EVENT: ASBESTOS - NEW GUIDANCE FOR DUTY HOLDERS
10 March 2010

ACS Physical Risk Control Ltd T: 0141 427 5171 F: 0141 427 2722 E: acs@acs-env.com W: www.acs-env.com Specialists in Physical Risk Management and Control, incorporating Management of Asbestos, Health & Safety and the Environment ASBESTOS: NEW GUIDANCE FOR DUTY HOLDERS Masterclass by Prof Roger Willey on the MDHS 100 Replacement Thursday 25th March, Audi Conference Centre, Glasgow The long-awaited replacement to MDHS 100 has now been published: HSG264 ‘Asbestos: The Survey Guide’. The current asbestos surveys have been renamed and more detailed guidance is now given on sampling and surveying, on the Duty Holder and on competence of surveyors. Also, for the first time, guidance is given for surveying in domestic properties, which is of particular relevance to RSL’s. 0900: Registration / Refreshments 0930-1100: The 21st Century asbestos problem Regulation 4 What is meant by the Duty to Manage and the Duty Holder The detailed changes to asbestos surveys 1100: Refreshments 1115-1230 What is meant by competence of surveyors and survey organisations The new guidance on asbestos surveying in domestic premises 1230 Discussion Session 1300: Close Prof. Roger Willey is a renowned asbestos expert and is Managing Director of ACS Physical Risk Control Limited, who are firmly placed as one of the UK’s leading consultancies in asbestos related research, management, testing and training. Prices – £95 plus VAT per delegate. A 10% discount is offered for bookings of 3 or more places. Venue – Audi Conference Centre, 520 Hillington Road, Braehead, Glasgow, G52 4UB To Book or for Further Information – Please contact: Catriona Young on: Tel: 0141 427 5171, Fax: 0141 427 2722 or email catriona@acs-env.com Further Links:

Relevant Links:

TENDER: NEW HOUSING DEVELOPMENT AT HOLM AVENUE, DUMFRIES
10 March 2010

DGHP Ltd is inviting applications from contractors who wish to be considered for inclusion on a select list to tender for the construction of a new housing development, consisting of both mainstream and supported accommodation, located at Holm Avenue, Dumfries. The contract comprises the erection of 20 no. single and two-storey detached and semi-detached timber framed houses on a vacant site. The works will also include piled foundations and all necessary siteworks and site servicing including: roads, road footpaths and car parking; sewers and house drainage; pavings; fencing; soft landscaping; and water, gas, electricity and telecom mains connections. The works are programmed to commence in the autumn of 2010 for a period of approximately 15 months, and are estimated to cost in the region of £2.5m. Contractors will be required to complete a pre-qualification questionnaire (PQQ). The purpose of the PQQ is to identify a number of suitably qualified and experienced organisations that will be invited to tender. DGHP will use the information provided in response to the PQQ to determine which organisations are most suited, in the opinion of DGHP, in terms of technical knowledge and experience and organisational and financial standing to submit a tender. The PQQ is available by recording your interest in the contract via the Public Contracts Scotland website at www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk. PQQ’s should be returned in hard copy format to DGHP Ltd, 80 Ashwood Drive, Stranraer, DG9 7PF, marked for the attention of Gordon McClintick, FRICS, Procurement and Program Manager (telephone 01387 242644) no later than 1200 hours on Monday, 12 April 2010. Further Links:

Relevant Links:

SCOTTISH HOUSING JOBS ON-LINE
10 March 2010

Jobs Manor Estates Housing Association is seeking a Technical Inspector, Salary (from 1st April 2010) £27,190 - £29,911. Closing date: noon on March 29. Melville Housing Association is seeking a Housing Assistant (Temporary), Maternity Cover, Salary £18,813 – £21,036, 35 hours per week. Closing date: noon on March 12. Melville Housing Association is seeking a Property Manager, Salary £34,458 - £37,905 + Car allowance + Final Salary Pension. Closing date: noon on March 15. Almond Housing Association is seeking a Housing Manager (Ref: ALM 90). Closing date: March 12. Almond Housing Association is seeking a Corporate & Development Administration Assistant (Ref: ALM 91). Closing date: March 12. Almond Housing Association is seeking a Debt Recovery Officer [Part Time] (Ref: ALM 92). Closing date: March 12. For more information on any of the above jobs, or to apply, go to www.scottishhousingnews.com/jobs. Tenders DGHP Ltd is inviting tenders for a new housing development. For more information, go to: www.scottishhousingnews.com. Closing date: April 12. To advertise Jobs, call Contact Publicity on 0141 204 2042 or email: jobsonline@contactpublicity.co.uk To advertise Tenders, call Jeff Anderson on 01292 479 443 or email: jeff@constructionnow.co.uk

FIVE MORE SECOND STAGE TRANSFER BALLOTS GET GO-AHEAD
10 March 2010

More than 1,000 tenants in Glasgow will be given a chance to vote next month on plans to transfer their Glasgow Housing Association homes to community ownership. The GHA Board has approved business plans from five community-based housing associations who want to take ownership of a total of 1037 homes under Second Stage Transfer. The Scottish Housing Regulator has given approval, in principle, for GHA tenants in the five Local Housing Organisations (LHOs) to be balloted on the plans. An initial consultation period in each area will take giving tenants the chance to consider the detailed proposals. Ballot papers will then be issued in April with tenants given three weeks to respond. It is expected that if a majority of tenants voting in each area are in favour of the plans, the homes will transfer in the summer. The five LHOs where tenants will be balloted are Blairtummock LHO – where 178 properties in Blairtummock in Easterhouse would transfer to Blairtummock Housing Association; Cathcart HA LHO - where 283 properties in Cathcart in the South Side would transfer to Cathcart and District Housing Association; Levernwood Housing Association LHO - where 69 properties in Levernwood in Nitshill would transfer to Rosehill Housing Co-operative; Holmbyre LHO - where 119 properties in Holmbyre in Castlemilk would transfer to Thenew Housing Association; and Wellhouse Tenants Direct - where 388 properties in Wellhouse in Greater Easterhouse would transfer to Wellhouse Housing Association. GHA Tenant Chair, Sandra Forsythe said: “We are committed to delivering Second Stage Transfer where it is what tenants want and I’m delighted more tenants will be given a say in just a few weeks on the future of their homes.” Cathcart & District Director, Christine Leitch said: “Cathcart & District is delighted that negotiations with GHA have reached this stage. The Association is committed to empowering local tenants and believes that SST will give the people of Cathcart and Mount Florida a real say in respect of their housing.” Joe Williamson, director of Wellhouse, said: “Wellhouse has 15 years’ experience and a proven track record of delivering high-quality housing as well as new facilities and services for our tenants. We believe SST will provide real benefits for the community and we are delighted to have the opportunity to converse with local people to ask them what they would like and then to deliver the services they require.” Cathie Mulligan, Chairperson of Blairtummock, said: “We have waited a while for the chance to move towards SST, but we are raring to go. We have proven over the years that we are much more than just a landlord and this ballot gives our LHO tenants the chance to enjoy the full benefits of true community ownership.” The five LHOs which will go to ballot next month are among 29 local communities in a timetable for SST which could see up to 16,500 homes transfer in 2010 and 2011.

Relevant Links:

HOUSING IS KEY BUILDING BLOCK TO IMPROVING CHILDREN’S LIFE CHANCES
10 March 2010

Graeme Brown The issue of child homelessness will be thrown under the spotlight at a major one day conference next month – organised and announced Shelter Scotland. Housing is a vital building block to improving the life chances of children and young people - yet across Scotland today thousands of children and young people are stuck in poor quality accommodation or lack a permanent home. The conference, Housing – the missing piece of the jigsaw? on March 30, in Edinburgh, will focus on the importance of housing and homelessness services working with social work, health and education, to improve the life chances of children and young people faced with homelessness or living in bad housing. The conference will feature a DVD of children talking about their experiences of homelessness and key note speeches from experts in the field, including Graeme Brown, Director, Shelter Scotland and Tam Baillie, Scotland’s Commissioner for Children and Young People. Graeme Brown said: “Homelessness and bad housing can have a devastating effect on children and young people, causing upheaval and distress and seriously impacting on their life chances. “This upcoming conference will shine a light on how we can tackle the issues involved with child homelessness. The children and young people of Scotland are our future which is why we must all work together to bring about positive change for those who are homeless and badly housed. “Last year there were around 24,000 children in households assessed as homeless across Scotland and just over 6,200 dependent children were stuck in temporary accommodation. And shockingly there are 43,000 children living in overcrowded households across Scotland. “Behind those figures bad housing has a devastating impact on the life chances of children. Research shows that children living in bad housing are nearly twice as likely as other children to leave school without any qualifications. “In addition, children living in acute bad housing are twice as likely to not attend school compared to children who are living in adequate housing. And children living in bad housing are five times more likely to lack a quiet place to do their homework as other children.”

Relevant Links:

HOUSING CUT ‘ANOTHER HAMMER BLOW’ FOR HIGHLAND BUILDING SECTOR, SAYS SBF
10 March 2010

Michael Levack The Scottish Building Federation has hit out at news that Highland Council faces a 45% cut in Scottish Government funding for affordable housing for 2011-12, forecasting “significant business failures” and “substantial lay-offs” in the region’s construction industry as a result. The industry body has also complained that, as competition for dwindling public sector contracts intensifies, many firms are already being forced to put in “suicidal tenders” to secure new work. It has suggested that, with further cuts on the horizon, such practices will push an increasing number of construction firms to the wall. SBF Chief Executive, Michael Levack described the cuts as “even worse than we had feared” and described them as “another hammer blow” for the Highland construction industry. He also suggested that the impact on employment and skills would be “acute”, with many Highland building firms under severe pressure and hundreds of apprentices unable to start or complete their training and forced to seek out an alternative career. A SBF Highland Association survey found that three quarters of members in the region described themselves as “heavily reliant” on the public sector. Traditionally viewed as a strength, the Highland industry’s strong reliance on public sector investment now makes it particularly vulnerable to threatened cuts in public sector capital investment, the SBF has warned. A growing crisis in the availability of affordable housing across the region will also accelerate a continuing outflux of workers from the region, further stifling its economic recovery, Mr. Levack added. He also expressed concern that the effects of the cuts would be to create a skills shortage which would stoke up major cost inflation in the construction sector when the economy finally recovers. Levack said: “We expected cuts but these are even worse than we had feared. This is yet another hammer blow for the Highland construction industry. “But this is not just disastrous for the building sector. It will do nothing to address a growing crisis in affordable housing provision in some of the most rural and remote parts of Scotland. Such a drastic cut in public funding will stifle the region’s economic recovery, forcing an increasing number of younger people to leave the Highlands altogether in search of a job and an affordable roof over their head. “For the construction industry in the Highlands, the impact will be to create an acute skills shortage that will stoke up major cost inflation when the recovery finally comes.” Further Links:

Relevant Links:

SCOTTISH HEROES GET FUNDING BOOST
10 March 2010

Alex Neil Visiting Erskine Home for ex-service men and women, Housing and Communities Minister, Alex Neil has revealed that 11 projects will share a £80,000 fund to help heroes at home in Scotland. The projects will deliver new or innovative approaches to veterans' issues, or activities not funded by the Scottish Government or the Ministry of Defence. Successful projects include £10,000 for a supported accommodation pilot in Erskine providing five cottages alongside welfare advice, re-training and employment advice for recently discharged service personnel; and The Thistle Foundation (£10,000), a lifestyle management course which will help 40 veterans to improve their lives, on a 10-week course Mr Neil said: "The Government is determined to increase support for Scotland's armed forces veterans. We will never forget the bravery of our heroes or the debt of gratitude we owe them. "These projects will allow veterans to use the skills, experience and confidence gained through their service careers as well as helping them adjust to civilian life." Erskine's Chief Executive, Major Jim Panton said: "I am pleased that Alex Neil paid a visit to the Erskine Edinburgh Home and Personnel Recovery Centre today. I trust he has enjoyed his visit and that he also enjoyed meeting many of our residents. He seemed impressed with our work in caring for the country's veterans. "I would also like to thank him for the 10,000 pound grant Erskine has received from the Scottish Veterans Fund which we will use for our Supported Transition Project. This project will see Erskine providing wounded or injured soldiers who are leaving the Forces with housing, employment and training to help ease the transition back into civvy street. "This could not come at a more important time due to the ongoing operations our Armed Forces are involved in throughout the world. I hope this will encourage the public to donate to our cause in order that we can continue to provide the highest standard of care to veterans for many years to come." Further Links:

Relevant Links:

BORDERS YOUNG PEOPLE GET COOKING TRAINING
10 March 2010

You Can Cook has begun a programme with young people and housing association tenants in the Scottish Border that will help them learn basic techniques and skills in cookery. Through five workshops, participants will benefit from a varied programme that will help raise awareness of how to plan, budget, prepare, cook and serve meals based on a healthy and nutritional diet. You Can Cook is committed to self-help and empowering participants to take that step forward in changing their lifestyle for the better. The project in the Borders has been able to go ahead, due to funding from Awards for All and a Wider Role grant from the Scottish Government. Some of the early beneficiaries will be young people involved in the Albert Place Transitions Project to be launched today by Scottish Borders Housing Association and Scottish Borders Council. The programme includes information about nutrition, benefits of organic and non-organic foods, buying local produce and fair trade issues with the ultimate objective of helping vulnerable people make an informed choice. Planning and budgeting skills and knowledge about additives, flavourings, pesticides, fertilisers, E numbers are integral to the programme. You Can Cook is an established programme that is run by a qualified and experienced chef, who recruits and trains people from the local community to share their expertise and passion for cooking with those who do not fully understand the benefits of healthy and nutritional eating. This provides an opportunity for beneficiaries from the project of learning how to become a community cook and disseminate their learning and acquired skills with other people. The programme’s philosophy is based on the axiom “we are what we eat” and helps vulnerable people to understand how they can nourish their bodies in an appropriate way to improve their well being. The planning and budgeting elements of the programme will also help participants to manage their shopping in a more economic way and reduce expenditure by not purchasing high cost ready meals. The project will be organised into five blocks and each block comprise six sessions. Each session is for two hours and You Can Cook provides all the tools, ingredients and a community chef together with a qualified chef provides the expertise. Further Links:

Relevant Links:

FISH PROJECT NETS FOUR NEW WELFARE RIGHTS OFFICERS
10 March 2010

ACHA (Argyll Community Housing Association) has developed a new welfare rights service for tenants in partnership with Dunbritton Housing Association and West Highland Housing Association. Building on the success of the FISH project (financial inclusion services in housing) from last year, the housing association partnership has obtained grant funding of £259,000 from the Scottish Government and the Henry Smith Charity for four new welfare rights officers for an 18 month period. The new welfare rights officers will help tenants of the three associations from all over Argyll and Bute to claim benefits and credits that they are entitled to. It is very often elderly people or those on low incomes who are not claiming and in the UK last year there was an estimated £16 billion of un-claimed income related benefits alone. ACHA’s Chief Executive, Alastair MacGregor said: “We are absolutely delighted to be able to assist our tenants to claim benefits – money they are entitled to and previously have missed out on. This will be a welcome income boost for many individuals and to the Argyll economy. “At a time of real pressure on grant resources I am really pleased that the hard work of the three associations concerned has managed to secure this valuable resource to help our people.” The new welfare rights officers will provide services through the ACHA office network throughout Argyll and Bute and will also link up with West Highland and Dunbritton Housing Association facilities. Further Links:

Relevant Links:

HIGHLAND COUNCIL REASSURE OVER FUTURE OF CARE HOMES
10 March 2010

The Leader of The Highland Council has given a categorical assurance that the only work currently being carried out on the future of Council care homes is a review of the business case for building care homes at Burnside/Ach an Eas, Inverness, Muir of Ord, Fort William, Tain and Grantown. This work is scheduled to be completed by the end of this month and the aim is that a report is taken to the full council on 13 May. Councillor Foxley said that before the Council had taken a decision on 17 December last year to proceed with the business case review, the Council’s Leadership had been given a number of options for future action. One included undertaking an option appraisal on the transfer of all Council care homes and their operation to the private sector or to a trust. This option had been dismissed and had not been presented to the Council for consideration. He said: “The clear view of the Leadership was to recommend to the council that we conduct a business review of each of the five proposed projects. This recommendation was accepted. We will examine each of the projects and assess the costs and benefits of the investments so we have the information we require to decide how best to spend the funding available to us. We should have this information by the end of the month and we will take a report to the full council for consideration.” Councillor Margaret Davidson, Chairman of the Housing and Social Work Committee, added: “We are entirely focused on preparing a business case for each of the five homes.” She said the Council ran a total of 10 residential and 9 community care homes. In recent times, it had invested more than £4m on the refurbishment of Bayview House, Thurso; Seaforth House, Golspie; Dail Mhor, Strontian; Melvich Community Care Unit; Strathburn House, Gairloch; the MacKintosh Centre, Mallaig and Pulteney House, Wick and the Telford Centre, Fort Augustus. The Council also purchases places from the independent sector in providing accommodation for older people. Further Links

Relevant Links:

FORTH HOUSING STAFF SUPPORTS START-UP STIRLING
10 March 2010

The staff of Forth Housing Association has presented Start-Up Stirling with a cheque for £1,000. Start-Up helps homeless families and individuals when they move into a long-term tenancy from temporary accommodation. This money was raised by the Forth’s staff team over the past year by fundraising lunches, dress down days and other fundraising events. Christine Hancox, Project Co-ordinator said: “Start-Up Stirling has seen a steady increase in the demand for its services in the last year. This kind donation from Forth will allow us to help many more families.” Each household gets allocated a starter pack which consists of 3 boxes containing household goods, food and cleaning materials and each pack costs approximately £45. A kettle, toaster and duvet are also provided and these cost another £40. Start-Up Stirling relies on donations of foodstuffs, cleaning materials etc to keep the cost of starter packs to a minimum. If any individual or groups would like to know how they can help, they should contact Start Up Stirling at c/o The Rock Community Project, 61 - 63 Murray Place, Stirling, FK8 1AP, E mail: startupstirling@hotmail.com. Further Links

Relevant Links:

PRIVATE EAST RENFREWSHIRE HOMEOWNERS TO GET ADVICE
10 March 2010

Private home owners in East Renfrewshire will be able to see what assistance East Renfrewshire Council can give them to keep their properties up to standard after councillors gave the go-ahead to the publication of a scheme of assistance. The scheme will be published in April to chart important changes to the way the council can help private home owners with everything from information and advice to practical assistance, especially when common repairs are involved. Improvement grants will no longer be payable in line with national changes, but the council will work with private home owners to reduce the number of homes failing to meet the national tolerable standard, assist owners in communal blocks to carry our essential maintenance and repairs and work with private landlords and tenants to improve standards in the private rented sector. The council will also have new powers to force owners who refuse to maintain their property to do so, while the council’s responsibilities to disabled people to help them stay in their homes by carrying out adaptations, will also be spelled out. Deputy council leader, Councillor Douglas Yates said: “The private sector is extremely important in East Renfrewshire where around 33,000 of our 36,000 homes are privately owned. Our scheme of assistance will be published in April so that all home owners are clear about what their rights and duties are as well as our obligation to them to ensure that the housing stock of the area all meets the minimum tolerable standard. “While the bulk of our housing stock is well-maintained and extremely comfortable, we do have pockets of poverty where the householder, often an older person, has fallen behind with maintenance, and we need to meet that need as well as look after disabled residents whose homes need adaptations to allow them to continue to live in their own homes.”

Relevant Links:

GROWING UP GREEN IN SPRINGBURN
10 March 2010

A green-conscious Glasgow primary school got top marks after it excelled in an eco-quiz from a leading business. Laidlaw Scott, which works with many housing providers, challenged Elmvale Primary School youngsters to answer its eco-friendly quiz with tough questions on how to be green in our everyday lives. Impressively, the pupils from Primary 6 taught by Acting Principal Teacher Miss Macdonald got the whole lot right in the special inter-active quiz game. The kids at the Springburn school were so successful that they won lots of hi visibility vests and art activity packs from Laidlaw Scott. The vests will be used later in the year and are perfect for keeping the youngsters safe on dark winter days. Elmvale Primary has outstanding green credentials already - it teaches the youngsters the importance of green issues and despite being yards from a motorway has its own playground garden and even an orchard! The children also have a clear understanding of the need to recycle. The pupils were asked such things like whether it is appropriate to boil a full kettle when only making one cup of tea, what they should do to switch off lights and whether mums and dads should run the washing machine if it is only slightly full. Chris Farmer, Commercial Manager, said: “The Elmvale kids were spot on when it comes to green issues. It was very clear that these youngsters know a thing or two about green matters and the school is to be congratulated on its work in this area. As a building and maintenance contractor, sustainability and eco issues are very high priorities for the company and we are very pleased to be working with schoolchildren on the importance of growing up green.” Elmvale Headteacher, Grant MacLeod said: “We were delighted to welcome Laidlaw Scott to the school. The children enjoyed the quiz very much and are enthusiastic about a range of eco matters. Knowledge about green issues is an important part of our curriculum so it is good to know the children remembered so much of what they have learned.”

Relevant Links:

WATES RECEIVES HIGH CSS SCORE ON GHA PROJECT
10 March 2010

A site team at Wates Living Space have managed to achieve a Considerate Constructor Scheme score of 36.5 at the Birness site in Glasgow. The project involves overcladding, window and roof replacement on four multi storey housing blocks for Glasgow Housing Association. Comments in the report included "the site continues to present a professional image of the industry with operatives encouraged to take part in a number of company initiatives aimed at improving the image of the company, site and industry. Public transport, car sharing, crew buses and policy to switch of engines when not in use aims to reduce sites carbon footprint." Wates is currently on site refurbishing fifteen multi storey flats for GHA and achieved an average Considerate Contractor Score of 33.5. Tenants have remained in the blocks while the work is being carried out and several references were made in the report regarding the high level of liaison work undertaken and general consideration to the tenants. These works form part of the ongoing framework Wates are currently employed on with GHA. To date Wates have completed nearly 40 Multi Storey Flats for the association. David Blackwood, GHA Project Manager for Wates Living Space said: "We are delighted to have achieved such a high score, which represents the excellent work our teams undertake.”

Relevant Links:

TRAINING AT SHARE – INTRODUCTION DAY FOR NEW COMMITTEE MEMBERS
10 March 2010

INTRODUCTION DAY FOR NEW COMMITTEE MEMBERS Tuesday 23 March 10.00am – 3.00pm Trainers John Mulholland and Cathy Brien This is a short and intense introductory session for committee members who have recently joined the governing body or might have missed the more comprehensive equivalent Housing Associations in a Nutshell last year. It is a brief but knowledgeable one day introduction to the issues that committee members have to come to grips with. As well as a general introduction to the sector the presentations will also touch on The responsibilities of a Board/Committee Member. The key aspects of the business planning process and finances The basic elements of Housing Management and Property Maintenance Investment issues relating to new housing Key personal skills needed by Committee members The regulatory environment. In addition the day will also include a short Training Needs Assessment and this will help participants decide and plan future training priorities, as well as meeting one of the requirements of the Regulatory Code of Governance. At the end of the day participants will have Received a general introduction to the housing association sector An individual training plan GOVERNANCE OF SCOTTISH HOUSING ASSOCIATIONS INDUCTION DAY in Edinburgh Thursday 22nd April 2010 9.30am - 1.30pm (including lunch) Facilitators: Rod Hunter & Olwyn Gaffney Venue: Manor Estates Housing Association, 11 Washington Lane, Edinburgh, EH11 2HA To date, sixteen committee have successfully completed this qualification and received their certificates, and twenty are currently participating. The qualification is for all committee members but it is recommended that candidates have served on the committee for at least one year. The qualification is based on a vocational qualification format - that is, you gather evidence of your knowledge and experience and show that you understand your role and responsibilities as a Committee member This induction day will introduce candidates to the qualification, answer questions, explain the methods of assessment, register them with SQA and suggest the best ways to gather evidence. The qualification is estimated to take between 9 and 12 months to complete and requires several meetings between the candidate and the assessor. There are three units, Work to Achieve Good Governance of the Housing Association, Contribute Effectively to Governing Body Meetings and Prepare Yourself to Deliver Good Governance of the Housing Association. Successful completion of the qualification will lead to the award of a Certificate recognised by the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA). If you would like to know more please contact Rod Hunter or Olwyn Gaffney at SHARE To book a place or for further information please call 0141 550 7595 or e-mail info@share.org.uk. All our courses as well as a downloadable calendar are listed on our website at www.share.org.uk. Further Links:

Relevant Links: