Why we are engaging with Stirling Council (Stirling)
We are engaging with Stirling about its services for people who are homeless and its site(s) for Gypsy/Travellers.
During 2024/25, 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 2025/26 with a focus on the provision of appropriate temporary accommodation.
We will engage with Stirling in particular about the following areas:
- the provision of temporary accommodation by Stirling to people who are homeless; and
- outcomes for people who are homeless.
All social landlords who provide Gypsy/Travellers sites must ensure their site(s) meet the Scottish Government’s Minimum Site Standards and all standards and outcomes in the Scottish Social Housing Charter. To gather further information and assurance, we will speak to all site providers during 2025/26 to discuss the management of their site(s).
During 2024/25, we reviewed and compared the satisfaction data for all Gypsy/Traveller site providers to identify the weakest performing landlords. Stirling’s satisfaction level is amongst the lowest, and we will therefore engage with Stirling about this.
What Stirling must do
Stirling must:
- send us the information we require in relation to its homelessness service;
- 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;
- send us the information we require in relation to the management of its Gypsy/Traveller site(s); and
- send us the information we require about the actions it is taking to improve its performance on Gypsy/Traveller satisfaction.
What we will do
We will:
- review the information Stirling provides about its homelessness service;
- meet with Stirling by 31 July 2025 to discuss its homelessness service and engage as necessary;
- meet with Stirling to seek assurance if it does not provide temporary accommodation when it should, or if it breaches the Unsuitable Accommodation Order;
- meet with Stirling to discuss the management of its Gypsy/Traveller site(s);
- review the information Stirling provides about its work to improve satisfaction at its Gypsy/Traveller site(s) and engage as necessary; and
- update our published engagement plan in the light of any material change to our planned engagement with Stirling.
Regulatory Returns
Stirling 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