MANAGEMENT ISSUES Review leaves tenants with more concerns
Wishaw and District Housing Association has come under fire from a community group in the town.
Recently the Wishaw Press reported that the housing association had been ordered to carry out a strategic review of the organisation which could last for the next three months.
The Scottish Housing Regulator used its statutory powers to appoint a manager and five governing body members in February last year because it was not assured WDHA had the necessary governance and leadership capacity to undertake the scale of the work required and to manage the financial risks arising from the site without expert support.
The Regulator has now decided to continue intervention at the association for the next six months.
That decision has left a number of tenants in Wishaw questioning the future of the association and what happens after the review is completed.
The issue was discussed at a recent Coltness Community Council meeting.
Chairman John Carr said: “Some of the elderly residents are starting to panic as they believe they have real concerns about WDHA.
“They need to know what is happening and where is this going to end?
“The housing association said they would carry out a review and said it would take three months. What is going to happen after that?
“This has been going on for far too long. Questions have to be asked and they have to be answered by those at Wishaw and District.
“We want someone from the association to come and speak to us and address some of these concerns.”
A survey last year showed 94 per cent satisfaction, four points up from three years ago and five points higher than the Scottish average.
Since the Regulator continued its intervention in August, WDHA has addressed many of the problems highlighted within the regulation plan.
For example, it has recently completed a feasibility study which has identified options for developing the Main Street site of the former Tesco store in Wishaw town centre and its financial position is improving and is sustainable for the long term.
WDHA chair Brenda Higgins said: “We will be working with the Regulator to identify the solution to the future management of WDHA which is in the best interests of tenants, staff and the wider community.
“We are committed to ensuring that tenants will be fully consulted over this process and will be contacting Coltness Community Council and other groups over the coming weeks to begin this process.” Low-income residents could be missing out on a cost reduction for higher council tax bands which was introduced last year.
Figures obtained by MSP Mark Griffin show that only 100 householders in North Lanarkshire have claimed the new support, introduced last April for homes in bands E to H with net incomes of less than £25,000, or £16,750 for single residents.
His statistics show that the reduction has been claimed by fewer than 2000 households across the country, less than four per cent of the 54,000 expected to be entitled to an exemption _ up to a third of whom are pensioners.
Mr Griffin, who is Scottish Labour’s social security spokesperson, said: “Just a handful of households are actually benefiting from this. Struggling families and pensioners are missing out on key support and facing massive council tax bills as a result.”
Representatives of charity Age Scotland want to see action to ensure that low- income pensioners are not missing out on the support, calling the figures to date “very disappointing”.
Its head of policy, Adam Stachura, said: “Too many older people are struggling to get by on a low income, worrying about paying for essentials such as food and fuel bills.
“Lower- income households, including pensioners, have been hardest hit by council tax increases and this support could make a difference to their quality of life.
“We can help older people to find out if they are eligible by calling our free helpline on 0800 12 44 222 for a benefits check; and we’d also like councils and the Scottish Government to do more to make people aware of the help that is available to them.”