Chamber and committees

I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. Her response is as follows:

Communities Scotland works closely with local authorities to develop a programmeof housing investment to meet local priorities as identified through the Local HousingStrategy (LHS) process. This will be further strengthened as councils develop theirStrategic Housing Investment Plan in partnership with local stakeholders.

Historic and currenthousing investment in Dundee and West Dunbartonshire through the Affordable Housing Investment Programme isshown in the table below:

Area	2004-05 (£ Million)	2005-06 (£ Million)	2006-07 (£ Million)	2007- 08 (target) (£ Million)
Dundee	9.770	10.559	11.833	10.000
West Dunbartonshire	9.008	6.950	8.751	10.350

 

Further resourceshave been made available to help these local authorities through the Vacant andDerelict Land Fund to be made available over 2006-07 and 2007-08. This amounts to£4 million in Dundee (following a previous £4 million allocationin 2005-06) and £2 million in West Dunbartonshire.

Housing Estate RegenerationFund monies totalling £3.4 million have also been approved for the period 2005-06to 2007-08 to assist Dundee City Council bringing forward regeneration prioritieswithin the city. The council will use this funding to support the demolition andremoval of surplus unwanted housing within priority areas of Dundee.

Funding of £2.084million in Dundee and £0.891 million in West Dunbartonshire has been made available through Private Sector HousingGrant in 2007-08 to support improvements in private sector housing. This will supportministerial targets along with those priorities identified through the LHS.

The estimate was notmade on a cost per kilometre basis.

There have been regulardiscussions over a long period of time between the Scottish Executive, TransportScotland and a wide range of stakeholders regardingGourock Transport Interchange. Caledonian MacBrayne has been consulted on the projectas the work has progressed. Western Ferries has no direct interest in the developmentsite. There have been no direct discussions with Western Ferries on the need forthe Gourock Transport Interchange.

I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. Her response is as follows:

The allocation of the Affordable Housing Investment Programme in 2007-08 at local authority levelwas announced in March 2007 by the previous administration. The allocations reflectedLocal Housing Strategy priorities and also capacity to deliver programmes. The allocationallowed for increased investment in both areas of housing shortage and areas ofhigh deprivation requiring regeneration.

Future allocationsof funding for new rented and affordable housing will be considered after the outcomeof the current spending review is determined.

I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. Her response is as follows:

The Local HousingStrategies prepared by East Dunbartonshire Council and West Dunbartonshire Councilindicate a requirement for investment in both Milngavie and Clydebank for affordable housing for rent and sale. A good workingpartnership exists between both local authorities and Communities Scotland whichhas resulted in five year Investment programmes identifying investment prioritieswithin the parliamentary constituency. The recently introduced Strategic HousingInvestment Plan process will refine this approach and focus resources more effectivelyon meeting local housing needs in both towns.

The Scottish Governmentconsiders housing investment in Clydebank to be essentialas part of a comprehensive package of measures towards the physical, social andeconomic regeneration of the area.

Communities Scotland is planning to increase the level of housing investmentin Clydebank, but the supply of land is a critical factorto release additional funds. Difficulties in securing land has been a significantinhibiting factor over the last few years in securing additional investment in thetown. Communities Scotland will continue to work with the council and local partnersto resolve these difficulties.

I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. Her response is as follows:

Communities Scotland is working closely with West Dunbartonshire Council todevelop a five year programme of housing investment to meet local priorities asidentified through the Local Housing Strategy process.

This will be furtherstrengthened as the council develops its Strategic Housing InvestmentPlan (SHIP) in partnership with local stakeholders in the development process.

A working group reportin 2006 recommended that a budget of up to £20.5 million would be required to deliverthe transport interchange at Gourock. The cost estimate is expected to be reducedduring design development but as the further design and feasibility work has notbeen concluded, the estimate of up to £20.5 million continues to be used.

A robust cost estimatewill be provided by the end of 2007, which will inform an investment decision onimplementation. The target is to deliver a new interchange in 2009.

The Scottish Government’sprincipal objective for regeneration policy is to promote the successful and sustainabletransformation of communities across Scotland by creatingthe right environment for private and public investment; through targeted actionin the most disadvantaged communities, and by devolving power to the local level.

Our immediate housingpriorities were set out in the Parliamentary debate on housing on 21 June 2007. It is clear that Scotland needs many more homes of theright type, built in the right places as well as housing solutions which work, whichrespond to communities needs and which improve the value that we get for publicexpenditure on housing. The Housing Supply Task Force, our commitment to createthe Scottish Housing Support Fund and the forthcoming consultation on Social Housingare all part of the early action the Government is taking in response to these priorities.