Why we are engaging with East Ayrshire Council (East Ayrshire)
We are engaging with East Ayrshire about its services for people who are homeless.
During 2023/24, 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. To assess the risks to people who are threatened with or experiencing homelessness we will engage with all local authorities during 2024/25 with a focus on the provision of appropriate temporary accommodation.
We will engage with East Ayrshire in particular about the following areas:
- how people access the homelessness services provided by East Ayrshire; and
- East Ayrshire’s assessment of homelessness applications.
What East Ayrshire must do
East Ayrshire must:
- send us the information we require in relation to its homelessness service; and
- tell us about any emerging issues preventing it from fulfilling its statutory duty to provide temporary accommodation when it should and comply with the Unsuitable Accommodation Order.
What we will do
We will:
- review the information East Ayrshire provides about its homelessness service;
- meet with East Ayrshire by 31 July 2024 to discuss its homelessness service and engage as necessary;
- meet with East Ayrshire to seek assurance if it does not provide temporary accommodation when it should, or if it breaches the Unsuitable Accommodation Order; and
- update our published engagement plan in the light of any material change to our planned engagement with East Ayrshire.
Regulatory returns
East Ayrshire 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.