Chamber and committees

The LIFT initiative– our Low-cost Initiative for First-Time buyers – is a key part of the package ofmeasures to revitalise Scotland’s housing set out in the Firm Foundationsdiscussion document published on 31 October 2007.

LIFT currently includesa mix of government grants to private developers, Registered Social Landlords andindividuals to support a range of low cost home ownership schemes, particularlyshared equity. However, through the Firm Foundations consultation process,we are seeking views on other potential measures which could be incorporated withinLIFT. The number of households in both West and East Dunbartonshire who will beeligible to apply for support through LIFT will therefore depend on LIFT’s futurecomposition. At this stage it would be difficult to estimate how many applicationswill be successful. However, under existing LIFT schemes, we aim to assist at least1,800 households in to home ownership this year.

East Dunbartonshire Council, as the strategic housing authorityfor Bearsden and Milngavie, has statutory responsibility for assessing and addressing local housing marketneeds, including shortages of affordable housing in the area. In its mostrecent housing needs assessment (2005) it identified an annual need for an additional79 affordable units in Bearsden and eight in Milngavie over the next five yearsto 2010.

In our recently publisheddiscussion document, Firm Foundations: the Future of Housing in Scotlandwe have set out proposals for improving the supply and choice of affordable housingnationally. Last month’s Spending Review announcement set out plans to invest over£1.5 billion in affordable housing over the next three years. The Scottish Governmentexpects that this increased budget will deliver more new affordable homes – includingsocial rented houses and houses for low cost home ownership – than planned for 2005-08.Decisions have yet to be takenon the detailed composition of the affordable housing investment programme for thenew spending review period, 2008-11.

The Scottish Governmenthave made available £4.8 million over the spending review for flood prevention andcoast protection research purposes.

The HistoricalAbuse Systemic Review: Residential Schools and Children’s Homes in Scotland 1950 to 1995 does not affect the law on damages. The Scottish LawCommission (SLC) Report on Personal Injury Actions: Limitation and Prescribed Claimswas published on 5 December. The report recommends, amongst other things, that claimsin respect of a personal injury extinguished by negative prescription before 1984(i.e. claims relating to events alleged to have taken place prior to 26 September1964) should not be revived and that a special category in respect of personal injuryresulting from childhood institutional abuse should not be created. The ScottishGovernment is currently considering all the recommendations contained in the commission’sreport. Ministers are very sympathetic to survivors of historic in-care/institutionalchildhood abuse and, as well as considering the recommendations in the SLC Report,specific proposals for survivors of historic in-care and institutional abuse arebeing developed as part of the wider Survivor Scotland Strategy.

Under the concordatagreed between Scottish ministers and COSLA, the ring-fence around the floodprevention and coast protection will be removed from 1 April 2008, with the fundingbeing absorbed into the main local government settlement.

The Scottish Governmentwill be providing local government in Scotland with recordlevels of funding over the period covered by the spending review 2008-11. The vastmajority of the funding, including the funding for implementation of the floodprevention and coast protection will be provided by means of a block grant. Thatallocation will take account of exposure to flood risk and the status of existingschemes.

Each councils blockgrant will take account of both the flood risk to be managed in its area and floodmanagement measures already underway.

The Scottish Governmentwill be consulting fully on its proposals in the early New Year.

As a result of thisyear’s Spending Review, SEPA will receive additional Grant in Aid provision of £19.8million over the period 2008-09 to 2010-11. This settlement reflects the ScottishGovernment’s acknowledgement of the range of unavoidable new duties, including responsibilitiesflowing from implementation of the EU Floods Directive that will fall to the organisationover the spending review period. Grant‑in‑Aid provision is not hypothecated,it is a matter for SEPA to determine its own expenditure plans within the resourcesallocated and in line with ministers’ policies and priorities.

As agreed in theconcordat, there will be a move towards a Single Outcomes Agreement with each localauthority. This will be based on the agreed set of national outcomes (underpinnedby agreed national indicators), and local outcomes to take account of local priorities.Each local authority will be required to submit a single report setting out theirprogress and achievements towards the agreed national outcomes.

There is already ateam in place that deals with flooding policy and prevention matters and this teamare progressing the Flooding Bill.

The Scottish Governmentwill be providing local government in Scotland with recordlevels of funding over the period covered by the spending review 2008-11. The vastmajority of the funding, including the funding for flood prevention and coastprotection, will be provided by means of a block grant.

It is the responsibilityof each local authority to allocate the total financial resources available to iton the basis of local needs and priorities having first fulfilled its statutoryobligations and the jointly agreed set of national and local priorities includingthe Scottish Government’s key strategic objectives and manifesto commitments.