- Asked by: Des McNulty, MSP for Clydebank and Milngavie, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 14 August 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Maxwell on 29 August 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive which local authorities (a) operate and (b) do not operate 24-hour concierge schemes in tenanted tower blocks above 8 storeys.
Answer
This information isnot held centrally.
- Asked by: Des McNulty, MSP for Clydebank and Milngavie, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 13 August 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Maxwell on 29 August 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive how many central heating units have been installed in 2007 in areas not connected to the gas network and what steps are being taken to prioritise systems for eligible residents living in such areas.
Answer
I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. Her response is as follows:
Information is notheld centrally on the number of central heating systems installed in areas not connectedto the gas network.
In all applications,priority is given to householders over 75, those living alone and the disabled.
- Asked by: Des McNulty, MSP for Clydebank and Milngavie, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 13 August 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Maxwell on 29 August 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made in completing the East End Regeneration Route.
Answer
The construction of the East End Regeneration Route is a matter for Glasgow City Council as thelocal roads authority.
- Asked by: Des McNulty, MSP for Clydebank and Milngavie, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 14 August 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Maxwell on 29 August 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider introducing supervision requirements for tenancies where prospective tenants have a record of causing disturbances or antisocial behaviour.
Answer
Where anti-socialbehaviour has been established through the granting of an ASBO or eviction withinthe previous three years, a social landlord can offer a probationary style shortScottish secure tenancy to prospective tenants. The landlord is required to providesupport to enable the tenancy to convert to a full Scottish secure tenancy after12 months and this provides the necessary supervision.
Under the AntisocialBehaviour etc. (Scotland) Act 2004, a local authority may serve an Antisocial Behaviour Notice on a private landlordif the landlord has failed to take action to control the antisocial behaviour ofhis or her tenants, despite having received advice from the local authority abouthow to tackle the problem. The Antisocial Behaviour Notice specifies actions thelandlord is required to take to address the situation. Failure to comply with thenotice is a criminal offence and may result in a fine, suspension of rent, or thelocal authority taking over management of the property.
- Asked by: Des McNulty, MSP for Clydebank and Milngavie, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 14 August 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Maxwell on 29 August 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider introducing streamlined and more rapid eviction procedures in circumstances where neighbours are affected by a tenant’s antisocial behaviour.
Answer
Eviction proceduresfor tenants in the social rented sector are governed by the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 and are designed to afford protection to allparties concerned. They are intended to protect tenants’ rights by requiring proofof the offending conduct by the tenant and are subject to the sheriff’s view asto the reasonableness of eviction as a remedy for that conduct. This can be a protractedprocess, particularly where the action is defended. But a streamlined and more rapidprocess was introduced under the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 where proof of antisocial behaviour is already established. The2001 act gives social landlords the power to give a “probationary tenancy” to personswho have been evicted for antisocial behaviour in any part of the UK and from any tenure. This can also be offered to tenantswhere they are subject to an ASBO. In both cases the landlord must provide supportto tenants to help them sustain the tenancy and convert to a full SST. These probationarytenancies convert automatically to a full Scottish Secure Tenancy (SST) after 12months, if there had been no repetition of antisocial conduct. If there has beenbad behaviour, the landlord can simply serve a statutory Notice ending the tenancy.If the tenant refuses to leave, the courts must grant an order for recovery of possessionif the correct procedures have been observed.
Eviction proceduresfor assured and short assured tenancies in the private rented sector are set outin the Housing (Scotland) Act 1988. Under the act, a sheriff may granta private landlord a court order to evict a tenant on grounds of antisocial behaviour.
- Asked by: Des McNulty, MSP for Clydebank and Milngavie, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 14 August 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Maxwell on 29 August 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider introducing age restrictions on eligibility for new tenancies in tower blocks to help to ensure the safety and security of older tenants already resident in the buildings.
Answer
We have no plans tointroduce age restrictions on eligibility for new tenancies in tower blocks. Itis for landlords and the police to ensure that all tenants can be safe and securein their homes.
- Asked by: Des McNulty, MSP for Clydebank and Milngavie, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 13 August 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Maxwell on 29 August 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive what matters will be considered in the transport plan provided for under section 31 of the draft Glasgow Commonwealth Games (Scotland) Bill.
Answer
The Glasgow 2014 transportplan will set out how the existing and proposed transport infrastructure aroundgames venues will support the games and provide details of operational transportproposals. These will include transport services for athletes, officials and mediaand a comprehensive spectator access strategy for each venue.
These operationaltransport proposals will cost £13.58 million in 2007 prices. This figure is includedwithin the Games Organising Committee budget.
Further details of the transport proposals are contained within the Glasgow 2014 Candidate City File,which can be found at
http://www.glasgow2014.com/Our-Bid/Candidate-City-File/.
- Asked by: Des McNulty, MSP for Clydebank and Milngavie, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 14 August 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Maxwell on 29 August 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider introducing more rapid eviction procedures where tenants have a previous record of causing disturbances or antisocial behaviour and where this behaviour is repeated in a new tenancy.
Answer
I refer the memberto the answer to question S3W-3269 on 29 August 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are availableon the Parliament’s website the search facility for which can be found at
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.
- Asked by: Des McNulty, MSP for Clydebank and Milngavie, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 14 August 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Maxwell on 29 August 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider introducing a system of recording and sharing information among registered landlords about antisocial behaviour and problems affecting neighbours with the aim of ensuring that information relevant to the allocation and effective management of tenancies is passed to registered landlords considering applications from prospective applicants with a record of such behaviour.
Answer
We have no plans tointroduce a central scheme of this nature. Landlords are able to share informationon these issues.
- Asked by: Des McNulty, MSP for Clydebank and Milngavie, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 14 August 2007
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Current Status:
Answered by Stewart Maxwell on 29 August 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider introducing longer probationary periods for tenancies where prospective tenants have a record of causing disturbances or antisocial behaviour.
Answer
No. We consider thatthe current 12 month probationary period of a short Scottish secure tenancy fortenants in social rented properties, which the landlord is required to support shouldbe sufficient to establish whether the tenant is capable of sustaining a full Scottishsecure tenancy (SST) at the end of the 12 month period. If anti-social behaviourpersists, the landlord can end the short SST tenancy by simply issuing the relevantnotice. If anti-social behaviour recurs once the tenancy converts to a full SST,the landlord has the option to downgrade the tenancy once again to a short SST orto take action in court to evict the tenant.