Covid-hit projects all set to restart
Councilwillspendmillionscatchinguponwork
South Lanarkshire Council has announced the resumption of a number of projects which were delayed due to the impact of Covid-19.
Incomplete projects from last year have resulted in an underspend of £7 million.
However, these have now transferred to plans for the year 2021/22, with expected completion dates now published.
The progression of these projects originally scheduled during 2020/21 was held up due to ongoing lockdowns.
The council’s Capital
Programme report updates committee members on the progress of projects from the period April 2020 to January 2021.
Removing the budget and costs associated with Covid-19, the current estimates from Housing and Technical Resources suggest an outturn of £65.7 m to be spent by South Lanarkshire Council.
Against the budget of £72.757m –which excludes the budget of £7.89m for Covid-19 – this outturn means an underspend across Resources of £7m and relates mainly to projects within Community and Enterprise Resources (£2.6 m), Education Resources (£2.3m), Housing and Technical resources (£1.5m), Finance and Corporate Resources (£400,000) and Social
Work Resources (£200,000). Projects delayed include extension to cemeteries and remedial work to memorial headstones which is now set to be completed throughout 2021/22.
Refurbishments to housing and technical resources for the council will be carried out throughout 2021/22.
With timing being the main reason behind the underspend, it will now come into consideration for the budget for 2021/22.
However, these underspends have been partially offset by a few project overspends predicted this financial year.
The outturn of £65.7m is a decrease of £1.3m compared to the position last reported.
The decrease in outturn mainly reflects revised time scales on a number of projects.
The projects include external works at Springhall Community Facility (£150,000) and work being completed at Lightburn Early Learning Centre (£100,000).
Our Butcher Boy competition – sponsored by Henderson Fine Foods – has returned.
Each week, you will have the chance to win £30 of butcher meat.
Due to measures introduced to slow the spread of coronavirus, the competition will be email entry only until further notice.
The good people at Henderson Fine Foods will be in touch with the winner about their voucher each week and can also deliver the prize to your home if requested. Entries must be in by 10am on a Monday.
Ann McGregor from Rutherglen is this week’s winner.
Q. I am making an enquiry regarding a boiler grant that I applied for (free boiler). I did this online and filled in my details and I was called the next morning. I then had the company in my house to take pictures etc. I was advised that I would need to pay £1000 of additional costs. I asked the company how much the funding is and for a breakdown of the additional costs and had no clear answers. They stated they sent a list of things needed, like fluid etc. I also asked where the funding came from and they would not explain this either. I have not accepted this boiler/installation and asked them to put it on hold until I can do some investigating. What would you suggest I do?
A. In the first instance, you could ask for a breakdown of costs and how much is covered by the funding via letter or email. This would ensure that you have evidence of the costs involved.
If you are not sure about using the company and have concerns about the situation then you can leave it and contact Home Energy Scotland and they may be able to help with funding towards this particular installation, highlighting that there may be additional costs also like not covering pipe work etc.
Much of the funding for these projects comes from the Scottish Government but it is always best researching the company and checking their credentials with Home Energy Scotland.
Q.I am registered with South Lanarkshire Council as homeless and I am hoping to get a council house from them. I have turned down temporary accommodation on the grounds that I am looking for permanent housing. I feel that I am being given the run around by the council as I was initially told I would be given information in nine months and I have now been told that it could be another year. My parents have written a letter to the local authority to say that their house is overcrowded and I am looking for advice as to whether or not this information I was given was correct.
A. Under housing legislation, any applicant who is 16 years of age or older is entitled to be admitted to a local authority or registered social landlord housing list.
These housing agencies together are described as providers of social housing.
Admission to a housing list, however, is not a guarantee of an offer of housing and unless the applicant has special circumstances or is homeless there is likely to be a lengthy wait.
Once the applicant has been admitted to the local authority housing list or the common registers for the area which includes registered social landlords, there has to be an assessment of that person’s need.
The allocation being made has to prioritise need in accordance with housing law and the social housing landlord’s admissions and allocations policies.
It sounds as though you have been given the correct information by your housing officer as you would not be regarded as a priority for a house as you are single, no health conditions or disabilities and you have turned down the offer of temporary accommodation.
There is the option of private rental and many councils offer a Rent Deposit Scheme if you cannot afford to pay your deposit upfront. Q.I live in local authority accommodation and work part time. I am also in receipt of Universal Credit. I budget accordingly and am not in debt but I find that I have no money left at the end of the month. My fridge/ freezer has stopped working and I have no money to pay for a new one and I do not have access to credit. I am wondering if there is any organisations that might be able to assist me.
A. You could apply via your local authority for a Community Care grant. This type of grant is for people to establish or maintain a settled home.
The grant does not have to be paid back and thecouncil will assess your application on the basis that you do not have any other way of paying for what you need.
Community care grants are discretionary payments. This means that you do not have a right to receive a grant but your local authority can exercise its discretion and decide to pay you a grant.
In order to get a community care grant, you need to be eligible, your situation needs to be one of the situations that the fund was set up to help with and there needs to be enough money left in the local authority budget when you apply.
The grant is applied for online only via your local authority website. Unfortunately if you are not computer literate or do not have access to a computer then you will have to ask a friend or relative to assist you with the form.
You also must be able to provide a telephone number or email address for the application.
Q. I am 74 years young and have medical conditions which make it difficult for me to move around. I need a handrail in my home and was wondering if there were any way of getting this fitted? I am on a low income and cannot afford to get this fitted myself.
A. There may be costs associated with any equipment or adaptations that are fitted into your house.
You would need to fill in a nonurgent application form online to apply for such adaptations and you will then be assessed in your home to ensure that it will be suitable for you.
The online application can be filled out by a family member or friend and you must have your doctor’s details and next of kin details handy.
Q. I am an apprentice at a local nursery earning the basic apprenticeship wage per hour. I live with my mum and dad, however after my bills are paid I am left with very little to live on each month. I have applied for Universal Credit online and was told I was not entitled. I am wondering if there is any other help I may be entitled to?
A. As an apprentice, you are classed to be in paid employment and you are earning the correct national minimum wage for apprentices.
If you have a union, you could contact them if you are a member as they may have a hardship scheme.
Universal Credit would be the benefit if on a low income, but because you are classed as an apprentice there are different employment rules related to these schemes.
The Scottish Welfare Fund may be able to help for a crisis or an emergency but this is discretionary and the council would determine your eligibility.
Your local Citizens Advice Bureau could carry out a financial health check on your bills and out goings to establish if there are any ways that you can save money on household bills.
Plese note: Rutherglen & Cambuslang Citizens Advice Bureau currently is open for telephone/email advice Monday to Friday, from 9.30am to 3pm.