Meetings with local authorities and housing and homelessness partners: FOI release

Information requested

You asked what action the Scottish Government has taken since 15 May 2024 to address the housing emergency. I have provided information in response to your request below.

Response

Since 15 May, the Minister for Housing (the Minister) and Scottish Government officials have discussed the housing emergency in various meetings with local authorities and housing and homelessness partners:

• The Minister met the Housing Convenors from South Lanarkshire, Fife and the City of Edinburgh Councils on 16 May, 5 June and 13 June respectively to discuss their local responses to the housing emergency.
• On 21 May, the Minister met with COSLA’s Community Wellbeing Spokesperson, Councillor Maureen Chalmers, to discuss a shared approach, recognising that all partners must work together to deliver a housing system that meets the needs of the people of Scotland.
• On 29 May, the Minister spoke to Housing Convenors across Scotland about the challenges that have contributed to longer turnaround times for void properties – as improving the supply ofsocial and affordable homes and reducing levels of homelessness are key to addressing the housing emergency.
• On 7 June, the Minister chaired a meeting of the Housing to 2040 Strategic Board, which included a discussion of our collective response to the housing emergency.
• Scottish Government officials have met with the Scottish Housing Regulator (29 May) and Homes for Scotland (on 5 June) to discuss what is required in response to the housing emergency.
• The housing emergency has also been discussed at official level with the City of Edinburgh Council and Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership (both on 3 June) and West Lothian Council (on 7 June).

In addition to meetings with external partners, the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice and the Minister for Housing have been discussing the Scottish Government’s approach to the housing emergency with officials. The Minister will make a statement to this effect shortly.

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at http://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.