Agenda item

With reference to article 3 of the minute of the meeting of 27 May 2025, the Committee had before it a report by the Executive Director – Families & Communities, which (1) presented the bi-annual report to enable Committee oversight of all housing improvement activity being coordinated by the Housing Board and (2) presented an amended and measurable Improvement Plan for approval as part of the next Housing Board Bi-Annual Report.

The report focused on activity related to homes in the Council’s estate and services that the Council delivers in relation to housing.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee –

(a)          note the progress made by the Housing Board from June 2024 to November 2025;

(b)          approve the refreshed Housing Emergency Action Plan available in Appendix A;

(c)          note the Aberdeen Cyrenians Summary Response to the Aberdeen City Housing Emergency Action Plan available in Appendix B; and

(d)          note the Homelessness Benchmarking Summary Report available in Appendix C.

The Convener moved seconded by the Vice Convener:-

          that the Committee –

(1)          approve the recommendations;

(2)          note the cross-party agreement to declare a housing emergency in 2024, acknowledging the decades of underinvestment in Council stock;

(3)          note that the refresh of the Housing Emergency Action Plan was presented to the cross-party working group for endorsement on the 6^th October 2025;

(4)          note the work being undertaken to reduce voids in the city, with360 fewer lettable voids in October 2025 compared to the last year and  work to improve relet timings which has already resulted in a positive decrease on our overall relet times, reducing from the 266 days in June 2025 to 247 days as at 31st October 2025;

(5)          acknowledge the work being undertaken by Council officers to simplify and reduce the void path, to ensure timely return of properties into use;

(6)          note that the Council in 2024/2025 relet 2,536 properties, around 11% of our housing stock and equating to an average of 211 properties per month;

(7)          note a significant reduction in live homelessness cases, with the city now ranking sixth lowest per 10,000 households, outperforming other major urban areas;

(8)          agree that the ambition outlined in this plan to reduce void numbers to pre-pandemic levels and halve the timescales for voids to be turned aroundwill help address the local housing emergency;

(9)          note that around 40% of the circa £50m Repairs and Maintenance budget is spent on voids, with the remaining 60% used for cyclical maintenance and work to ensure Council properties meet current national standards; and

(10)       thank Aberdeen Cyrenians for their review of the Housing Emergency Action Plan and for the recommendations which have been embedded within the Plan.

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

          that the Committee –

(1)           note the progress made by the Housing Board from June 2024 to November 2025;

(2)           approve the refreshed Housing Emergency Action Plan available in Appendix A, subject to a change in “Key measures and targets” of “key movement times” from 123 days to 60 days, as this is the Scottish Average; and instruct the Chief Officer – Housing to bring a report to the Communities, Housing and Public Protection Committee within the next two cycles a) analysing why 50% of tenants refuse improvements to their properties and ways to improve this, and b) examining the implication for voids if those in housing need on the housing waiting list receiving preferential access to new build properties;

(3)           note the Aberdeen Cyrenians Summary Response to the Aberdeen City Housing Emergency Action Plan available in Appendix B; and

(4)           note the Homelessness Benchmarking Summary Report available in Appendix C.

On a division, there voted – for the motion (5) – the Convener, the Vice Convener and Councillors Greig, McLellan and Mennie – for the amendment (3) – Councillors Malik, Nicoll and Watson.

The Committee resolved:-

to adopt the motion.