Get involved with the Housing Service

We have an exciting opportunity for you to get involved with the Housing Service.  We would like to hear your feedback on our newly drafted Customer Charter and Service Standards.  It is really important that our customers give us their views to improve housing services.  We are holding various sessions across Angus to allow our customers to share their views and want to gather as much feedback as possible. If you would like to attend any of the following sessions, please let us know by emailing TenantParticipation@angus.gov.uk 
If you are unable to attend but would be happy to be contacted via email, please send your details to the email above.

Tuesday 7 May Bruce House, Arbroath 6:15 – 7:45pm

Friday 10 May Cricket Cafe, Strathmore Cricket Club, Forfar 10am – 12pm

Monday 13 May Mo Hub, Murray Street, Murray Street, Montrose 6:15 – 7:45pm

Tuesday 14 May Well Bean Café, East & Old Parish Church, Forfar 12:15 – 1:45pm

Wednesday 15 May Well Bean Café, Café Project, Brothock Bridge, Arbroath 12:15 – 1:45pm

Friday 17 May The Crickety, Brechin 12:30 – 2pm

Tuesday 21 May Adult Room, Forfar Community Campus 6:15 – 7:45pm

Thursday 30 May Well Bean Cafe, Mo Hub, Montrose 12:15 – 1:45pm

Free English Classes (ESOL) in Angus

We now have face to face evening classes in Forfar, Brechin and Montrose and a variety of daytime classes for learners of all abilities.
We also have online classes if you find it difficult to travel or have work or childcare commitments.
Classes have stopped for the spring holidays but start again week beginning 15th April.
We are also about to start session to help you prepare for your Driving Theory Test, your UK citizenship test and art sessions – see flyers below.

You can find out more details and keep up to date by following this link – please bookmark and check the link for updates.
If you have any questions about classes or ESOL delivery across Angus please contact Neil Paterson

Stay Safe This Bonfire Night

When it comes to bonfires, it’s important to prioritise safety. There are several precautions you can take to make sure it’s a safe and enjoyable experience.

Our advice is to always attend an organised bonfire and firework display. If you do have a bonfire at home, make sure you:

• keep your bonfire well away from buildings, vehicles, and trees/hedges
• never drink alcohol when tending to a bonfire and don’t let smoke become a public nuisance
• only use untreated wood and paper and never include a pressurised container
• it should go without saying, but never throw fireworks onto bonfires
• never use flammable liquids to light a bonfire
• always supervise your bonfire and fully extinguish it once done

Any bonfire failing to satisfy safety conditions, or where people are behaving irresponsibly, may be deemed dangerous and, as such, may be removed, extinguished or otherwise made safe.

Visit the Health and Safety Executive website for information on organising firework displays.

Bonfires and the law

1. It is an offence, under Section 56 of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982, for any person to lay or light a fire in a public place so as to endanger any other person or give them reasonable cause for alarm or annoyance or so as to endanger any property.
2. It is illegal for anyone under 18 years of age to possess fireworks.
3. Throwing fireworks or setting them off in a public place (anywhere other than your own garden) is illegal.
4. It is illegal for the general public to use fireworks before 6pm or after 11pm. This extends to midnight on 5 November and 1am on Hogmanay, Chinese New Year and Diwali.
5. It is illegal for adults to buy or supply fireworks to anyone under the age of 18, with the exception of F1 fireworks. Examples of F1 fireworks include party poppers, novelty crackers and certain sparklers. The category of firework is legally required to be displayed on product packaging.

Fly-tipping is a common cause of deliberate fires during the Bonfire Season.

You can report fly-tipping to arrange for it to be collected.

Deliberate fire-setting can be reported to Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555 111.

All calls are anonymous and you’ll not be asked to provide evidence in court.

How We Did Last Year – Charter Report Card

We have produced a Report Card which lets you know how our Housing services performed last year against the standards set by the Scottish Housing Regulator in the Scottish Social Housing Charter. The card was prepared after consultation with our Tenants Steering Group to ensure we have reported the performance our tenants think is most important. The Report Card is available on our website. If you wish to see our full Annual Return on the Charter you can find this on the Scottish Housing Regulator’s website. 

Montrose Community Housing Team staff shortages

Montrose Community Housing Team is currently experiencing staff shortages, which include staff sickness, vacant posts and annual leave.

The team will try to respond to customers as quickly as possible and ask that any contact is made using ACCESSLine so that your enquiry can be directed accordingly.

They will deal with all non-emergency enquiries in date order, you do not need to call back.

We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause and ask that you please bear with us as these shortages are outwith our control.

Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Our Annual Assurance Statement 2023

Under the Regulatory Framework, we must submit an Annual Assurance Statement to the Scottish Housing Regulator every year. We also must publish it so tenants and service users can see it.

Our statement was approved at Communities Committee on 26 September and states that the Committee, which is our governing body, is assured we meet all statutory requirements, with listed exceptions

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aas2023Download

Shopping Vouchers Available for Tenant Focus Group Members

Last week we told you about our Focus Group sessions with TIS. We will give a £10 shopping voucher for a local supermarket to the first 15 tenants to sign up and attend each of the sessions. To qualify, tenants need to pre-book their place by emailing info@tis.org.uk or tenantparticipation@angus.gov.uk

The sessions will take place on:

Thursday 31 August at 6pm at Forfar Fire Station, Strang St, Forfar DD8 2HR;

Friday 1 September at 10am at Bruce House, Wellgate, Arbroath DD11 3TP; or

Wednesday 13 September at 6pm via Zoom virtual meeting platform

If you’ve already booked your place, don’t worry, we will arrange your voucher to be sent out after the meeting.

One-bedroomed, fully-furnished flat, available in Arbroath

One bedroomed, ground floor flat, fully-furnished tenancy with gas central heating, double glazing and an over bath shower. Bright, spacious property. Shared drying area to rear. Council Tax Band A.

This property is in the Timmergreens area of Arbroath and is a 5-minute walk to the local shops.

There is a good town bus service and good transport links to the surrounding areas and beyond for accessing all local amenities.

This property has been restricted to those with a general needs mobility category code and those with a starter advertising category code as it is a furnished property, through our furnished tenancies scheme.

Further information on the Furnished Tenancies Scheme is here

You can find Furnished properties on the Angus HomeFinder website. If you are registered and have an active application, you can bid for this property on this site.

Call for Tenant Volunteers at our Focus Groups with the Tenants Information Service

We are delighted to be working in partnership with the Tenant Information Service (TIS) and our tenants to develop tenant participation and scrutiny practice of housing investment and related services.

Working together, we will develop an understanding of ‘how your rent is spent’, whilst increasing opportunities for tenants to influence decision-making around the Housing Revenue Account (HRA).

TIS are experts in housing, community development, and engagement practice. As a National Membership Organisation, with over 200 tenants, community and housing organisation Members, TIS is committed to influencing change and strives for an active, inclusive, and just Scotland, with strong, equitable, and sustainable communities.

What is tenant participation?

Tenant participation is about tenants, and wider customers of housing services, taking part in decision-making processes and influencing decisions about housing policies; housing conditions; and housing (and related) services. It is a two-way process which involves the sharing of information, ideas, and power.

Scrutiny

Customer-led scrutiny of housing services enables landlords and their tenants to work in partnership, to identify where services and investment are well placed, and where value for money is being delivered. More importantly it identifies areas for improvements, which in turn can lead to improved service performance and increased tenant satisfaction.

Scrutiny is an opportunity for tenants, landlords, and community groups alike to work together and influence decisions about housing services.

Achieving the right level of scrutiny and participation is important for us to support shaping the delivery of housing investment and services. It provides us with a valuable insight into where resources should be prioritised, so that performance levels, and value for money are properly aligned.

Scrutiny empowers tenants to question their landlord on how their rent money is spent and whether it is spent in a way that achieves value for money.

Why get involved?

We are looking for tenant participation volunteers to work in partnership with us, with the support of TIS, to learn more about the HRA and how tenants’ rents are invested in homes and services. Working together we can improve services and make a real difference!

You don’t need previous experience as support to develop your confidence and skills will be provided.

Interactive Tenants Focus Group Sessions

Come along to one of our interactive tenants focus group sessions and take part in open discussions about the HRA and how tenants rents are invested in homes and services you receive from Angus Council. Sessions will take place on the following:

o            Thursday 31 August at 6pm at Forfar Fire Station, Strang St, Forfar DD8 2HR

o            Friday 1 September at 10am at Bruce House, Wellgate, Arbroath DD11 3TP

o            Wednesday 13 September at 6pm via Zoom virtual meeting platform

To book your place at a focus group, please call the TIS free information line on 0800 488 0982 or email info@tis.org.uk  or drop us a message at tenantparticipation@angus.gov.uk

New Council homes in Forfar

We are pleased to have 10 new homes on Princess Alexandra Drive in Forfar. These homes are in the Scotia Homes Glenview site.

These houses support our commitment to deliver affordable housing and provide more social rented accommodation in Forfar.

This project has been delivered through our Housing Development Framework and is partly funded by the Scottish Government.

There are both two and three-bedroomed properties. These new homes will provide families with safe, secure tenancies and include measures to lower energy consumption and reduce household fuel bills.

These properties are now being advertised and registered applicants can bid for them on the Angus HomeFinder website.