This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Regeneration funding for Argyll and Bute
06/09/2004
Argyll and Bute Council has today been officially
accepted on to the Executive's Community Ownership
Programme.
As a result, 6,000 tenants in the area will get the
opportunity to transfer from the council to a
not-for-profit landlord, which unlocks millions of pounds
of investment to improve housing standards.
The funding package from the Executive includes up to
£15 million which will be available for regeneration
activity directly linked to the transfer.
Tenants in Glasgow, the Borders and Dumfries and
Galloway have already voted for housing stock transfer and
now rent their homes from a housing association.
Stirling, Inverclyde, Renfrewshire and Edinburgh
Councils are also working up proposals to transfer their
housing stock.
Deputy Communities Minister Mary Mulligan said:
"Community ownership offers significant opportunities
for the Council and its tenants.
"If tenants opt to transfer to a new community-based,
not-for-profit landlord it has the potential to
significantly improve housing standards and, most
importantly, to ensure that rents are kept at affordable
levels.
"It also gives tenants a greater say in how their homes
and estates are managed in future.
"The regeneration funding allows the Council to work
with local communities to draw up proposals."
Cllr George Freeman, housing spokesperson for Argyll and
Bute Council, said:
"We welcome the Executive's announcement that we have
been accepted onto the Community Ownership Programme.
"This allows us to access up to £15 million in
regeneration funds to support the housing stock transfer
process and will bring major benefits to many communities
throughout the area.
"This allows us to progress the stock transfer process
to the extent that we should see our tenants voting on the
proposal within the next 12 months.
"The proposal has the full support of all 36 councillors
and will secure major investment in the housing stock which
otherwise would not be possible."
A new shadow landlord body - Argyll Community Housing
Association - has been set up for the transfer. Its Board
will comprise tenant, Council and independent members.
The regeneration funding for Argyll and Bute is being
made from the £175 million regeneration fund announced by
the Executive last year.
The main aim of the fund is to ensure that investment
generated by transfer is not frustrated by a failure to
tackle wider regeneration.
The funding is intended to complement the transfer
investment programme and works could include the demolition
of poor quality housing, new build and environmental
improvements.
Priority in the allocation of the regeneration resources
is being given to councils who are accepted on to the
Community Ownership Programme.