Issue - meetings

The Committee resolved:-

(i)             to note that the Chief Officer – Corporate Landlord would ascertain the situation with the waste service in the Balnagask area and would address any concerns that were raised;

(ii)            to recognise that this continues to be a difficult situation for homeowners and welcome the continued offer of mental health support from SAMH (Scottish Action for Mental Health) for those affected by this situation;

(iii)          to note the outcome of the engagement with homeowners in June 2025;

(iv)          to note the next steps in relation to the Property Swap option;

(v)           to instruct the Chief Officer - Corporate Landlord to withdraw Option 3 (roof on – roof off) given that no responding party was interested in this option;

(vi)          to instruct the Chief Officer – Corporate Landlord to continue to engage with homeowners in relation to Voluntary Acquisition and to review this and report back to this Committee in early 2026 on whether this option should remain open into future financial years;

(vii)         to note that the demolition plans for Council-owned blocks have been suspended whilst engagement was undertaken with homeowners and instruct the Chief Officer – Capital to recommence the planning, preparation, engagement and mitigation works for this with immediate effect;

(viii)       to note that engineering inspections of properties continue and that all properties inspected so far have been identified as having a high risk (as per the IStructE guidance); and note that the Council, as an enforcement authority, continues to monitor this professional advice and will continue to advise all homeowners of their responsibilities under the relevant legislation; and

(ix)          to instruct the Chief Officer – Corporate Landlord to take forward master planning of the site, considering the scenario of a fully cleared site and any alternative scenarios.

 With reference to article 2 of the minute of the meeting of 27 May 2025, the Committee had before it a report by the Executive Director – Families & Communities, which advised that at the Council meeting on 21 August 2024, the Chief  Officer - Corporate Landlord in consultation with the Chief Officer - Capital, Chief Officer - Housing and the Chief Officer - Finance, were instructed to assess the ‘building new homes’ option.  At the Communities, Housing and Public Protection Committee meeting of 27 May 2025, the Council noted the feasibility, benefits and risks associated with each alternative option for RAAC-affected properties in Balnagask. The Committee instructed officers to write to all homeowners to advise them of the alternative options presented, and ask homeowners, having considered the information, to formally identify by the end of June 2025 which option they would be willing to consider.  This report aimed to provide an update on both of these instructions. 

The report recommended:-

that the Committee –

(a)           recognise that this continues to be a difficult situation for homeowners and welcome the continued offer of mental health support from SAMH (Scottish Action for Mental Health) for those affected by this situation;

(b)           note the outcome of the engagement with homeowners in June 2025;

(c)           note the next steps in relation to the Property Swap option;

(d)           instruct the Chief Officer - Corporate Landlord to withdraw Option 3 (roof on – roof off) given that no responding party was interested in this option;

(e)           instruct the Chief Officer – Corporate Landlord to continue to engage with homeowners in relation to Voluntary Acquisition and to review this and report back to this Committee in early 2026 on whether this option should remain open into future financial years;

(f)             note that the demolition plans for Council-owned blocks have been suspended whilst engagement was undertaken with homeowners and instruct the Chief Officer – Capital to recommence the planning, preparation, engagement and mitigation works for this with immediate effect;

(g)           note that engineering inspections of properties continue and that all properties inspected so far have been identified as having a high risk (as per the IStructE guidance); and note that the Council, as an enforcement authority, continues to monitor this professional advice and will continue to advise all homeowners of their responsibilities under the relevant legislation; and

(h)           instruct the Chief Officer – Corporate Landlord to take forward master planning of the site, considering the scenario of a fully cleared site and any alternative scenarios.

The Convener moved, seconded by the Vice Convener

That the Committee approve the recommendations contained in the report.

Councillor Watson, seconded by Councillor Graham, moved as an amendment:-

          That the Committee –

1.       notes the report;

2.       agrees the SNP have acted shamefully in dealing with RAAC;

3.       agrees the SNP should have listened to Labour back in February 2024 and, if they had, those affected by RAAC would not be in the position they currently find themselves in; 

4.       agrees that the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 13