Agenda item

With reference to article 13 of the minute of the meeting of 17 January 2023, the Committee had before it a report by the Chief Officer – Corporate Landlord, which noted that the report was provided in response to a previous committee instruction to provide an update on the non-traditional housing stock including city centre multi storey buildings. The report provided Members with further information on these property types, works done to date and an indication of the next steps required.

The report recommended:-

that the Committee -

In relation to the non-traditional low-rise stock

(a)          note the work undertaken with condition surveys for non-traditional properties and instruct the Chief Officer - Corporate Landlord to develop a programme of structural inspections of non-traditional constructed properties on a prioritised basis;

(b)          instruct the Chief Officer - Capital to procure technical and economic reports on the long-term investment options (all as noted in 3.5 of this report) for each type of non-traditional building and to include the findings of these in the 30 year business plan;

In relation to the city centre multi storey properties:

(c)          instruct the Chief Officer - Capital to instruct full condition surveys of the city centre multi storey buildings covered by this report; and thereafter to review the previous options appraisal to reflect these updated surveys, and changes and proposed changes to regulation, along with investment requirements over differing timeframes for each group of buildings, all as noted in this report; and to provide updates through the 30 year business plan;

(d)          instruct the Chief Officers – Capital, Strategic Place Planning and City Development and Regeneration to engage with Historic Environment Scotland with regard to the technical, economic and habitability issues associated with the listed city centre blocks, so as to identify any potential technical solutions and/or funding sources in relation to investment required in the buildings;

(e)          due to the fragmented nature of the ownership in the buildings, instruct the Chief Officer - Corporate Landlord and Chief Officer - Housing to investigate any funding options for private owners, but also the implications of offering a ‘buy-back’ or sell to rent scheme for city centre multi-storey buildings, reporting on this to committee in August 2026;

(f)            instruct the Chief Officer - Corporate Landlord and Chief Officer - Housing to undertake further engagement with owners once further costings and options information are available; and

(g)          instruct the Chief Officer - Housing, following consultation with the Chief Officer - Capital, to manage the scheme decisions required to allow the surveys and reports noted in recommendations to be undertaken, and to share these reports, once available, with those private owners having a shared interest in these properties.

The Convener moved, seconded by the Vice Convener:-

That the Committee approve the recommendations as contained in the report. 

Councillor Ali, seconded by Councillor Lawrence, moved as an amendment:-

          That the Committee -

1.          note the report;

2.          agree the SNP have their priorities all wrong by bringing forward a report that is irrelevant to the needs of the people at this time; and

3.          agree that the focus must be on voids and how the Council can get more properties back into circulation in order to provide homes for individuals and to bring about the revenue required to invest in new builds.

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 Ali, Lawrence and Mrs Stewart. 

The Committee resolved:-

(i)            to note that the Chief Officer – Corporate Landlord, would circulate to Members the missing appendix from the report as soon as possible; and

(ii)            to adopt the motion and therefore approve the recommendations contained in the report.