ANNUAL REPORT
This report sets out how we’ve performed over the last financial year and includes some key figures and information we hope you’ll find interesting.
Chairperson’s
INTRODUCTION
COVID-19 and lockdown has presented CHA (and the sector) with challenges. The Association has yet again had another fantastic and successful year.
During 2020/21 the Association continued to roll out its exceptionally dynamic development new build programme. 71 new homes came off site into management and a further 218 new homes are achieving a start status.
During the plan period 2021/22 to 2025/26 we have a total of 1000 further new homes planned.
Reflecting this our Housing Association Grant spend in 2020/21 totalled £18m. This is estimated to reach £22m in 2021/22 and £27m in 2022/23.
Being of “Systemic Importance” to the Scottish Housing Regulator we have achieved full compliance with the SHR Financial and Regulatory Standards and Best Practice. The Board of Management continues to work hard with its Group Chief Executive and Executive Management Team. They aim to make sure that policies, processes and strategic direction of the Association are being achieved and our performance will both deliver and outperform on our targets..
I would like to take this opportunity as Chair to pass on the Boards collective thanks to our Group Chief Executive, our Executive Management Team and all our staff for their continued commitment, dedication, and excellent performance in striving to meet the vision, mission and values of the organisation.
This year has been a challenging year for the Association and I would like to take this opportunity in this my first year as Chair to express my thanks to my Board colleagues for their participation, effort, good governance and the giving up of their time.John Kelly – Chairperson
Chief Executive’s
Review Of The Year
On the 26th March 2020 the Association closed its offices to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then the Association has continued to deliver an excellent service to its tenants, stakeholders and other customers.
It has in many respects been a difficult but successful year for the Association.
In December 2020 we had to close our award winning Victoria House homeless facility. This was due to North Ayrshire Council changing it’s service delivery in dealing with homeless people. After being in operation for 20 years it will be sadly missed with 23 staff being made redundant. 3 were redeployed within the Association..
Indeed in October 2020 the Association gave its second Annual Assurance Statement to the Scottish Housing Regulator. The Association is now fully compliant with the Scottish Housing Regulators Regulatory Standards./span>
In September 2020 we won the Chartered Institute of Housing – Housing Heroes award. The awarded category was “Central Services Team of the Year HR Team”.
In December 2020 we were a finalist at the CIH UK Housing Awards, category “UK Landlord of the Year”.
This more than any other year has proved how robust and committed “Team CHA” is. In this respect it has been a privilege to be working with an extremely high quality staff and Board of Management.
In closing, I would also like to take this opportunity to thank our partners North Ayrshire Council, East Ayrshire Council, Dumfries & Galloway Council, the Scottish Government and our Private Sector Financial Lenders for their continued support.
Through the year the CHA staff and Board of Management have risen to the challenges brought about by COVID-19 and in this respect our high performance levels have been maintained.
Frank A Sweeney – Group Chief Executive
Meet Our
Management Teams
Executive Management Team
FRANK SWEENEY
GROUP CHIEF EXECUTIVE
A Master of Business Administration, a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Housing and an affiliate of the Institute of Risk Management, Frank has been Director and then Group Chief Executive of Cunninghame Housing Association since 1990. Prior to that he held several senior positions within the Housing Association sector.
LINDA ANDERSON
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT SERVICES
Linda commenced employment with the Association in April 1990 as a Development Officer. A chartered member of the Institute of Housing (C.I.H.C.M) and holder of the Diploma in Housing Studies she has over the past 29 years played a key part in the remarkable growth of Cunninghame Housing Association.
STEVEN GOOD
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HOUSING AND PROPERTY SERVICES
Steven has been with Cunninghame Housing Association since January 2007. Prior to this he held various senior positions in Local Government over a 26 year period. He is a Corporate Member of the Chartered Institute of Housing having gained the Diploma in Housing Studies from Glasgow University in 1994.
ALLISON MCCOLL
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF FINANCE AND CORPORATE SERVICES
Allison commenced employment within the Finance Department of Cunninghame Housing Association in August 1995. Previously a Financial Controller with a large Structural and Civil Engineering Company in Glasgow.
CHA BOARD Of ManAgement
Office Bearers
John Kelly
Chairperson
Janet Strang
Vice Chair
Lesley Keenan
Secretary
Board Members
John Mclaren
Board Member
Jim McMahon
Board Member
William Gibson
Board Member
Jimmy Miller
Board Member
Liam Loudon
Board Member
June Fenelon
Board Member
John Nisbet
Board Member
Brian Mccabe
Board Member
Drew Hall
Board Member
Elizabeth Sheddon
Board Member
Margaret Davison
Board Member
Brenda Johnstone
Board Member
Meeting Attendance
For 2020 – 2021
Board Meetings
- BOM Meetings (8)
- Special BOM Meetings (7)
- Sub Committee Meetings (27)
- BOM Meetings (8)
- Special BOM Meetings (7)
- Sub Committee Meetings (27)
Average Attendance
- Attendance Achieved (89%)
- Non Attendance (11%)
- Attendance Achieved (89%)
- Non Attendance (11%)
Complaints Report (1st April 2020 – 31st March 2021)
What follows is the statistical information of the complaints received by the Association during the period (April 2020 – March 2021) and reported in the Annual Return on the Charter.
1st Stage Complaints |
Number |
Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Received In The Reporting Year | 35 | 88% |
| Carried Forward From The Previous Year | 0 | n/a |
| Complaints Responded to in full by the landlord in the reporting year | 35 | 100% |
| The average time in working days for a full response | 2.54 | n/a |
2nd Stage Complaints |
Number |
Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Received In The Reporting Year | 5 | 12% |
| Carried Forward From The Previous Year | 0 | n/a |
| Complaints Responded to in full by the landlord in the reporting year | 5 | 100% |
| The average time in working days for a full response | 5.4 | n/a |
Governance Report
Outcomes
There were no improvements made to the CHA services as a result of the complaints process.
Our Tenant Groups were involved in the following:
CHA’s Annual Performance return to the Scottish Housing Regulator on the Scottish Social Housing Charter
Rent Increase consultation
Neighbour disputes and anti-social behaviour review
Planned Maintenance review
Highlights
Of The Year
Long Service Awards
Online Awards For 2020
Due to continued restrictions around the Covid-19 pandemic, the Association couldn’t hold it’s 2020 Annual Long Service Awards, usually hosted by the Group Chief Executive at the Waterside Hotel, so, as is currently the norm, we have gone digital with this year’s awards.
Ensuring social distancing and following guidelines, Frank Sweeney, Group Chief Executive presented awards to this years nominees with pictures being taken where possible and have produced a short video with the same.
We hope to get back to normal proceedings this year and in the meantime we have attached the video for your enjoyment.
Investment In Ardrossan
Bute Terrace
On Thursday the 25th February 2021 a ground breaking ceremony took place at the Invincible.scot Ltd, Bute Terrace site in Ardrossan town centre.
The project once completed by October 2021 will provide Cunninghame Housing Association with a purpose designed headquarters for its Residents Service tradespersons who deliver the Associations planned maintenance works to CHA tenants.
Frank Sweeney, CEO of Cunninghame Housing Association said “We are delighted to be partnering Invincible on this facility which will bring all our tradespeople under one roof and in doing so enable us to improve our service delivery to our tenants”.
The project which will provide further investment in the town centre and will help to create more job opportunities.
Commenting on this Roger Woods of Invincible.scot Ltd said “Invincible are proud to be working in partnership with Cunningham Housing Association on this new exciting project which will provide further investment in the heart of Ardrossan adding to the overall regeneration of the town. This substantial investment will produce real benefits to the local community creating and maintaining much needed jobs in the area. Piece by piece Ardrossan will see another vacant site transformed into a modern green building accommodating the trades people of CHA’s direct works division. From here the CHA Direct Works team will operate and continue delivering the highest level of customer service to CHA tenants. On all levels these are tangible positive outcomes for Ardrossan which are core to both CHA and Invincible’s passionate vision for the success of the town making it a great place to live and work!”
Pictured Left to right: Frank Sweeney, CHA CEO, Kyle Cairney, CHA Direct Works Supervisor, Roger Woods, Director of Invincible.scot Ltd, Susan Woods, Director of Invincible.scot Ltd and Liam Watters, CHA Asset Manager.
TIS National Excellence Awards
2020 Winners!
CHA’s Tenant Scrutiny Group are Winners, having won the awards for The Most Inspiring Scrutiny Group at this years TIS National Excellence Awards.
The Cunninghame Scrutiny Group consists of 12 tenants and other service users.
CHA were also delighted to have presented and sponsored the Excellence in Digital Innovation Award.
The TIS National Excellence Awards were held virtually on 19th November with over 100 people in attendance. The awards recognise and celebrate housing organisations, staff, volunteers, residents and community groups who are truly making a difference within the Scottish housing sector. Eight categories honour excellence in everything from, partnership working and scrutiny practice, to digital innovation, and community regeneration.
TIS Chief Executive, Ilene Campbell said “Each year applications get better and better and this year was no different. The exceptional quality of entries really shone through and this strength highlights the fantastic developments that organisations are taking to lead the way”
Frank Sweeney, CHA’s Group Chief Executive also commented “Many congratulations to the Cunninghame Scrutiny Group on winning the award for Most Inspiring Scrutiny Group at the virtual TIS awards. Winning an award of this standing within the sector is an absolutely brilliant achievement and reflects the hard work and effort put in by each member of the Group. The Scrutiny Group has helped to improve service delivery within CHA and I have no doubt will continue to do this into the future. Many congratulations, very much deserved.”
2020 Housing Heroes Awards
2020 Winners!
“The Housing Heroes Awards recognise the people that make housing great” and CHA’s HR Team have been successful in winning the Central Service Team of the Year Award at this years awards.
The ceremony was held digitally on Thursday 10th September and we were delighted to hear this amazing news. As well as the usual tasks performed by our HR Team, this year has been a particular challenge with the global pandemic and the additional workload this brought and this award is recognition of the amazing work they do every day in supporting the Cunninghame Group of Companies.
“To be awarded this professional recognition jointly from the Chartered Institute of Housing and the Inside Housing Magazine highlights the passion and commitment that the HR Team bring to their role in supporting the staff within the organisation.”
Allison McColl, Executive Director Of Finance & Corporate Services
Scottish Home Awards 2020
2020 Winners!
This year The Scottish Home awards presented by Des Clarke were held digitally due to current restrictions surrounding the coronavirus pandemic. It was at this awards ceremony that Cunninghame Housing Association won the award for Affordable Housing Development of the Year (mid-sized social rent) for our development at Longpark Kilmarnock.
UK Housing Awards (UKHA)
2020 Finalist
Cunninghame Housing Association were a nominated finalist at the UK Housing Awards (UKHA)
OUR MOCBP Awards FUND
WAS FROZEN DURING 20/21 DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC
DUMFRIES & GALLOWAY
MOCBP AWARDS
On 22nd June 2021 Alan Somerville, Senior Development Officer of Cunninghame Housing Association presented a cheque for £10,000 to Caroline Spencer of Lockerbie Primary School Parent Council to assist with the funding costs of their planned development of an outdoor learning area and garden.
The aim of the project is to provide outdoor learning for young people from 2 to 18 years of age, some of whom have complex learning needs or disabilities. Their plan is to split the space into 2 separate areas: a learning garden with an outdoor classroom and allotments for all primary and Learning Centre children; and another which will be an inclusive play area mainly for the Learning Centre children.
Caroline Spencer of Lockerbie Primary School Parent Council commented, “on behalf of Lockerbie Primary School Parent & Carers Council, I would like to say a huge thank you to Cunninghame Housing Association for their generous donation and the support they’ve provided throughout this project. Our aim is to develop our outdoor learning space for all pupils in the primary and Learning Centre and this donation will go towards our new outdoor classroom which will enable the children to make the most of the area whatever the weather. We are very grateful to Cunninghame and the other members of our working group who have helped make our plans a reality.”
NORTH AYRSHIRE
MOCBP AWARDS
On Tuesday 17th August 2021 John Kelly, Chairperson of Cunninghame Housing Association presented a cheque for £500 to Craig Crosthwaite, North Ayrshire Foodbank Coordinator, which will help to assist with the running costs of the Food Larder at the North Ayrshire Foodbank in Ardrossan. The Association donated a further £500 to another Food Larder that is based in the Whitlees Centre in Ardrossan.
Craig Crosthwaite, Coordinator of the North Ayrshire Foodbank advised that Food Larders is currently a network developing across the Local Authority area and is to address the food needs of those who have limited financial resources as opposed to those who literally have nothing. The aim is to give households a “boost” to their weekly shop. An individual can become a member of the Larder, paying approximately £4 (varying Larder to Larder) a week and can get around £12-£15 of food for their weekly membership. The objective is giving all members access to the same level of food.
The funding for the Ardrossan Food Larders came from the Association’s “Making Our Communities a Better Place Fund” which operates throughout the year (1st April 2021 to 31s March 2022) until the allocated funding is exhausted.
EAST AYRSHIRE
MOCBP AWARDS
Cunninghame Housing Association’s Board of Management awarded £500 to Cumnock Juniors Community Enterprise who, during Covid, supported their local community in times of need. The organisation voluntarily, made up food parcels and delivered to people who were vulnerable, immobile, or isolated. The donation of £500 from Cunninghame Housing Association was a massive support to help aid the project and supported many families, particularly, a local primary school, who identified young people whose families would benefit from the food parcels.
Derek King, Facility Manager of the Enterprise commented, “thank you to Cunninghame Housing Association for their kind donation, it is greatly appreciated and is a huge support to the work we do in the local community”.
Cunninghame Housing Association’s Board of Management awarded £500 to Netherthird Initiative for Community Empowerment to assist with the costs involved in the running of their food larder. The food larder is run by volunteers and gives local people access to groceries/toiletries at a reduced cost as opposed to the expensive supermarkets which may not be an option for people who are struggling financially.
Sylvia from Netherthird Community Centre commented, “thank you to Cunninghame Housing Association’s Board of Management for their kind donation made to the running of the food larder, it is very much appreciated. The food larder has been very busy, especially during Covid and the support is very much appreciated”.
Cunninghame Housing Association’s Board of Management awarded £500 to Kilmarnock Onthank, NWKLEUS to assist with the running costs of their community food larder. The many volunteers involved have worked hard to provide cooked meals to the most vulnerable in the community, particularly during Covid, where people have struggled financially, with ill health or feeling isolated.
Marlene Hay, who co-ordinates the food larder commented, “the donation is gratefully received and will go towards helping us to assist the 70 families that are currently registered with us”.
Building
Our Communities
New Build Development Programmes
Janet Strang Court
Completed May 2021
Cunninghame Housing Association have completed their new build development at Corrie Crescent, Saltcoats on the site of the former St Brendan’s Church. Work started on site on 29th June 2020 and was completed on 10th May 2021.
The main contractor was Clyde Coast Contracts who are based in Ayr. The overall development costs to deliver the contract was £1,963,000. The Association was awarded £1.089m from the Scottish Government to support the delivery of these new homes. A total of 13 new homes for rent have been provided, a mixture of 2- & 3-bedroom family houses as well as 2 cottage flats.
A closing ceremony was held on Monday 10th May 2021 to mark the completion of the properties and to showcase the naming of the street after Janet Strang, a long-standing CHA Board member and former Chairperson of Cunninghame Housing Association.
Frank Sweeney, Group CEO of Cunninghame Housing Association said, “working in partnership with both North Ayrshire Council and the Scottish Government to deliver this new project, we are delighted with the finished product, which offers much needed, desirable, quality accommodation for rent in this popular part of Saltcoats”.
Janet Strang, CHA Company Secretary said, “I am absolutely thrilled that this street has been named after myself. My thanks to the Three Towns Area Committee for the honour – most appreciated”.
Ardoch Court
Completed November 2020
In March 2019 Councillor Jimmy Miller carried out the official opening ceremony to mark the commencement of Cunninghame Housing Association’s new build project at Ardoch Court in Stevenston. On 27 November 2020, Cunninghame Housing Association marked the completion of their new build housing development at Ardoch Court, Stevenston by asking Councillor Jimmy Miller to carry out the official closing ceremony which included the planting of a tree within the development. The site has delivered a total of 28 new houses and flatted accommodation for affordable rent. It comprises of a mixture of two and three-bedroom, general needs houses and four amenity cottage flats with the ground floor properties designed specifically for those with wheelchair needs. This £3.8m development was delivered in partnership with North Ayrshire Council and the Scottish Government with £2.2m of Scottish Government Grant being made available to support the delivery of the project. The contractor was a local firm, McLaughlin Construction.
Frank Sweeney, Chief Executive, CHA said “Our strategic partnership with North Ayrshire Council and the Scottish Government continues to deliver quality houses for applicants on the North Ayrshire Common Housing Register. The new homes at Ardoch Court are a prime example of what partnership working and funding can achieve’’.
Councillor Jimmy Miller commented, “Ardoch Court is another high-quality housing development delivered by Cunninghame Housing Association. Given this continuing 30 year long standing relationship between North Ayrshire Council and Cunninghame Housing Association, I would hope that Cunninghame Housing Association will continue to provide high quality rented accommodation on the vacant site at Garven Road, (old Ardeer Primary School site) within my Ward.”
Treeswoodhead Road
Completed March 2021
Cunninghame Housing Association has now completed work on their new build housing development at Treeswoodhead, Kilmarnock.
A total of 22 new houses built by Ashleigh Building (Scotland) Ltd for rent have been provided to meet a range of housing needs.
The new homes, known as St Michael’s Gardens, have been built on the site of the former St Michael’s Church which was demolished in 2017 to accommodate the new development.
With total development costs of £3.5m, the project has been delivered in partnership with the Scottish Government and East Ayrshire Council, with the Scottish Government contributing a total of £1.926m in Housing Association Grant towards the project.
Frank Sweeney, CEO, said “This is a quality product delivered by a Quality Team and loved by our new tenants.”
Green Street
Former Quarriers Homeless Unit
Cunninghame Housing Association, working in partnership with North Ayrshire Council and the Scottish Government, have agreed the inclusion of the Green Street/Vernon Street building within the North Ayrshire Strategic Housing Investment Plan.
The existing building will be demolished with a new development planned. The new project will see the delivery of 24 new flats, with lift access to enable the flats to be fully accessible on all floors. The flats will be designed to accommodate those with mobility needs.
The demolition contract has been awarded to Geo Beattie & Sons and demolition work commenced on site on 4th May 2021. Demolition work is likely to take around 8 weeks with the new build project scheduled to start on site in February 2022.
A ceremony was held on site on 17th May 2021 to mark the start of the demolition contract, with Councillor Jim Montgomerie (who started the demolition) with the Association’s Board members in attendance. Councillor Jim Montgomerie said, “I am delighted to seeing our latest housing development start in Saltcoats. It is in a fantastic location with easy access to the Town, bus stop and railway station. I am really looking forward to seeing it completed”.
Commenting on the new proposals for the site Frank Sweeney, CEO of Cunninghame Housing Association said, “the new flats with lift access in this prime Saltcoats town centre site will bring much needed houses for those with mobility issues.” The project is due to commence on site later this year.
West Byrehill Road
Creating 72 New Homes For Rent In Kilwinning
On 26th May 2021 Leader of the Council, Councillor Joe Cullinan carried out the official ceremony to mark the start of Cunninghame Housing Associations new build project at West Byrehill, Kilwinning.
Work on site commenced on 12th April 2021 and the overall contract period is 95 weeks.
McTaggart Construction are the main contractors is who are based in Dalry and will deliver the works under a design and build contract. A total of 72 new homes are being provided, predominantly 2 and 3 bedroom houses as well as 8 bungalows designed for older people and 3 bungalows designed specifically for wheelchair users.
With total development costs of £11.8 million, the project has benefitted from £6.351 million in Housing Association grant awarded from the Scottish Government.
Councillor Joe Cullinane said “I am delighted to see the construction of this new housing development here in Kilwinning which will provide 72, first-class new homes including 8 bespoke bungalows.
Recently there has been an increase in demand for homes designed to specifically meet the needs of our older residents and those with disabilities, therefore it is reassuring to know that North Ayrshire Council and Housing Associations such as Cunninghame Housing Association, are working in tandem to address those needs and deliver for the people of North Ayrshire.”
Frank Sweeney, Group CEO of CHA stated “Great to see this quality partnership development now progressing”. The project is due to be completed by February 2023.
Services
In Finance year 2020-2021 the Association generated a surplus for the period of £1,912,825.
Net assets at March 2021 were £15,063,505 and the Association’s longer term projections continue to demonstrate viability, under reasonable assumptions, and bank covenant compliance.
Statement of Comprehensive Income
Annual Accounts to 31st March 2021 £ |
Annual Accounts to 31st March 2020 £ |
|
|---|---|---|
| Turnover | 19,615,404 | 17,964,609 |
| Less Operating costs | (14,916,845) | (13,497,389) |
| Operating Surplus | 4,698,559 | 4,467,220 |
| Gain/(Loss) on sales | 9,297 | (12,644) |
| Exceptional Items | – | – |
| Interest Received | 21,189 | 47,762 |
| Interest Payable | (2,816,220) | (2,634,964) |
| Other Finance Charges | – | (50,000) |
| Surplus Before Tax | 1,912,825 | 1,817,374 |
| Other Comprehensive Income | (1,583,000) | 1,835,000 |
| Total Comprehensive Income For Year | 329,825 | 3,652,374 |
Statement of Financial Position
ANNUAL ACCOUNTS TO 31st March 2021 £ |
ANNUAL ACCOUNTS TO 31st March 2020 £ |
|
|---|---|---|
| Tangible Assets – Social Housing | 236,572,272 | 215,580,002 |
| Other Tangible Assets – Plant & Equipment | 4,111,883 | 4,267,797 |
| Tangible Fixed Assets Total |
240,684,155 | 219,847,799 |
| Current Assets | 4,877,424 | 10,248,235 |
| Current Liabilities | (10,412,036) | (7,496,698) |
| Creditors Greater than 1 Year-Loan finance | (75,642,324) | (79,506,947) |
| Deferred Income – Capital Grants | (143,023,861) | (128,172,144) |
| Pension Deficit | (1,419,853) | (186,564) |
| Net Assets Total |
15,063,505 | 14,733,681 |
| Share Capital | 51 | 52 |
| Revenue Reserves | 15,063,454 | 14,733,629 |
| Total Reserves | 16,063,505 | 14,733,681 |
Maintenance Expenditure
ANNUAL ACCOUNTS To 31st March 2021 £ |
ANNUAL ACCOUNTS TO 31st March 2020 £ |
|
|---|---|---|
| Reactive Maintenance | 1,302,864 | 1,112,935 |
| Medical Adaptations | 191,841 | 166,537 |
| Cyclical Works | 441,759 | 475,798 |
| Major Repairs | 955,514 | 1,473,200 |
CCTV Systems upgraded across all of our sites with new installations at all new build sites.
Over 70 members of staff issued with company laptops and remote access to systems via VPN.
Upgrades to Capita Housing, Open Accounts, Castletoun Doc Management, Cascade HR, Cascade Payroll.
Upgrades to virtual environments to allow secured access to all members of staff working from home.
Continued first class Service delivery in order to comply with the Property Factors Scotland Act including Factoring Handbook, Written Statement of Services and Systems re-design.
Continued update of our registration of all Factored Buildings and Land with the Scottish Government for Factoring purposes.
Existing systems upgrades delivering improved functionality.
New systems implementations including Business Intelligence reporting tools.
Staff training on new and upgraded systems.
4 staff undertaken formal external training courses (certified)
Ongoing funding for new builds – stock valuations
Working closely with Development to ensure all schemes are tracked and reported on
Human
Resources
From the tables below you will note that the total number of hours spent training staff (1097) with 12 new staff being recruited throughout the three companies:
CHA Group Of Companies |
New Employees |
|---|---|
| Cunninghame Housing Association | 9 |
| Cunninghame Furniture Recycling | 0 |
| Citrus Energy Ltd (inc Lemon Aid) | 3 |
| Total | 12 |
Human Resources
Learning & Development
(THE CHA GROUP)
- No of CHA staff trained (111)
- No of CFRC staff trained (20)
- No of Citrus Energy staff trained (39)
- CHA Training Hours (632.5)
- CFRC Training Hours (144)
- Citrus Energy Training Hours (320.5)
- CHA Cost Of Training (£15,352)
- CFRC Cost Of Training (£2,558)
- Citrus Energy Cost Of Training (£3,638)
Housing & Property
Services
Cunninghame Housing Association manages properties throughout North and East Ayrshire, and Dumfries & Galloway with the majority of our stock located in Ardrossan, Saltcoats and Kilmarnock. The remainder is located throughout Ayrshire and Dumfries & Galloway including areas such as Auchinleck, Dalry, Stevenston, Kilbirnie, Annan, Gretna, Millport, Isle of Cumbrae and Fairlie.
Tenant Consultation & Participation
During the course of the year the department consulted widely on the annual rent increase proposals. This included individual newsletters to all tenants, personal telephone contact where requested and a meeting of all of the Association’s Tenants Organisations. Our Cunninghame Scrutiny Group carried out a detailed examination of our Neighbour disputes and anti-social behaviour policy and procedures and made recommendations on improvements. They were also involved in the design of our customer satisfaction survey as well as developing an action plan from the results. They have a developed a programme of scrutiny exercises which will assist in ensuring our services are performing well from a tenant’s perspective. During the year we also implemented phase 3 of our rent restructure which incorporated the results of a wide ranging consultation exercise involving all tenants and tenant’s groups. The new structure will be implemented over a 7 year period to limit the impact of any changes. Once complete the rent structure will provide a fairer and more easily understood approach to rents and the proposed timetable will ensure those tenants affected by increases have the best possible advice and assistance provided to allow them to manage the change.
Rent Arrears
Rental income is vital for the Association to continue to fund essential services and the Property Services staff team have worked hard over the year to remind tenants of their responsibilities, provide advice and assistance on payment methods and welfare benefits and where required instigate legal action. The COVID 19 restrictions on face to face contact and the financial impact on tenants had a significant impact on our arrears processes. We have also worked closely with our partners in all three local authorities to improve Housing Benefit claim processing and are developing profiles of tenants going into arrears in order to target our advice and assistance and make referrals to support agencies for those most in need. We have also formed positive partnerships with the Department of Work and Pensions to assist tenants in the migration to Universal Credit.
Welfare reform and in particular the roll out of Universal Credit continues to have major impact in our work especially in the context of the COVID 19 pandemic and its financial impacts. The Association has two Financial Inclusion Officers based within the Housing and Property Services Department and many tenants have benefited from the specialist support and advice now available.
Anti-Social Behaviour
Housing and Property Services recognise the harm that anti-social behaviour can cause individuals and communities. We believe that addressing anti-social behaviour is a core responsibility of a social landlord. Over the course of the year we received and investigated a number of complaints and disputes between neighbours and these number more than doubled due to lockdown restrictions and more people spending more time at home. Incidents ranged from relatively minor noise nuisance to serious harassment or violence. We take positive and decisive action to deal with any issues that are detrimental to our residents’ peaceful enjoyment of their homes.
Housing Association Stock
April 2020 – March 2021
#MakingOurCommunitiesBetterPlaces
Asset Management
April 2020 – March 2021
In year 2020-2021 we continued to build on our programmes of work ensuring all our homes continue to be maintained to the Scottish Housing Quality Standard, which was achieved for all of our applicable stock by the end of March 2015 and to work towards achieving the Energy Efficiency Standard for Social Housing by 2022. Our ability to complete our planned programmes was severely curtailed due to COVID restrictions. The table below shows the detail of how this money was split against the differing work types as well as our planned programme for 2021/2022.
Completed Planned Maintenance Spend 2020-2021
Chief Executives
Office
To ensure the Association meets its objective of “Being More That Just A Landlord; Making Our Communities Better Places” our regeneration team work with a range of funders, partners, and community based organisations to lever in the resources necessary to create and sustain jobs, develop new community facilities and help address various facets of poverty.
In what was a highly abnormal year due to the prevalence of the COVID 19 virus, our Regeneration Team continued to work with a range of partners to develop and sustain projects and services throughout Ayrshire and Dumfries and Galloway.
In late March 2021 the work done to assemble a circa £550,000 capital funding package to create a Community Sports Hub at Raydale Park in Gretna came to fruition. After more than 18 months of work, and with funding support from 16 different funders ranging from Dumfries and Galloway Council, Sportscotland and South of Scotland Enterprise to the Climate Challenge Fund, Coastal Communities and the Holywood Trust, the project went on site. During August 2021 a new 3g astroturf pitch is set to be unveiled by Raydale Community Partnership and Gretna FC 2008, with a community gym and fitness room set to follow in the months ahead.
At the other end of the scale in Lockerbie the Association provided support to the Parent and Carers Council for the local Primary School and Learning Centre to raise funding for an inclusive play park and community garden. As well as contributing £10000 from our Making Our Communities Better Places Fund, the Association helped develop a partnership including Ashleigh Construction, AMEY, and Dumfries and Galloway Council which has raised more than £50000 for the first phase of the project – an outdoor classroom and fully accessible play equipment including a swing and roundabout – to be completed.
We also continue to provide project development and management assistance to the Lockerbie Old School SCIO to redevelop the former Dryfesdale Public Old School building. During the year a full business plan, floor layouts and a Social Impact Assessment were produced to support the assembly of a capital funding package in 21/22 which is likely to exceed £4.2m to create a major new Community Well Being Centre in the heart of the Town, adjacent to the Association’s 45 unit development at the former Lockerbie Academy site.
<< View The Development Project Page Here >>
In Ardrossan, despite the pandemic the Association’s 3 Enterprise Centres retained their tenants throughout the year and are set to re-open to the public towards the end of the Summer in 2021 for local residents to access a range of valuable local services ranging from employability, training and housing advocacy to energy advice, community radio and childcare. During the year the Association also provided support to the newly established Ardrossan Community Development Trust, with office premises within the Frank Sweeney Centre for Enterprise in Glasgow Street and are now working with the Trust’s Board to provide developmental support on key projects including the South Beach Promenade Play Park and Redevelopment.
During July 2020 the Regeneration and Lemon Aid Teams worked together on a successful bid to the Energy Redress Fund which secured £245000 of funding to support the work of the North and East Ayrshire Lemon Aid fuel poverty teams until March 22, complementing monies obtained previously from the Scottish Governments Investing in Communities Fund.
Our furniture re-use charity Cunninghame Furniture Recycling was impacted significantly by the COVID lockdown restrictions. By the end of March 2021 CFRC had lost 32 weeks of normal trading activity across the year. Despite this they were still able to collect 107 tonnes of unwanted but re-usable furniture from 1023 donors across Ayrshire, generating 236 tonnes of carbon savings by diverting 93% of this from landfill.
Part of CFRC’s mission is to help people looking to furnish their homes on a budget and during 20/21 just short of 1500 households were assisted. A new development for CFRC in 20/21 was a successful pilot project to supply North Ayrshire Council’s Scottish Welfare Fund team with beds and sofas through the CRNS Reuse Consortium Scotland Excel Framework contract.
During the 5 months to March 21 CFRC supplied 154 households with 224 reuse items, generating almost £20k income for CFRC and saving NAC almost £11k compared to the price of new purchases. In addition CFRC offered additional community benefit in the form of another 313 reuse items with an estimated value of just over £10k supplied to Scottish Welfare Fund clients free of charge to ensure people were able to adequately furnish their homes.
CHA LEMON AID FUEL POVERTY SERVICE
Established in 2013 and now has teams based in North Ayrshire, East Ayrshire and Dumfries and Galloway. Our Lemon Aid Teams offer energy advice, advocacy, assistance in dealing with energy arrears, billing disputes. We also assist those who have self- disconnected from gas supply. We work in partnership with other care and support agencies.
Our offices closed in March 2020 due to the Pandemic. Our staff continued to work from home to hep those in crisis. We adapted to ensure that those affected by the pandemic had a secure supply of gas and electricity and secured funding to assist those in crisis and at risk of disconnection from supply due to insufficient funds to top up prepayment meters. With families experiencing higher fuel bills with families at home all day and people losing employment or experiencing reduced income we were able to assist them manage the higher than normal energy costs.
Cunninghame Furniture
Recycling Company
2020/2021 proved to be a difficult year for CFRC, the Association’s furniture reuse subsidiary, due to the Covid 19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns.
CFRC was forced to close its doors from 23rd March 2020 until 26th August 2020 following the relaxation of guidelines. Demand for services was high from the outset and seen the busiest week in CFRC history. Sadly, due to a new Covid variant they were again forced to close from 24th December 2020 until 26th April 2021 however, during this period they operated a skeleton staff and delivered essential services free of charge to those most in need and referred via North Ayrshire Council and other partner organisations. Details on what was provided in this period can be found below.
CFRC Essential Services 2020/21
Cunninghame Furniture Recycling Company is a registered charity and not for profit organisation. All proceeds from the sale of goods are retained and reinvested in our charitable activities.
Cunninghame Furniture
Social Impact
CFRC reopened fully from 26th April 2021, whilst complying with regulations around the pandemic, to ensure they kept staff and customers as safe as possible. Similar to the reopening following the 1st lockdown the demand for services was again high and set yet another record in busy sales and customer furniture donations. Changes were made to a more digital service ensuring staff and customers were kept as safe as possible whilst allowing 24/7 access to donation services through our redesigned website. CFRC also removed as much paperwork as possible providing drivers with digital tablets to manage deliveries and collections reducing the risk of covid transmission even further.
Despite the challenges that this year brought CFRC still achieved the following Social Impact for the Year.
CFRC Social Impact Figures 2020/21
CHA LEMON AID
FUEL POVERTY SERVICE
Established in 2013 and now has teams based in North Ayrshire, East Ayrshire and Dumfries and Galloway. Our Lemon Aid Teams offer energy advice, advocacy, assistance in dealing with energy arrears, billing disputes. We also assist those who have self- disconnected from gas supply. We work in partnership with other care and support agencies.
Our offices closed in March 2020 due to the Pandemic. Our staff continued to work from home to hep those in crisis. We adapted to ensure that those affected by the pandemic had a secure supply of gas and electricity and secured funding to assist those in crisis and at risk of disconnection from supply due to insufficient funds to top up prepayment meters. With families experiencing higher fuel bills with families at home all day and people losing employment or experiencing reduced income we were able to assist them manage the higher than normal energy costs.
Citrus Energy was set up by Cunninghame Housing Association in 2013, since then it has been operating as a social enterprise, helping people the length and breadth of Scotland, providing clarity, advocacy and the impartial advice needed to navigate through the energy market confusion for both Home and Business Energy Users.
ANNUAL REPORT