Tenant representatives in Angus say council house residents cannot wait to be part of the decade-long, multi-million-pound programme of improvements across the county.
As councillors approved the third-year increase of a four-year rent restructure, which will see the average weekly charge rise 3.4% to £61.55, an £11 million spend in the coming year including almost 100 new homes and investment in existing stock was also laid out.
Communities committee convener Councillor Donald Morrison said the phased programme had “successfully introduced a more transparent system that provides more certainty for customers and helps long-term stability in financial planning.”
He added: “This is an exciting time for our tenant representatives as they begin a new scrutiny programme this extends the opportunity for them to become more involved in our service delivery decisions, ensuring that we continue to provide what’s important for tenants.
“We are creating places that people are proud to call home, and our tenant representatives are at the heart of this process.”
The multi-million-pound investment includes projects at the Abbey Quarter in Arbroath and the former Chapelpark primary school in Forfar, as well as the replacement of more than 7,000 council house bathrooms up until 2025.
Head of planning and place Vivien Smith said: “The project at Chapelpark is likely to slip this year by £190,000 as a result of additional design works required from structural issues identified during the enabling works contract and as a result of surveys required to gather data on protected wildlife.”
Ms Smith said energy saving measures at Kemsley and Thornton Park in Forfar had also been put on hold while a review of the project is carried out, which would lead to around a £200,000 underspend in that area.
But additional costs in the order of £300,000 have been identified for improvements to properties in the Knowehead area of Kirriemuir, mainly relating to roof and chimney works.
However, Scottish Government funding of more than £250,000 will offset the overspend.
Tenants’ movement representative Mrs Pat Millar told the Forfar meeting: “The annual report review is an important time for tenants, who were at the very heart of designing the four-year structure.
“We very much give our backing to the approach, especially as it will still result in Angus Council having some of the lowest rents in Scotland.
“We enjoy being part of a tenant movement that is able to influence decisions that will benefit tenants.”