MEETING HOUSING NEEDS – 1ST REVIEW
We will raise awareness of the need and options for appropriate and affordable housing. We will aim to reduce levels of homelessness through early intervention, education and the development of supportive social networks.
| Action 1 |
|---|
| To ensure that they meet needs, new housing initiatives developed by Aberdeenshire Council’s Housing Service and Registered Social Landlords will be done so in consultation with appropriate tenants groups and community organisations. |
| Who |
| Aberdeenshire Council Social Work and Housing, Registered Social Landlords, Tenant Associations and Kincardine &d Mearns (& other) Community Planning Group. |
| Action Progress |
| Consulted with Marykirk Community Council on 17/7/13 with proposals/plans for Sanctuary New Build Development at Marykirk |
| Action 2 |
|---|
| To raise awareness of housing need and proposed housing provision, key messages will be identified by housing providers and promoted through various media channels |
| Who |
| Aberdeenshire Council Social Work and Housing, Registered Social Landlords, Tenant Associations and K & M (& other) Community Planning Group. |
| Action Progress |
| Consulted with Marykirk Community Council on 17/7/13 with proposals/plans for Sanctuary New Build Development at Marykirk |
| Action 3 |
|---|
| To raise awareness at a local level, Aberdeenshire Council’s Housing Service will provide information on local housing need, including waiting list size and levels of homelessness, and other key messages to inform any communities undertaking a community action planning process. |
| Who |
| Aberdeenshire Council Social Work and Housing, Registered Social Landlords, Tenant Associations and Kincardine &d Mearns (& other) Community Planning Group. |
| Action Progress |
| Provided housing data to Newtonhill, Muchalls and Cammachmore Community Council. |
| Action 4 |
|---|
| User experience will be kept at the centre of Apply4Homes, the new integrated online system for applying for social housing (Council and Housing Associations) in Aberdeenshire & Moray with any further developments being based on figures and customer feedback and evaluation. The Apply4Homes partners will meet regularly to look at new developments and ongoing improvements and maintenance. |
| Who |
| Aberdeenshire Council, Grampian Housing Assoc, Tenants First Housing, Langstane Housing Assoc, Castlehill Housing Assoc, Aberdeenshire Housing Partnership, Hanover (Scotland), The Moray Council and Moray Housing Partnership |
| Action Progress |
| Partners continue to meet on a regular basis and share good practice and consider new innovation. A full review of the system will commence shortly to ensure its full first year of operation is evaluated. An obstacle to full partnership working noted around Partners being keen to keep their own identity and do not have much desire to move towards a common housing policy |
| Success against Outcome |
| 25% of applicants had selected more than one Landlord prior to Apply4Homes. After 1 year this has increased to 75% |
| Action 5 |
|---|
| As part of the Aberdeenshire exercise for a coordinated approach to preventing homelessness and re-housing those experiencing it, a K&M forum of partners will be formed to develop a local action plan based on early intervention, education and developing supportive social networks. |
| Who |
| All stakeholders and partners who have links to homelessness – still to be confirmed. |
| When |
| Aberdeenshire Homelessness Action Plan updated June 2013; reviewed regularly. Local Forum October 2013. Local Action Plan February 2014 – To be confirmed |
| Action Progress |
| Aberdeenshire exercise is progressing. However, uptake for locality forums was low and a decision was taken to address the issue within the Welfare Reform grouping that emerges |
K&M Communities 
17/12/2013 at 11:51 am
I am not aware of a Marykirk Community Council, but the Hall Committee, plus some other Marykirk residents did meet on 17 July prior to our Committee meeting that night, and were not impressed with the proposals nor with the fact that the developers had not found out about the poor water supply, inadequate sewerage provisions that exist, and that the area proposed for development is subject to flooding.