Chamber and committees

The New Housing Partnership funding framework including support for wholesale stock transfers was in place when this administration came to power. The general objectives of the policy are unchanged and so we have not canvassed further views from organisations or individuals. Where a council decides to develop a transfer proposal all the parties involved will have every opportunity to make their views known in the course of the consultation process and a transfer will not proceed without the support of tenants.

The appointment of a chief executive is a matter for the Interim Management Committee of the Glasgow Housing Association which has now been established.

The framework document published on 10 April makes clear that funders will wish to see in place a financial model and cost benefit framework that allows all investment decisions, including those relating to multi-storey flats, to be appraised rigorously. Tenants will be fully involved in these investment decisions.

Informal discussions were held with a number of lenders during the preparation of the framework document published on 10 April. These included Bank of Scotland, Royal Bank of Scotland, Halifax plc, Nationwide Building Society and the Council of Mortgage Lenders.

Two lending organisations have responded to the Executive's proposals and expressed a reservation over retrospection, a subsidiary matter to the main proposal and one on which we have always indicated our intention to consult.

Proposed rental regimes are a matter for each landlord(s) to decide and their proposals will be fully set out for tenants before any proposal to transfer goes to ballot. The rental policy will be set out in the tenancy agreement and provision can be made in the contract of sale on issues relating to the rental policy. There is of course no rental guarantee structure under current housing provision by local authorities.

I refer to my answer to question S1W-6562.

Ministers receive and consider recommendations of the New Housing Partnerships Steering Group. They do not attend meetings of the group.

Of the £13 million earmarked for Glasgow City Council in connection with the development of its stock transfer proposal, £2.856 million has been allocated. This includes £0.495 million for project team and consultancy costs; £1.010 million for work with tenants and residents; £0.750 million for stock condition work and £0.601 million for purchasers pre-transfer costs which will be recoverable.Following the publication of the Framework Document the council has submitted a bid to the Executive for resources between 2000-02. This is currently being considered by the New Housing Partnerships Steering Group.

The Framework Document Better Homes - stronger communities relating to the Glasgow stock transfer, which was published on 10April, was produced and agreed by the Glasgow Steering Group. The document does not require to be agreed by the New Housing Partnerships Steering Group but a copy has been passed to the group in support of an application from Glasgow City Council for further funding in connection with the development of the stock transfer proposal. This application is currently under consideration by the steering group. Its recommendations will be submitted to the First Minister.