Question reference: S6W-27917
- Asked by: Ash Regan, MSP for Edinburgh Eastern, Alba Party
- Date lodged: 30 May 2024
-
Current status: Answered by Paul McLennan on 7 June 2024
Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it last met with (a) the City of Edinburgh Council and (b) other partners to discuss the housing emergency, and whether it discussed the provision of additional (i) financial, (ii) regulatory and (iii) planning support to alleviate the impact on residents.
Answer
Since taking up post last year, I have met regularly with Councillor Jane Meagher, the City of Edinburgh Council Housing Convener, with our last meeting taking place on 18 April. The housing emergency has been raised in my discussions with other Housing Convenors and housing and homelessness partners as follows:
- Members of the Cross-Party Group on Housing on 27 February
- Councillor Allan Casey and Councillor Kenny McLean, Glasgow City Council on 13 March
- Jenni Minto MSP, Argyll and Bute Council officials and Argyll and Bute registered social landlords and community trusts on 4 April
- Alison Watson, Shelter Scotland on 16 April
- Members of the Homelessness Prevention and Strategy Group on 16 April
- Strategic Homeless Action Partnership in Edinburgh on 1 May
- Sally Thomas and Carolyn Lochhead, Scottish Federation of Housing Associations on 15 May
- Councillor Davie McLachlan, South Lanarkshire Council on 16 May
- Councillor Maureen Chalmers, COSLA on 21 May
- Councillor Judy Hamilton, Fife Council on 5 June
There have also been discussions at official level over recent months with other partners, including the Scottish Housing Regulator, ALACHO, COSLA and Homes for Scotland.
These meetings are used to discuss the homelessness pressures and housing supply matters in Edinburgh and other areas across Scotland, including the decisions by councils to declare a housing emergency. Within these discussions, a range of issues are covered, which have their basis in the proposals developed by local authorities in response to the pressures they are facing. Various financial and planning issues and potential regulatory changes have been discussed at these meetings in the context of reducing the use of temporary accommodation and improving housing outcomes for residents.