Modernising Scotland's Social Housing: A consultation paper

Online Response Form

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SECTION 2 SCOTTISH SOCIAL HOUSING STANDARD

1. Are the key elements of the standard covered in the table broadly the right ones?

2. Should accessibility be included as a key element?

3. Are there any other key elements which should be included?

4. Are the detailed areas suggested for each key element broadly the right ones?

5. Are there any other detailed areas which should be included?

6. What are your thoughts on what the appropriate minimum quality levels might be for the detailed areas?

7. Should more of the features of Secured by Design feature in the Standard?

8. What are your views on an appropriate target date for meeting the new standard?

9. What would be appropriate interim milestones?

10. We propose that local authorities should provide the following in relation to the standard:-

The number of houses that fall beneath the standard;

An analysis of the nature of the failure;

The landlord's strategy to bring the failing stock up to standard;

How much the work is likely to cost;

How the work will be funded;

The timetable envisaged to bring all stock up to the minimum standard by the target date.

SECTION 3 THE PRUDENTIAL REGIME AND HOUSING CAPITAL FINANCE

Local authorities will now be considering what the consequences of moving to the Prudential Regime will mean for the financing of their Housing Revenue Account. As part of that work authorities may wish to consider the impact of changes to the set aside rules. Any calls for change from local authorities should be supported by an analysis of the financial effects of changes to the rules on the authority’s levels of future investment, debt and servicing costs.

We would welcome views on:-

11. Whether the current set aside rules should be retained in order to make further inroads into debt levels?

12. If the view is that the rules should change should this mean outright abolition or a change in the percentage levels?

We would welcome views on the above reporting requirements that local authorities will be required to provide to the Scottish Executive to support the operation of the Prudential Regime in terms of:-

13. The range for the information being sought, and

14. The timetable for providing it.

SECTION 4 INNOVATIVE APPROACHES TO HOUSING FINANCE AND MANAGEMENT

15. We would welcome views on new approaches which are consistent with the terms of the Minister’s policy announcement and the new financial framework for social housing.

I would like these comments to remain confidential