Why we are engaging with Clackmannanshire Council (Clackmannanshire)
We are engaging with Clackmannanshire about its services for people who are homeless, its site(s) for Gypsy/Travellers and stock quality.
The context in which local authorities are delivering services to people who are experiencing homelessness has become increasingly challenging in the last few years. In our December 2023 update to our thematic report on homelessness services in Scotland we set out that there is a heightened risk of systemic failure impacting the delivery of some local authorities’ services to people experiencing homelessness. By this we mean that there is a risk that the demands on some local authorities could shortly exceed their capacity to respond. This remains the case at Clackmannanshire. We will continue to monitor, assess and report on Clackmannanshire’s performance in discharging its duties to people who are homeless.
During 2025/26, we reviewed and compared the data for all local authorities from the Scottish Government’s national homelessness statistics. We also spoke to all local authorities to gather further information and assurance about their homelessness services.
In 2026/27, we will engage with Clackmannanshire about the following areas:
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Clackmannanshire’s assessment of homeless applications; and
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the provision of temporary accommodation by Clackmannanshire to people who are homeless.
Clackmannanshire is constructing a new site for Gypsy/Travellers. Clackmannanshire originally told us the site would be complete by 2024 but this has been delayed until May 2026. Residents remain in Clackmannanshire’s homes until the new site is complete.
Clackmannanshire has identified reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) affecting 73 of its homes, and it has told us it has managed any associated risks. We are seeking assurance that Clackmannanshire has a long-term strategy in place to manage the RAAC in its homes.
What Clackmannanshire must do
Clackmannanshire must:
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send us the information we require in relation to its homelessness service;
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continue best efforts to meet its statutory duty to provide temporary accommodation when it should and to comply with the Unsuitable Accommodation Order;
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keep us updated on its capacity to meet its statutory duty to provide temporary accommodation when it should and to comply with the Unsuitable Accommodation Order;
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tell us about any further delays in the completion of its new site for Gypsy/Travellers;
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continue to engage with residents about progress with the new site; and
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tell us its long-term strategy for managing the RAAC in its homes and engage as necessary.
What we will do
We will:
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review the information Clackmannanshire provides about its homelessness service and engage as necessary;
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meet with Clackmannanshire on a quarterly basis to discuss its homelessness service, and in particular seek assurance about its best efforts to provide suitable temporary accommodation, and engage as necessary;
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monitor Clackmannanshire’s progress with its new site for Gypsy/Travellers and consider our regulatory engagement with Clackmannanshire if the completion of its new site is delayed further;
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review the information Clackmannanshire shares with us about its long-term strategy to manage the RAAC in its homes and engage as necessary; and
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update our published engagement plan in the light of any material change to our planned engagement with Clackmannanshire.
Regulatory Returns
Clackmannanshire must provide us with the following annual regulatory returns:
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Annual Assurance Statement; and
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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.