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Our AGM hears of Association’s plans to carry on building much-needed homes despite cost of living pressures
RURAL Stirling Housing Association is continuing to build more affordable homes despite a “testing” year, our AGM has heard.
Reduced Government funding for social housing and the ever-present cost of living pressures were just two of the ongoing challenges faced by our tenants AND the Association.
Despite this, RSHA was pressing on with our “ambitious” programme of constructing “affordable homes” in several communities.
Delivering his final Chair’s report after five years in the role, Mark Griffiths told the well-attended AGM held at the Callander Youth Project: “Each year seems to bring new challenges and that has certainly been the case again this year.
“The Association has been experiencing significantly higher cost increases in specific areas such as construction, maintenance and repair costs. The Board of Management and the Association’s staff have and will continue to work very hard to control costs whilst maintaining services.
“But our finances remain sound. It is important for our tenants that they remain so and the Board and staff will remain vigilant.”
Highlighting the housebuilding programme, the Association completed four cottage flats during the year at Graham Lambie Brae, Strathblane – named after the late and popular local councillor.
Work is well under way at Croftamie where 14 homes are being built and due for completion in December while 11 are progressing at Killearn for completion in June next year.
In addition, the Association is working with the Scottish Government, Stirling Council and contractors to finalise arrangements for a development of 22 homes at Balmaha and in conjunction with developer Springfield on 30 homes at Gartness Road, Drymen.
Progress is also being made on a development of 18 homes at Tyndrum.
Meanwhile, Mark said over £700,000 had been spent during the year on existing tenants’ homes on upgrades such as new kitchens, bathrooms and energy efficient heating systems.
The AGM also heard from our external financial auditors who gave the Association a clean bill of health in terms of our finances.
Another stand out achievement accomplished during the year was the launch in the spring of “My Rural” – the Association’s online self-service portal.
This innovative gateway - accessible online - is available round the clock and provides customers with the opportunity to pay rent, check their rent account, report a repair and generally manage the tenancy.
Mark Griffiths encouraged more tenants to sign up and register for the free service.
He added that ongoing partnership working between RSHA and others – notably Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park, Stirling Council and Community Councils - remained “strong”.
The AGM also heard from guest speaker Stephen Clark, Head of Housing at Stirling Council, who spoke on “Scotland’s Housing Emergency.”
He told the meeting that Stirling Council – like RSHA – remained deeply committed to the delivery of affordable housing.
Eleven Scottish Local Authorities have declared a “housing emergency”. Stirling is not one of them. The Scottish Parliament has also declared a housing emergency.
There’s no standard definition of what constitutes a housing emergency. Each council has its own reasons for declaring a housing emergency in its area. While the reasons are complex and varied, common themes include pressures on homelessness services, high levels of people in temporary accommodation and a lack of affordable homes compared to high waiting lists.
Stephen told the meeting that solutions might include “making the case for increased funding for affordable housing development and homelessness”, “innovation and collaboration with the private sector” and changes to legislation.
Thank you Mark….Vice Chair Fiona Boath presents Mark with a gift to mark the end of this five years as Chair of RSHA.
The AGM takes place. Callander Youth Hostel Trust
MINISTER for Housing Paul McLennan has learned first hand about the important work we are doing here at Rural Stirling Housing Association.
He paid a welcome visit to our offices in Doune for a round table discussion on the work of the Association and the ever-present challenges facing a rural housing provider like ourselves.
The meeting touched on – among other things - the challenge all housing providers with a programme of developing new homes are facing with “construction inflation” contributing to rising costs.
Mark Griffiths, our Chairperson, said: “We were very pleased indeed to host a visit by the Minister. It allowed us and our partners to engage directly with the Scottish Government which shares our vision of delivering more affordable housing.
Our round table discussion focused on a range of issues primarily addressing housing needs in rural Stirlingshire which remains at an exceptionally high level
We hope Paul McLennan took away from our discussion a greater understanding of the pressing issues affecting our work and our commitment to partnership working involving Stirling Council, the Scottish Government and others.”
The Minister learned of our recent and ongoing developments in Tyndrum, Kippen, Killearn, Strathblane and Balmaha.
Our Chief Executive Donna Birrell added: “We appreciate the visit of Paul McLennan accompanied by officials from the Scottish Government. It was an invaluable opportunity for us to set out what we are doing as a housing association.
There is a strong demand for housing across the communities we serve and we are endeavouring to address this as best we can
Affordable housing remains a critical component of sustaining communities – especially rural ones - with a particularly pressing demand for the provision of one and two bedroom apartments.
We value our working partnership with Stirling Council, Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park and the Scottish Government and look forward to continuing to work together.”
Evelyn Tweed, MSP for Stirling, said: “Accessible, affordable housing is a vital building block for sustainable communities. Rural areas face specific challenges when it comes to housing and it’s important that consideration of rural needs are embedded into policy and legislation.
I’m pleased that the Minister was able to visit my constituency and hear first hand about the great work that the Rural Stirling Housing Association and East Loch Lomond Community Trust are doing, and about the challenging context they work in. I hope that this productive conversation will be able to inform the government’s housing strategy.”
Mr McLennan said: “We recognise good quality affordable housing is essential to help build sustainable communities in rural areas. Rural Stirling Housing Association are looking to increase the availability of affordable housing to support their local communities, and we will continue to work together to help deliver more affordable homes.
We are committed to delivering 110,000 affordable homes by 2032, of which 10% will be in rural and island communities and 70% will be for social rent.”
Pictured: Minister Paul McLennan (far left) with the team from RSHA and partner organisations.
Thistle Insurance have issued a very useful information leaflet about Home Contents insurance.
We recommend all our tenants take out home contents insurance.