Why we are engaging with Dumfries and Galloway Council (Dumfries and Galloway)
We are engaging with Dumfries and Galloway about its services for people who are homeless and its site(s) for Gypsy/Travellers.
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 Dumfries and Galloway. We will continue to monitor, assess and report on Dumfries and Galloway’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 Dumfries and Galloway about its assessment of homeless applications.
Dumfries and Galloway has told us it does not comply with the Scottish Government’s minimum site standards for its site for Gypsy/Travellers at Collin. Dumfries and Galloway will now identify an alternative location to build a new site for its residents.
What Dumfries and Galloway must do
Dumfries and Galloway 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 when it expects its Gypsy/Traveller site to comply with the minimum site standards as soon as possible;
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send us quarterly reports from the end of April 2026 on its progress with developing a new site for Gypsy/Travellers and meeting the minimum standards; and
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continue to engage with site residents about progress in developing the new site and meeting the minimum site standards.
What we will do
We will:
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review the information Dumfries and Galloway provides about its homelessness service and engage as necessary;
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meet with Dumfries and Galloway 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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review the quarterly updates on the progress with developing a new site and meeting the minimum site standards 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 Dumfries and Galloway.
Regulatory Returns
Dumfries and Galloway 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.