting list?
b)   
Concerns were raised about the withdrawal of early intervention and
prevention works which will have an impact on Health and Social
Care and delayed discharges, and
c)   
As regards housing renewal areas, this is very resource intensive
and is it applicable in Aberdeenshire?