Stenhousemuir Neighbourhood Improvement Plan - Falkirk Council

Stenhousemuir
Neighbourhood
Improvement
Plan
Falkirk Council
Corporate &
Neighbourhood Services
2010-2011
Page 1 of 33

CONTENTS
STENHOUSEMUIR NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN
1. Introduction 3 - 8
Page No.
2. Review of Previous Plan 9 - 13
3. Housing Stock Information 14 - 18
4. Review of Performance 19 - 22
5. Consultation with Stakeholders 23 - 24
6. Investment Programme 2010-2011 25 - 30
7. Strategic Context 31 - 32
8. List of Appendices 33
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1. INTRODUCTION
1.1 This Neighbourhood Plan covers the period 2010 – 2011 and sets out our priorities for
action during the year ahead. The Plan is set out in a format to build upon the
successes and achievements of the previous Plan, and reflect the strategic priorities
for the Council. Local priorities for improvement in the area which have been
identified through consultation with the local community and local Councillors are also
included and this is the basis upon which we intend to move forward.
We are keen to encourage tenant and resident participation as we recognise the
importance of involving people at a local level. This local participation helps us to
continue to improve the housing provision and estate management in the
Stenhousemuir area. Section 6.2 examines in more detail how this will be achieved.
The following sections of this Neighbourhood Plan set out the issues that we want to
address and the way that we intend to improve housing and estate management in
the year ahead.
1.2 Meet the Stenhousemuir Team
Brian Faller
Neighbourhood Manager
Lorraine Pate Wendy Laird
Senior Neighbourhood Officer Administration Officer
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Denise Samson Jackie Anderson
Neighbourhood Officer Neighbourhood Officer
(Carronshore) (Carronshore)
Maria McGuire Paul Scott
Neighbourhood Officer Neighbourhood Officer
(Crownest North & South) (Stenhouse/ Waterslap)
Claire Deans Lilias McDougall
Neighbourhood Officer Neighbourhood Officer
(Larbert/ Torwood/ Town Centre) (Villages/ Antonshill/ Muirhead)
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Claire Dougall Adele Morton
Clerical Assistant Clerical Assistant
Louise McCulloch
Clerical Assistant
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1.3 Geographic Context & GIS Maps
The Stenhousemuir Housing Area has a growing population of approximately 23,000
and is located to the north of the Falkirk Council area, bordering Clackmannanshire
Council. The Denny area is to the west, with Grangemouth and Skinflats to the east,
and Dawson, Falkirk and Camelon to the south.
The Stenhousemuir Neighbourhood Office manages housing stock within this large
geographical area. The management area consists of Larbert and North Broomage in
the west, through to Carronshore in the east. Centrally there is Stenhousemuir, South
Broomage and Antonshill, however to the north the villages of Letham and Airth are
also included and the area extends as far as South Alloa.
The area is divided into allocation sub areas. The table below sets out these areas
and lists the relevant Neighbourhood Officer.
Neighbourhood Officer Streets
Claire Deans Dundarroch Street, Eastcroft Street, Foundry Loan,
Main Street (25-47, 187- 193), Pretoria Road,
Ronald Crescent, St David’s Court, St George’s Court,
Union Place, Balfour Crescent, Burnhead Road (58-68,
71-151), Evans Street, George Street, Hillview Road,
Muirhall Road, Pembroke Street, Cedar Grove,
Broomage Avenue, Broomage Crescent, Castle
Crescent, Clyde Crescent, Forth Avenue, Glenbervie
Avenue, Glenbervie Crescent, Glenbervie Road,
Old Bellsdyke Road, St Andrew’s Court.
Lilias McDougall Letham Cottages, Letham Terrace, Balmoral Place,
Falkland Place, Holyrood Place, Linlithgow Place,
Westminster Place, Hillary Road, Chapel Drive,
Gerald Terrace, King Street (433-485), Kinnaird Drive,
Ochil Drive, Crawford Square, Dower Place, Elphinstone
Crescent, Forrester Place, Graham Terrace, High
Street, Kersie Terrace, Kirkway, Linn Place, Miller
Place, Netherby Road, Paul Drive, Shore Road, South
Green Drive, The Path, Wilderness.
Denise Samson/ Bothkennar Road, Castle Avenue, Church Street,
Jackie Anderson Dock Street, Main Street, North Main Street,
The Avenue, Waddell Street, Westerton Terrace,
Alloa Road (up to 67), Blackmill Crescent,
Burnside Place, Carronshore Road, Chapel Crescent,
Mill Road, Ochil Terrace, Park Crescent, Roughlands
Crescent, Roughlands Drive, Skaithmuir Avenue,
Skaithmuir Crescent, Webster Avenue (odd nos),
Ladeside Crescent.
Maria McGuire Braeview, Carronview, Crownest Loan, James Street,
Lamond View, McLachlan Street, McLaren Court,
Muir Street, Muirfield Road, Park Avenue, Valeview,
Waverley Road, Waverley Terrace, Grangeview.
Paul Scott/
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1.4
Paul Scott Akarit Road, Alloa Road (87 onwards), Arthurs Drive,
Bruart Avenue, Bruce Drive, Central Drive, Church
Street, Johnston Avenue, King Street (132-156,
208-322), Sheriff Lane, Suttonpark Crescent, Union
Street, Bruce Crescent, Carronhall Avenue, Gairdoch
Drive, Kincardine Road, Kinnaird Avenue, Quarrolhall
Crescent, Symington Place, Webster Avenue (even
nos), Southview.
Councillor Information
The Carse, Kinnaird & Tryst areas (Ward 4) are served by the following Elected
Members:
Cllr Steven Carleschi Cllr Lynda Kenna
114 McLachlan Street 52 James Street
Stenhousemuir FK5 3HN Stenhousemuir FK5 3HS
Tel. 01324 552828 Tel. 01324 551437
steven.carleschi@falkirk.gov.uk lynda.kenna@falkirk.gov.uk
Cllr Charles MacDonald Cllr Craig Martin
8 Quarrolhall Crescent 27 North Main Street
Carronshore, Falkirk FK2 8AT Carronshore, Falkirk FK2 8HW
Tel. 01324 556161 Tel. 01324 558304
charles.macdonald@falkirk.gov.uk craig.martin@falkirk.gov.uk
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The Bonnybridge and Larbert area (Ward 5) is served by the following Elected
Members:
Cllr Billy Buchanan Cllr Tom Coleman
Coach House, Lochgreen 128 Main Street
Bonnybridge FK4 2HA Larbert FK5 3LA
Tel. 01324 815445 Tel. 01324 556494
william.buchanan@falkirk.gov.uk tom.coleman@falkirk.gov.uk
Cllr Lynda Gow
30 Parkend Crescent
Shieldhill, Falkirk FK1 2EL
Tel. 01324 635391
lynda.gow@falkirk.gov.uk
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2. REVIEW OF PREVIOUS PLAN
2.1
The 2009/10 Stenhousemuir Neighbourhood Plan’s focus was to contribute towards
the Council’s Goals and Values at a local level. Particular emphasis was placed upon
Estate Management Initiatives, Service Delivery, Tenant Participation and the
Allocations System.
Provide a Quality Management Service
Training
Within the Stenhousemuir Office, all staff are being assessed under the
Achievement and Personal Development Scheme (APDS). Part of this
process establishes an assessment of each Officer’s needs and abilities and
sets out how these should be developed throughout the next year. Individual
assessments of each Officer have already been completed earlier this year
and will be reviewed after six months and appropriate recording systems are in
place;
Generic training has been given to each Officer in relation to training for their
specific needs. For example –
o Housing Foundation Courses;
o Anti Social Behaviour Training;
o Allocations Policy;
o Health & Safety;
o Hazardous Substance Surveying;
o Job Shadowing.
2.2 Investment Priorities
Our investment priorities have very much focussed upon the need to meet the
Scottish Housing Quality Standard, and in this regard we have concentrated much of
our resources in terms of fabric improvements, loft and cavity wall insulation, and new
heating systems.
Re-Roofing/Roughcasting Programme at Carronview, Larbert
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The above photographs show the complete and ongoing works in our re-roofing and
roughcasting programme at Carronview, Larbert.
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We are working in partnership with Link Housing Association to create a new
development of Social Housing at Torwoodlea, and half of all properties built here will
be awarded to applicants on the Council’s waiting list.
Carronview & Braeview
Letham Terrace was a project where innovative heating systems such as Ground
Source Heat Pump, was assessed. However, new developments in more traditional
systems has resulted in a re-assessment of what system is best suited for this area
and it is intended that new systems will be installed in the coming year.
2.3 Tenants’ Groups
There are now two recognised groups in the area, The Tenants and Residents
Association Letham, and the Tenants and Residents Association South Green Drive,
Airth. We are especially pleased to work in partnership with the South Green
Association following their excellent work in designing and funding of a Play and
Biodiversity Park. We hope that work will commence here in 2010/11.
Neighbourhood Officers will continue to work with local residents and encourage the
formation of groups where this is feasible.
We are pleased to be able to support the South Green Drive Residents and Tenants
Association following their excellent work in creating the Biodiversity & Play Area
Project.
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2.4 Community Safety Team
The Community Safety Team is the result of a merger between the Community
Warden Service and the Environmental Enforcement Team;
The service provided is Falkirk Council wide and the team will have a dual role
combining both the community engagement and support role together with
enforcement powers which can be utilised where necessary.
2.5 Conflict Resolution Service
2.6/
The Conflict Resolution Service has council-wide responsibility for tackling antisocial
behaviour as a core service within Falkirk Council’s Antisocial Behaviour Strategy.
The service provides assistance in identifying good practices and innovative
approaches for managing antisocial behaviour nationally and locally, and provides
local partner agencies with knowledge, support and guidance on the application of
antisocial behaviour legislation.
Whilst the Conflict Resolution Service is currently based within Corporate &
Neighbourhood Services (Housing), their responsibility for tackling antisocial
behaviour crosses all tenure types including Falkirk Council tenants, tenants of
Registered Social Landlords, tenants of Private Sector landlords and Owner
Occupiers on mixed tenure estates. The service is involved in tackling antisocial
behaviour at varying levels following the national model of prevention, early
intervention, enforcement and rehabilitation and the current principles of tackling
antisocial behaviour through prevention, integration of services, engagement with
communities and communication through participation. The service works in
partnership with agencies including Central Scotland Police, other council services,
various private and voluntary sector services/agencies and the communities of Falkirk
Council to apply these principles effectively.
The partnership forums, Neighbourhood Action Groups, are led by the Conflict
Resolution Service with the support of the local Neighbourhood Office. The
Neighbourhood Action Groups in each of the seven Neighbourhood Office areas
consists of partners & community representatives involved in tackling antisocial
behaviour and wider community safety issues. These local partnership forums focus
on local antisocial behaviour and community safety issues and provide for a joint
approach to problem solving making best use of resources amongst the partnership
with a focus on common goals and shared outcomes.
Within the context of Neighbourhood Action Plans, the service provides support to
frontline officers by offering training, guidance, advice and co-ordinating/supporting
cross-service joint working arrangements to tackle antisocial behaviour effectively with
partner service/agencies. As part of effective and early intervention in tackling
`antisocial behaviour, the Conflict Resolution Service offers a Mediation Service and is
solely responsible for administering the good practice tool “Acceptable Behaviour
Agreements” in the Falkirk Council area. In extreme cases of antisocial behaviour, the
Conflict Resolution Service has council-wide and cross-partner responsibility for
enforcement against and reviewing support to offenders with a view to rehabilitation.
In addition, the Conflict Resolution Services assists in providing information on
antisocial behaviour to assist Neighbourhood Managers to target resources more
effectively, and will assist in establishing new, or supporting existing, initiatives for
tackling antisocial behaviour.
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2.6 Investors in People (IIP)
The Housing Division of Corporate & Neighbourhood Services gained Investors in
People accreditation in December 2009. This is external recognition which shows the
commitment that the service has to its staff and the desire to ensure continuous
improvement throughout the service.
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3. HOUSING STOCK INFORMATION
3.1
Stock (By Bedroom Size & House Type)
There are a total of 1,970 Council properties in the Stenhousemuir/ Larbert/
Carronshore areas consisting of:
286 – one bedroom;
856 – two bedroom;
734 – three bedroom;
85 – four bedroom properties.
There are a predominance of cottage type properties (60%), with 20% 4-in-block and
11% tenemental flats. The remainder of the stock consists of bungalows (7%), with
bedsits, Care Housing and Furnished Accommodation accounting for 2%.
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3.1 a
Stock By Bedroom Size
SUB AREA
1
BEDROOM
2
BEDROOM
3
BEDROOM
4
BEDROOM
TOTAL
Airth/ South Alloa
13
83
46
7
149
Antonshill 26 37 12 75
Carronshore 20 81 19 6 126
Crownest North 68 128 165 33 394
Crownest South 19 40 129 4 192
Furnished Stenhousemuir 4 4
Larbert Village 29 61 15 105
Letham 21 29 1 51
Muirhall 3 70 30 4 107
Muirhead 9 27 18 54
Roughlands/ Alloa Road 21 84 84 13 202
Stenhouse 31 126 82 5 244
Torwood/ Broomage 10 26 65 101
Town Centre/ Dobbie Hall 27 20 21 4 72
Waterslap 6 52 28 8 94
Total 286 856 743 85 1,970
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3.1 b
Stock By House Type
SUB AREA BEDSIT BUNGALOW COTTAGE
TYPE
FLAT
FIRST
FLOOR &
ABOVE
FLAT
GROUND
FLOOR
ONLY
FURNISHED
ACCOMM.
HOUSING
WITH
CARE
LOWER
FLAT –
4 IN
BLOCK
UPPER
FLAT –
4 IN
Airth/ South Alloa 19 91 8 5 16 10 149
Antonshill 25 47 1 2 75
Carronshore 12 44 2 4 35 29 126
Crownest North 3 37 260 5 16 1 3 35 34 394
Crownest South 1 172 9 10 192
Furnished
4 4
Stenhousemuir
Larbert Village 1 4 12 46 14 19 9 105
Letham 5 24 4 11 7 51
Muirhall 4 53 4 5 24 17 107
Muirhead 45 5 4 54
Roughlands/ Alloa
Road
12 150 5 6 16 13 202
Stenhouse 10 117 10 12 46 49 244
Torwood/ Broomage 2 85 2 3 3 6 101
Town Centre/
5 23 22 16 4 2 72
Dobbie Hall
Waterslap 4 69 11 10 94
Total 4 140 1,192 118 93 5 3 225 190 1,970
The majority of stock in Stenhousemuir is cottage type at 61%, 2 bedroom at 435, and 3 bedroom at 38% of all stock;
Crownest South has the highest amount of stock at 20% of all stock, and Letham the lowest amount at 3%.
BLOCK
TOTAL
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3.2 Turnover 2008-2009
The term “stock turnover” relates to the number and frequency of properties
becoming void and then allocated to a new tenant.
A low ratio of stock turnover is therefore a good indicator of a “stable and settled”
community and the Stenhousemuir/ Larbert/ Carronshore area has benefited from a
lower than average turnover of housing stock over a number of years. Last year saw
a 3% turnover in the Stenhousemuir/ Larbert/ Carronshore area, whilst the average
for the whole of the Falkirk area was 5%. Within the local areas there were wide
variances, with Airth/ South Alloa having a figure of only 1%, whilst the area of
Crownest South had a turnover of 25%.
Sub Area Stock Lets Turnover
Airth/ South Alloa 149 2 1%
Antonshill 75 4 5%
Carronshore 126 5 4%
Crownest North 394 10 3%
Crownest South 192 14 7%
Larbert Village 105 4 4%
Letham 51 1 2%
Muirhall 107 2 2%
Muirhead 54 2 4%
Roughlands/ Alloa Road 202 2 1%
Stenhouse 244 5 2%
Torwood/ Broomage 101 2 2%
Town Centre/ Dobbie Hall 72 2 3%
Waterslap 94 1 1%
Stenhousemuir 1,970 56 3%
Falkirk Council Area 16,396 871 5%
Turnover for Stenhousemuir was slightly lower at 3% than the Falkirk area as
a whole at 5%;
Crownest South had the highest turnover at 7% and Airth/ South Alloa,
Waterslap and Roughlands/ Alloa Road had the lowest at 1%.
3.3 Void Management System
A single void team has been introduced to ensure consistency and accountability.
Challenging performance targets have been set for every function within the process
to increase efficiency and turnaround times.
The abandonment rate for Stenhousemuir is only half that of Falkirk Council area as a
whole and the Stenhousemuir Office has the lowest void rate.
3.4 Allocations by Applicant Type 2008-2009
See table overleaf/
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Area Homeless Transfer Waiting List Total
Larbert Village 3 1 4
Muirhall 2 2
Letham 0 1 1
Antonshill 2 1 1 4
Crownest North 6 1 3 10
Crownest South 7 3 4 14
Muirhead 1 1 2
Stenhouse 2 1 2 5
Waterslap 0 1 1
Carronshore 4 1 5
Torwood/ Broomage 1 1 2
Town Centre/ Dobbie Hall 1 1 2
Roughlands/ Alloa Road 0 1 1 2
Airth/ South Alloa 0 2 2
Total 29 11 16 56
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4.
4.1
REVIEW OF PERFORMANCE
Lets
In line with the 2008/09 Allocations Policy, the majority of allocations were
made to homeless applicants at 52% of all lets, 29% were to waiting list
applicants and 20% to transfer applicants;
The largest number of lets were made in Crownest South at 25% and the
lowest number in Letham and Waterslap at 2% of all lets.
“Homespot” is the Council’s new Allocations Policy introduced in January
2010. Applicants for housing are now divided into three groups:
Homeseekers, Homemovers and Homestarters. Vacant properties are then
allocated on the basis that 50% will be awarded to Homeseekers, with 25%
each allocated to Homestarters and Homemovers;
4.2 Tenancy Sustainment
Tenancy sustainment is now very much a main focus of Housing Management
activity. A general measure of this is establishing which percentage of the tenancy of
new lets lasted less than one year. Falkirk Council as a whole measured at 9%,
whilst the Stenhousemuir/ Larbert/ Carronshore area was higher at 11.4%. Indeed
one particular area, Antonshill had a tenancy failure rate of 16.7% in the year
2009/10. The promotion of Tenancy Sustainment is therefore one of the main
concerns for local staff in the Stenhousemuir One Stop Shop.
Percentage of Properties Not Sustained for 12 months for Properties Let in 2007-2008
Area No. Lets No. Lets Not Sustainment
Sustained Rate
B031 Larbert Village 9 1 11.1%
B036 Antonshill 6 1 16.7%
B040 Crownest South 20 3 15.0%
B050 Stenhouse 18 1 5.6%
B073 Carronshore 8 1 12.5%
B204 Airth/ South Alloa 9 1 11.1%
Stenhousemuir 70 8 11.4%
Falkirk Council Area 1,098 99 9.0%
The percentage of applicants not sustaining their tenancy for at least 12
months was higher in Stenhousemuir at 11.4% than the Falkirk area as a
whole at 9%;
Antonshill had the largest percentage of tenancy failures at 16.7%;
Single people under 60 was the household type most likely to fail their
tenancy.
4.3 Average Number of People on the Waiting List
On average, there were a higher number of applicants on the Council’s waiting lists
for the Stenhousemuir areas than that of the Falkirk area as a whole. There was an
average of 534 waiting list applicants in the allocation area of Stenhousemuir as
opposed to the Falkirk average of 431. This is another indicator of the popularity of
the Stenhousemuir/ Larbert/ Carronshore area. Larbert village in particular remains a
well sought after area with almost double the waiting list than that of the Council
average.
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Area Sub Area Total
B031 Larbert Village 813
B033 Muirhall 762
B035 Letham 239
B036 Antonshill 796
B039 Crownest North 427
B040 Crownest South 268
B049 Muirhead 498
B050 Stenhouse 698
B072 Waterslap 372
B073 Carronshore 614
B111 Furnished Stenhousemuir 157
B201 Torwood/ Broomage 578
B202 Town Centre/ Dobbie Hall 667
B203 Roughlands/ Alloa Road 419
B204 Airth/ South Alloa 245
Stenhousemuir Average 534
Falkirk Council Average 431
There were on average a higher number of people on the waiting list for
Stenhousemuir at 534 people than the Falkirk area as a whole at 431;
The area with the largest average number of people on the list was Larbert
Village and Airth/ South Alloa had the lowest number at 245.
4.4 Abandonment Rate 2008-09
There was a lower rate of abandonment of properties in the Stenhousemuir/ Larbert/
Carronshore area, with only 0.3% compared to Falkirk as a whole which had 0.5%.
However, areas such as Crownest South had a higher than average abandonment
number.
Area Stock No
Abandonments
Abandonment
Rate
Crownest North 394 1 0.3%
Crownest South 192 4 2.1%
Stenhousemuir 1,970 5 0.3%
Falkirk Area 16,396 78 0.5%
4.5 Evictions 2008-09
Stenhousemuir had a slightly lower abandonment rate at 0.3% than the Falkirk
area average of 0.5%;
Crownest South had the highest abandonment rate at 2.1%.
In 2009/10 there was only one eviction in the Stenhousemuir/ Larbert/ Carronshore
area.
Sub Area Area Total
Antonshill B036 1
Total 1
There was one eviction in Stenhousemuir in 2008-09.
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4.6 Refusal Rate 2008-09
Another indicator of popularity of the Stenhousemuir/ Larbert/ Carronshore is the low
refusal of offers of housing to waiting list applicants in 2008/09. Stenhousemuir/
Larbert/ Carronshore had a refusal rate of 0.2% compared to the average in the
Council area of 0.3%.
Sub Area Stock No. 3+ Refusals Refusal Rates
Antonshill 75 1 1.3%
Crownest North 394 2 0.5%
Torwood/ Broomage 101 1 1.0%
Stenhousemuir 1,970 4 0.2%
Falkirk Area 16,396 50 0.3%
The refusal rate for Stenhousemuir was slightly lower at 0.2% than the Falkirk
area refusal rate of 0.3%;
Antonshill had the highest refusal rate at 1.3%.
4.7 Void Relet Performance
Average Days
80
60
40
20
0
Void relet times April-December 2009 Stenhousemuir
Apr-
09
May-
09
Jun-
09
Jul-
09
4.8 House Sales – up to April 2009
Aug-
09
Month
Sep-
09
Oct-
09
Nov-
09
Dec-
09
Stenhousemuir
Falkirk Council
Target
Area Sub Area No. %
B031 Larbert Village 83 4%
B033 Muirhall 159 7%
B035 Letham 23 1%
B036 Antonshill 128 6%
B039 Crownest North 375 17%
B040 Crownest South 48 2%
B049 Muirhead 129 6%
B050 Stenhouse 318 14%
B072 Waterslap 156 7%
B073 Carronshore 111 5%
B111 Furnished Stenhousemuir 1 0%
B201 Torwood/ Broomage 196 9%
B202 Town Centre/ Dobbie Hall 108 5%
Page 21 of 33

Area Sub Area No. %
B203 Roughlands/ Alloa Road 246 11%
B204 Airth/ South Alloa 187 8%
Total 2,268 100%
Falkirk Council Total 16,719 14%
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5.
CONSULTATION WITH STAKEHOLDERS
5.1 Area Office Priorities
The staff at the Stenhousemuir One Stop Shop are well aware that working with
communities, individuals and stakeholders is much more likely to achieve progress or
success and every effort will be made to engage and promote community aspirations
and the wellbeing of tenants and residents within our estates.
5.2 Action Plan
Whilst it is regrettable that there are only two residents’ groups in the area, with which
we are partners in achieving local improvements, we intend to engage with the local
communities in a variety of ways.
All residents listed within the Council’s Consultation Register will be contacted with a
view to obtaining their views and aspirations for their community.
The Neighbourhood Officers will keep in contact with local communities, establishing
routine and regular “Estate Walkabouts”. In this way we will engage with local
communities within the estates, assessing local needs and priorities through
consultation and co-operation. Regular attendance by Officers at the quarterly Area
Forum will continue to allow local issues to be discussed and allow further opportunity
to establish priorities in a wider scale.
Co-ordination of our activities here with the work carried out by the Community Safety
Wardens will allow us to establish the real concerns of local residents in relation to
community safety, disturbances, youth issues, etc. Furthermore, we will continue to
identify “hot-spots” where close liaison with Central Scotland Police and, more
importantly, local community Police Officers will allow us to focus our efforts and
resources where it really matters to local residents.
Issue Proposed Actions Target Date Lead Officer
Broomage Ave/Cres
Open space to rear –
youth problems, litter,
rubbish, dumping, etc
Main St/ Foundry
Loan
Improvements to
drying areas, waste
bin management and
uplift reporting
Joint project with Police,
Community Safety
Wardens, Community
Education, Cleansing
Services. To coordinate
actions to
upgrade this area and
keep it litter/ refuse free
Establish a working
group including tenants,
residents, shop owners
and Cleansing Services
to move this project
forward
Mid 2010 Senior
Neighbourhood
Officer/
Neighbourhood
Officer
End 2010 Neighbourhood
Manager/
Senior
Neighbourhood
Officer/
Neighbourhood
Officer
Page 23 of 33

Issue Proposed Actions Target Date Lead Officer
Youth disorder in
locality of Roughlands
Cres, Drive,
Skaithmuir Ave &
Blackmill Cres
Youth congregation
and vandalism in
Spider Park,
Carronshore
Anti social behaviour
issues in the Valley
areas of
Stenhousemuir
Set up project of
partnership working with
Police, Community
Education, Community
Safety Wardens, and
Neighbourhood
Services to alleviate
Work in partnership with
local community, Police,
Community Education
and Community Safety
Wardens to eradicate
the ongoing problems
Work in partnership with
Police, Community
Safety Wardens, Noise
Team FIRST etc. to
bring about resolution to
these issues
End 2010 Senior
Neighbourhood
Officer/
Neighbourhood
Officer
End 2010 Neighbourhood
Officer
End 2010 Neighbourhood
Officer
Page 24 of 33

6.
INVESTMENT PROGRAMME 2010-2011
6.1 Council House Condition Survey
6.2
From April 2002 the Scottish Government, following recommendations from the Housing
Improvement Task Force, obliged all social landlords to meet the Scottish Housing
Quality Standard (SHQS) for all properties under management.
Carrying out a House Condition Survey is considered to be good practice by the Scottish
Government and is essential in providing information to the Council on the condition of its
housing stock, and for identifying the improvements that are necessary to achieve the
standard by 2015, ensuring that resources are targeted effectively.
Following the completion of an initial sample 10% survey between May – July 2009,
plans are now in place for all full Stock Condition Survey to be completed between 2010
– 2011. The results of this survey will assist in identification of future capital investment
priorities.
The survey results will also form the basis of a new Standard Delivery Plan, which will be
developed over the course of 2009/10 consistent with the timescales for the Local
Housing Strategy (LHS).
ELEMENTAL MAINTENANCE & IMPROVEMENTS
External Fabric Improvements
The projects for your area are noted below, however as in previous years, the
programming of projects will ultimately depend upon availability of resources which can
be affected by issues such as the level of Council house sales and tender prices.
Issue Proposed Actions Target Date Lead Officer
Letham Cottages,
Letham
South Green Drive/
Linn Place, Airth
6.3 Door Entry Systems
6.4/
Essential External
Repairs
External Weather
Envelope
April 2011 Neighbourhood
Manager
April 2011 Neighbourhood
Manager
A number of new door entry systems are due to be installed within the Stenhousemuir
area as part of the drive towards meeting the Scottish Housing Quality Standard by
2015.
The following proposal for the location of communal door security system installations
has been based upon a notional cost for each system and may require further revision
once a more detailed cost model has been received from Development Services.
5-11 Blackmill Crescent, Carron;
197-203 Carronshore Road, Carronshore;
1-7,9-15 Dock Street, Carronshore;
57-63 Alloa Road, Carronshore.
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6.4 Electrical Works
The following have been identified as locations of occupied Council properties suitable
for inclusion in the periodic inspections program.
Alloa Road, Carron;
Blackmill Crescent, Carron;
Bruce Crescent, Carronshore;
Burnside Place, Carron;
Carronhall Avenue, Carronshore;
Carronshore Road, Carron;
Chapel Crescent, Carronshore;
Gairdoch Drive, Carronshore;
Kincardine Road, Carronshore;
Kinnaird Avenue, Carronshore;
Lamond View, Stenhousemuir;
Linlithgow Place, Stenhousemuir;
Mill Road, Carronshore;
Ochil Terrace, Carron;
Park Crescent, Carron;
Quarrolhall Crescent, Carronshore;
Roughlands Crescent, Carronshore;
Skaithmuir Avenue, Carronshore;
Skaithmuir Crescent, Carronshore;
Symington Place, Carronshore;
Webster Avenue, Carronshore.
6.5 Energy Efficiency Works
11,12,12a,19,24,27,29,33,34 & 35 Burnside Place, Carronshore – Heating
Replacement (Gas Systems);
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,11,12,17,19,22,25,26,27,28,29,30,32,33,34,36,38,39,40,41 & 42
Letham Cottages, Letham – Heating Replacement (Electric Wet Systems);
18,19,20,21,22,25,27,28,29,30,31,32,33,34,35,37,38,39,41 & 42 Letham Terrace,
Letham – Heating Replacement (Electric Wet Systems);
5,9,10,11,17,19,59 & 61 South Green Drive, Airth – Heating Replacement (Gas
Systems).
6.6 Estate Improvements
The following list of projects have been identified for the Stenhousemuir area for
2010/11:
Replace existing fencing:
o 6,8,14,26,32,34,42,46,48 Bothkennar Road;
o 1,2,4,5,6,8,9,10,11,13,14,15,16,17,18,21,22,23,24,25,29,31,32,33,35,36,3
7, 40,41,42,44,45,46,47 Westerton Terrace;
o 1,4,5,6,7,8,10,11,12,13,14,15,17,18,21,22,23,24,26,29,34,36,38,44,46,48,
51,52,54,55,60 Webster Avenue;
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Replace retaining wall at rear garden:
o 1,2,3,4,16,17,19,21,24,26 Chapel Crescent;
o 3,9B,10,16,20,22,24,28,34,37,42,44,48,52,53,55,56,57,59,60,65,67,68,69,
70,
71,73,74,75,76,77,78,79,81,83,84 Roughlands Drive;
Retaining walls in rear garden: 71 Muirfield Road, Stenhousemuir.
New Retaining Walls & Fencing in Grangeview, Stenhousemuir
are good examples of Estate Improvements already carried out in the Stenhousemuir area
6.7 Proposed Schedule of Estate Walkabouts
A proposed schedule of Estate Walkabouts has been arranged in order to allow tenants
an opportunity to meet with their Neighbourhood Officer to walk around the area and to
discuss their concerns and future aspirations for their community.
To jointly identify “hot spot” areas that require action (eg tidy up open spaces;
youth disorder; environmental issues);
To give an opportunity to involve other services, eg Estates Management; the
Police;
To agree standards so that both the tenants and Neighbourhood Officer know
what is expected of them and have an understanding of what the priorities are for
the community;
To enable the Neighbourhood Officer to be visible in the area and to be seen
working for the community;
To potentially identify future environmental projects to support the Neighbourhood
Plan;
To give tenants the opportunity to input in future Neighbourhood Plans.
Table overleaf/
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Area Date Time
Airth Tuesday, 8 June 2010 AM
Larbert Village Wednesday, 9 June 2010 AM
Crownest North Thursday, 10 June 2010 AM
Waterslap Tuesday, 15 June 2010 AM
Carronshore Wednesday, 16 June 2010 AM
6.8 Neighbourhood Services Involvement in Emergency Planning
Local Authorities are now required to have contingency plans in place to deal with major
emergency situations. Neighbourhood Services is involved in this planning process.
Our part in the planning process, not surprisingly, is centred around temporary
accommodation should people require to be evacuated from their homes. To this end,
during 2008, staff have been receiving training in rest centre management and venues
throughout the district have been identified for this purpose.
6.9 Planned Maintenance
The Stenhousemuir area benefited from Pre-Planned Maintenance in 2008-2009 which
consisted of:
Painting the external fabric of buildings;
Painting of communal closes;
Painting of clothes poles;
Cleaning gutters and down-pipes;
Minor repairs to roofs;
Minor repairs to roughcast;
Chimney repairs;
Health and Safety environmental works.
6.10 Housing Development Strategies
The main purpose of the Strategic Housing Investment Plan is to illustrate how identified
needs and priorities in relation to affordable housing will be tackled, with an emphasis on
how projects will be delivered in practice, having regard to available resources,
partnership working and development constraints.
Key issues to note include:
Housing needs assessment indicates that there is a current annual shortfall of
145 affordable homes (all tenure) across the Council area with some areas –
Polmont, Larbert, Stenhousemuir and the Rural North – under particular pressure;
The Council has adopted a twin-track approach to increasing the provision of
affordable housing in the Council area involving both Council new build and
partnership working with RSLs;
The Council aims to maximise funding opportunities to deliver a range of
affordable housing options that meet the needs of local people, including those
with specific needs;
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The Council’s new build programme includes the potential delivery of 105 new
affordable rented units over the period of the SHIP, at an estimated total cost of
£9.56M. The delivery of the full programme is subject to a successful outcome
for the bid for funding recently submitted to the Scottish Government;
Partnership work between the Council and the Link Group has delivered 32 new
affordable homes this financial year at Lomond Drive;
There are currently three RSL partnership projects on-site which will deliver a
total of 148 new affordable homes with Scottish Government grant funding of
£11.77M;
This year’s Affordable Housing Investment Programme (2009/10) has a target
unit approval of 46 dwellings comprising of projects at Mayfield Drive, Longcroft,
McTaggart Avenue, Denny and Thorndene Terrace, Slamannan;
Based on current levels of funding, the 2009 SHIP submission has made a
resource assumption of £25M over the 5 years of the SHIP comprising a Housing
Association Grant (HAG) allocation of £5M per annum from the Scottish
Government;
Based on an average grant requirement of £85K per unit, £5M could deliver
approximately 60 new affordable homes per year;
The main SHIP programme includes 18 partnership projects, comprising 364
dwellings delivered by 7 RSLs partners;
It is intended that there should be sufficient development projects in the SHIP to
fully utilise available resources and an 8% allowance has been built into the
programme to accommodate inevitable slippage in the main programme. As well
as built-in slippage to the main programme, the SHIP submission also includes a
Shadow Programme of 23 potential projects comprising 757 units;
In total, 9 RSLs partners are currently involved in housing partnership activity
across the main and shadow programme within the Council area.
For further information, a copy of the Strategic Housing Investment Plan (SHIP) for 2009
is available from –
http://www.falkirk.gov.uk/services/corporate_neighbourhood/housing/strategic_housing_investment_plan_09.
pdf
6.11 Fuel Poverty
Cavity Wall and Loft Insulation Schemes will continue throughout 2010/ 11 in order to
satisfy the requirements of the Scottish Housing Quality Standard.
Projects continue to be carried out in partnership with a number of utility companies to
maximise external funding. Priority areas are being progressed on the basis of the
greatest risk of fuel poverty.
Insulation Surveys will be carried out in the under-noted areas:
Alloa Road, Carron;
Alloa Road, Stenhousemuir;
Balfour Crescent, Larbert;
Balmoral Place, Stenhousemuir;
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Burnhead Road, Larbert;
Chapel Drive, Stenhousemuir;
Elizabeth Avenue, Larbert;
Evans Street, Larbert;
Falkland Place, Stenhousemuir;
George Street, Larbert;
Gerald Terrace, Stenhousemuir;
Hillview Road, Larbert;
Holyrood Place, Stenhousemuir;
Johnston Avenue, Stenhousemuir;
King Street, Stenhousemuir;
Linlithgow Place, Stenhousemuir;
Main Street, Larbert;
Main Street, Stenhousemuir;
Muirhall Road, Larbert;
Ochil Drive, Stenhousemuir;
Pembroke Street, Larbert;
Philip Drive, Stenhousemuir;
Queens Drive, Larbert;
Rae Street, Stenhousemuir;
Tryst Road, Stenhousemuir;
Westminster Place, Stenhousemuir.
6.12 Customer Satisfaction & Repairs
100.00%
95.00%
90.00%
85.00%
80.00%
Overall Satisfaction with Repair
Apr - Dec 2009
Stenhousemuir Falkirk Council
The graph above illustrates information based on Customer Satisfaction Surveys (Repairs
Receipts). We are keen to maintain high performance levels to ensure that a high quality
service is sustained.
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7.
STRATEGIC CONTENT
The purpose of this section is to outline key policy issues at both national and local
level, which will impact on the delivery of the Neighbourhood Plan.
7.1 Falkirk Strategic Community Plan
The Falkirk Strategic Community Plan, 2005-2010, ‘Working in Partnership for the
Falkirk Council area’ sets out how all public agencies and community partners will
work together to achieve the vision for our area. This Plan provides a strategic
framework that sets out a number of broad priorities for the major public sector
organisations to deliver over this period. The priorities for 2005-2010 are:
Improving the Performance of the Local Economy and Tourism;
Enhancing Lifelong Learning and Opportunity;
Creating a Sustainable Local Environment and Improving Transport;
Regenerating Our Communities;
Enabling Our Citizens to Live Safely;
Improving Health and Wellbeing.
Housing regeneration activity is underpinned by the work of the Community
Regeneration Theme Group which is an integral part of the Falkirk strategic
community planning process.
7.2 Local Housing Strategy
The Local Housing Strategy (LHS) shows how the Council will work with partners to
meet the housing needs of people living in the Falkirk Council area. The LHS 2004-
2009 identified six key priorities as follows:
The improvement and maintenance of the Council’s core housing stock;
The preparation of housing development strategies to meet local priority
needs;
The provision of a range of affordable housing options which meet the needs
of local people; including those with particular needs;
The prevention and alleviation of homelessness wherever possible;
The provision of support to vulnerable people in their homes;
A reduction in the number of households that live in fuel poverty.
Work is currently underway on the development of a new Local Housing Strategy
which will cover the period 2011-2016, and an Interim Statement that will link the
earlier LHS with the new LHS will be published during 2010.
7.3 Standard Delivery Plan
Scottish Executive proposals for improving the quality of life for people in Scotland
have included establishing a cross tenure Scottish Housing Quality Standard (SHQS).
This standard defines what constitutes acceptable good quality housing and the
Executive has set a target date of 2015, by which time local authorities and registered
social landlords are expected to have met the SHQS in respect of their housing stock.
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In summary terms, to meet the SHQS a dwelling must be:
Compliant with the Tolerable Standard;
Free from serious disrepair;
Energy efficient;
Provided with modern facilities and services;
Healthy, safe and secure.
The Council’s Standard Delivery Plan is the start of a planning and investment
process which will ensure the Council’s housing stock meets the Scottish Housing
Quality Standard by 2015. It represents a development of the Council’s Local Housing
Strategy in setting out long term investment proposals for the Council’s stock.
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STENHOUSEMUIR NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN
8. List of Appendices –
8.1 Appendix 1 – RSL Stock: Stenhousemuir
8.2 Appendix 2 – Planned Maintenance: Proposed Five
Year Programme
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