Why we are engaging with Angus Council (Angus)
We are engaging with Angus about its services for people who are homeless, service quality, stock quality and tenant and resident safety.
During 2022/23 we reviewed and compared the data for all local authorities from the Scottish Government’s national homelessness statistics and the Annual Returns on the Charter. We also spoke to all local authorities to gather further information and assurance about their homelessness services. To assess the risks to people who are threatened with or experiencing homelessness we will engage with all local authorities during 2023/24 with a focus on the provision of appropriate temporary accommodation.
We will engage with Angus in particular about the following areas:
- Angus’s assessment of homelessness applications; and
- outcomes for people who are homeless.
During 2022/23 Angus carried out a strategic review of the provision of its services for people who are homeless. As a result, Angus Health and Social Partnership will deliver the services for homeless people from 2023/24. We will engage with Angus about delivery of the homelessness services and in particular about the governance arrangements between Angus and the Partnership.
To assess the risk to social landlord services we have reviewed and compared the 2021/22 service quality performance of all social landlords to identify the weakest performing landlords. We will therefore engage with Angus about complaints handling, emergency repairs, repairs right first time and rent arrears.
During 2022/23 Angus was unable to provide accurate information about its compliance with the Scottish Housing Quality Standard (SHQS). Angus does not fully comply with the electrical safety and fire detection requirements of the SHQS. Angus is currently progressing inspections to provide Electrical Installation Condition Reports (EICRs) and to install integrated smoke and heat alarms in all of its tenants’ homes. We will therefore engage with Angus as it progresses this work.
What Angus must do
Angus must:
- provide us with the information we require in relation to its homelessness service;
- make us aware of any emerging issues preventing it from fulfilling its statutory duty to provide temporary accommodation when it should and comply with the Unsuitable Accommodation Order;
- review its performance for complaints handling, emergency repairs, repairs right first time and rent arrears and consider what improvement action it needs to take;
- provide us with the information we require in relation to its approach to asset management;
- comply with electrical safety and fire detection requirements as soon as possible; and
- provide us with monthly updates on progress on achieving compliance with electrical safety and fire detection requirements.
What we will do
We will:
- review the information Angus provides about its homelessness service;
- meet with Angus to discuss its homelessness service and decide whether we require any additional assurance;
- meet with Angus to seek assurance if it does not provide temporary accommodation when it should, or if it breaches the Unsuitable Accommodation Order;
- review Angus’ service quality performance as part of our 2023/24 risk assessment;
- review the information Angus provides about its approach to asset management;
- engage with Angus to monitor its progress on achieving compliance with electrical safety and fire detection requirements; and
- update our published engagement plan in the light of any material change to our planned engagement with Angus.
Regulatory returns
Angus must provide us with the following annual regulatory returns:
- Annual Assurance Statement; and
- Annual Return on the Charter.
It should also notify us of any material changes to its Annual Assurance Statement, and any tenant and resident safety matter which has been reported to or is being investigated by the Health and Safety Executive or reports from regulatory or statutory authorities or insurance providers, relating to safety concerns.