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 Committee agreed to provide the following
comments to Communities Committee on the draft Scheme of
Assistance, draft Below Tolerable Standards and draft Housing
Renewal Policies:
 

·        
Concerns regarding the move away from prevention to critical need
care and the wider impacts on the individual and long-term cost to
the Council.

·        
Concerns regarding the consultative process to date with
Members.