Investing in Modernisation - An Agenda for Scotland's Housing1: Summary of Responses to the Green Paper

Introduction

This paper provides a summary of the responses to the consultation points in the Housing Green Paper published by the Scottish Office in February 1999. A statistical analysis of the responses and a short summary of the main points are set out below, more detailed summaries by consultation point are set out in annex 1 and a list of respondents (other than those who requested confidentiality) provided in annex 2.

The summaries represent a faithful attempt to reflect the views of respondents but should not be regarded as being definitive of those views or of reflecting the views of the Scottish Executive. Copies of the full responses (other than those where confidentiality was requested) are available for consultation in the

Scottish Executive library,
Saughton House,
Broomhouse Drive,
Edinburgh.
Telephone no. 0131 244 4564.

This summary can also be accessed on the Scottish Executive Website, www.scotland.gov.uk

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Facts and Figures

The Green Paper invited comment on 41 consultation points. For ease of reference these are divided into the following broad categories, which follow the order in the Green Paper:

general policy considerations

homelessness

care in the community

design and planning

repair and maintenance

home ownership

housing and development

regulatory issues

local authority staff

development work of housing association

policy and funding framework

There were 1954 responses to the Green Paper. Responses by category of respondents is described in table 1 below.

Table 1

Summary of Key Points

The Green Paper is warmly welcomed by most respondents as providing an opportunity to review housing policy across the board. Each consultation point has attracted a significant number of responses and the following paragraphs describe some of the broad themes emerging in responses in key areas.

The main provisions relating to general policy considerations and the proposal for the development of a national strategic framework and the establishment of a Housing Advisory Panel are generally welcomed. Most respondents emphasise the need for policy to be flexible to local needs and circumstances and for due recognition to be given to the diversity of housing interests, such as, tenants and landlords, rural and urban areas, ethnic minorities, the homeless and business. Most respondents strongly argue that housing policy is central to promoting social inclusion.

A wide range of views on community ownership are put forward. Many respondents agree on the desirability of community ownership and it is generally accepted that this will require some changes to the regulatory framework, although there is no clear consensus on the scope and nature of these changes. Nearly all agree that a single statutory system of regulation for all registered social landlords is required but there is no clear view about whether or to what extent the regulator’s remit should extend to local authorities. A single social tenancy is supported in principle although not all agree that statutory provision is required. There is less consensus on the need for new statutory provisions to allow local authorities to safeguard access for particular groups, such as the homeless, to housing owned and managed by new community landlords.

There is general support for institutional change, with strong support for the proposition that local authorities should take a lead strategic role at the local level - although there is no clear view on whether a greater emphasis on this role for local authorities would be compatible with their role as a direct provider of housing. There is widespread agreement that Scottish Homes’ expertise should be retained in some form, although a significant number of respondents propose some change to its role and functions.

Although the Green Paper is broadly welcomed, some respondents suggests that certain issues might have been discussed in more detail. These include housing benefit, the privately rented sector and the position of ethnic minorities and travellers.

SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE
SEPTEMBER 1999