The Communities, Housing and Public Protection Committee convened to address key issues impacting Aberdeen residents. The committee approved a refreshed Housing Allocation Policy, endorsed the Aberdeen City Local Housing Strategy 2025-2030, and agreed to continue the Rent Assistance Fund, referring it to the 2026/27 Housing Revenue Account (HRA) budget process to be considered as a permanent provision. Councillors also discussed the ongoing situation with RAAC¹ in council-owned properties, and received an update on Police Scotland's performance in the city.

Aberdeen City Local Housing Strategy 2025 – 2030 Approved

The committee approved the Aberdeen City Local Housing Strategy (LHS) 2025 – 2030, a comprehensive plan outlining the council's approach to housing over the next five years. The strategy includes a Housing Supply Target Methodology and was developed following a consultation, the feedback from which was noted by the committee. Councillor were to be provided with details on the number of private renters who participated in the consultation.

As part of the LHS, the committee also approved a refreshed Scheme of Assistance Statement, which aligns with the Local Housing Strategy.

The Chief Officer – Housing has been instructed to submit the LHS to the Scottish Ministers and publish it on the council’s website, and to report progress towards each of the strategic priorities to the Communities, Housing and Public Protection Committee on an annual basis.

Housing Allocation Policy Refreshed

The committee approved the refreshed Housing Allocation Policy. The Chief Officer – Housing has been instructed to implement the revised policy.

Rent Assistance Fund to be Considered for Permanent Adoption

Following a successful pilot, the committee agreed to continue the Rent Assistance Fund and to consider making it a permanent provision. The Rent Assistance Fund was referred to the 2026/27 HRA budget process with a recommendation to adopt it as a permanent, business-as-usual provision. The committee also approved the updated criteria and management procedure of the fund for 2025/2026.

The Chief Officer – Housing is authorised to make changes to the criteria and management procedure of the Rent Assistance Fund as they consider appropriate, informing members of any such changes through Service Updates. They were also instructed to formally evaluate and report the impact of the Rent Assistance Fund every two years to the Communities, Housing and Public Protection Committee.

RAAC Update

The committee received an update on the ongoing situation regarding RAAC in council-owned properties. The committee agreed to withdraw Option 3 (roof on – roof off) for addressing RAAC, as no homeowners had expressed interest in it.

The Chief Officer – Corporate Landlord was instructed to continue to engage with homeowners in relation to Voluntary Acquisition, and to review this and report back to the committee in early 2026 on whether this option should remain open into future financial years.

Demolition plans for council-owned blocks have been suspended whilst engagement was undertaken with homeowners, and the Chief Officer – Capital was instructed to recommence the planning, preparation, engagement and mitigation works for this with immediate effect.

The committee noted that engineering inspections of properties continue and that all properties inspected so far have been identified as having a high risk (as per the IStructE guidance²). The council, as an enforcement authority, continues to monitor this professional advice and will continue to advise all homeowners of their responsibilities under the relevant legislation.

The Chief Officer – Corporate Landlord was instructed to take forward master planning of the site, considering the scenario of a fully cleared site and any alternative scenarios.

The committee recognised that this continues to be a difficult situation for homeowners and welcomed the continued offer of mental health support from SAMH³ for those affected by this situation.

Police Scotland Performance Report

The committee received a Police Scotland Performance Report and noted it. The committee agreed that Police Scotland police by consensus and it is pleasing to see that the vast majority of citizens in the recent feedback underpins that consensus.

The committee noted the 3-year average increase in crimes against society regarding knife crime, noting the increase in possession of offensive weapons in Schools used in criminal activities. The Chief Officer – Education and Lifelong Learning was instructed to bring a report to Education and Children’s Services Committee as soon as possible outlining an analysis of both council and Police Scotland data with regard to use of offensive weapons in schools and what actions our schools are taking to reduce incidents involving weapons.

The Divisional Commander would ensure that all Community Councils had a point of contact within Police Scotland. Police Scotland would investigate the possibility of providing more raw data statistics in future performance reports rather than a percentage which would make the information more digestible, and would ascertain whether there was the potential for there to be an increase in the amount of road policing officers and to report back in due course.

Police Scotland will produce a short thematic report on the police station hubs in Aberdeen, which would provide details on the new model for police stations in the city.

New Housing Capital Programme Delivery: Projects Update

The committee noted the progress in the delivery of the programme of social housing sites across the city, and that this would be the final reporting for the completed developments at Summerhill, Tillydrone, Kaimhill and Clinterty. Future updates regarding the New Housing Capital Programme Delivery will be reported to the Communities, Housing and Public Protection Committee through the Housing Board Bi-Annual Report.

Cluster Risk Registers and Assurance Map Reporting 2025

The committee noted the Cluster Risk Registers and Assurance Maps. In relation to the identified risk of non-compliance with Interventions/food Law code of practice due to lack of qualified officers, the Executive Director – Families & Communities, was aware that discussions with other authorities in relation to shared services was ongoing and would report back to Councillor Nicoll in this regard.

Performance Report

The committee noted the performance report. The Chief Officer – Housing will provide details to Councillor Gordon Graham outwith the meeting in relation to page 80 of the report and the year to date figure for repossessions and how this figure compared with previous years.

Committee Business Planner

The committee noted the reasons for delay for items 12 (Aberdeen City Strategic Housing Investment Fund) and 33 (Cost Neutral Environmental Enforcement), and noted the committee business planner.