Trades gap contributes to Angus housing projects ‘slippage’

Better pay for contracts elsewhere has been blamed for Angus Council falling behind with housing stock improvements.

The authority expects to fall more than £4 million short of its £18.5m spending plans in the 2019-20 capital programme, including sixfigure underspends in several areas of work.

Communities committee councillors were told Angus is taking a hit from a national shortage of trades affecting the construction industry.

Arbroath West and Letham Liberal Democrat councillor Richard Moore said: “Sheltered housing is at just 39% of the budget.

“It’s all very well saying we have an underspend, but if we’re not providing what we say we’re going to then it is a hollow victory.”

Angus Provost Ronnie Proctor highlighted kitchen and bathroom replacement programme slippages and asked officials to “keep a very close eye” on those.

Housing service leader John Morrow said: “There are some issues trying to retain the trades in Angus.

“Better rates may be offered elsewhere, so retention of that experience is becoming harder and harder.

“We don’t want it to become too onerous for the work to be completed and you end up with more complaints than compliments.”

A major regeneration of the Timmergreens area of Arbroath is one of the affected schemes.

Mr Morrow said: “Slippage of £2.1m is projected. This is partly attributable to issues obtaining Scottish Water technical approval, which means construction for the Emislaw site will now commence in spring 2020.”

Provost Ronnie Proctor, left, and Councillor Richard Moore.