Perth and Kinross Council's Housing Service is set to publish its Annual Assurance Statement, confirming to tenants that it is meeting national regulations and requirements.
The Housing Service is responsible for delivering high-quality services for all tenants and other customers. We are required to publish an Annual Assurance Statement in line with Scottish Housing Regulator (SHR) guidance to confirm to tenants and the SHR that we are meeting all regulatory requirements, and to also highlight areas for improvement.
The statement is made available to tenants to give them assurance that the Council is meeting its responsibilities and providing quality services.
A report asking Councillors to approve the Annual Assurance Statement for 2024 to 2025 will be considered at a meeting of the Housing and Social Wellbeing Committee on Wednesday 1 October.
During 2024/2025, Perth and Kinross Council's Housing Service complied with all but one of the regulatory requirements outlined the Scottish Housing Regulator's Framework. This confirms that we:
- met standards and outcomes in the Scottish Social Housing Charter for tenants, people experiencing homelessness, and others who use our services
- fulfilled our legal obligations relating to housing and homelessness, equality and human rights, and tenant and resident safety
The only one area of non-compliance identified relates to the management of our Gypsy/Traveller sites. In November 2024, SHR carried out an investigation into the Double Dykes and Bobbin Mill Gypsy/Traveller sites. The SHR's findings concluded that Perth and Kinross Council had not met its obligations under the Scottish Social Housing Charter.
To provide assurance and demonstrate progress, the Council is now required to submit quarterly updates to the SHR under an agreed Engagement Plan. To date, two quarterly updates have been submitted, and we have received positive feedback from the SHR on the progress made.
Overall, the report confirms that we achieved the standards and outcomes in the Scottish Social Housing Charter for tenants, people who are homeless and others who use our services. We complied with legal obligations relating to housing and homelessness, equality and human rights.
Committee Convener, Councillor Tom McEwan, said: "The Council's Housing Service continues to deliver very high levels of service, with strong performance across all areas despite ongoing challenges such as the rising cost-of-living. In many areas we are exceeding the standards required by the SHR. This has been achieved in the context of maintaining our rents at affordable levels, demonstrating our commitment to delivering a value for money service for our tenants.
"We were disappointed with the SHR findings about our Gypsy/Traveller sites. A chalet replacement and site improvement programme is currently underway at Double Dykes thanks to over £6m of investment from the Scottish Government and the Council which will completely transform accommodation at the site. We are also in the early stages of consulting residents at Bobbin Mill about a chalet replacement and improvement programme there.
"To ensure continuous overall improvement across Housing Services we have an Action Plan in place to build on progress, implement improvement actions and ensure ongoing compliance with regulations."
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