Sheltered Housing Forum Minutes 2025
Sheltered Housing Forum 19th June 2025
at Melfort Avenue, Clydebank
Attendees:
Cathy Duncan (Manse Gardens)
James O’Driscoll (Mill Rd)
John Stewart (Mill Rd)
Etta King (Gray Street)
Margaret Stevenson (Melfort Av)
Margo Symon (Melfort Ave)
Jane Mack (Snr Housing Development Officer -Tenant Participation)
Welcome, introductions and apologies
Apologies received from Angus Ferguson (Mill Road), Catherine Gair (Second Avenue), Margaret Whitten (Hogan Court), Mary Paton (Willox Park), Linda Ryan (HSCP) and Lee Bell (HSCP).
Ice Breaker - positive news
Jane welcomed everyone to the meeting and good news was shared.
Lee is off at the moment and Linda on holiday so no-one able to attend from HSCP but Linda had provided Jane with updates on items they had been pursuing.
Updates from last meeting (6/3/25)
Still some tree/s at back of Manse Gardens to be done, work delayed due to other storm priorities but is being pursued by warden. To be actioned by Jane/Lee
Old damaged streetlight still not been removed from outside 17 Millbrae Crescent -Jane has chased up Building Services Officer again to chase up it’s removal. To be actioned by Jane/Housing
Level access to Manse still being pursued and inspection arranged but no other update at this time. To be actioned by Lee/Housing
Repairs have confirmed they will review what work is needed to improve sound proofing at Mill Road. Ongoing
Issue of people cutting down side of 17 Millbrae Crescent continues and John and James have discussed with housing officer. When cladding being done, gate at side not been put back. Jane to contact Capital programme team to check that it is going to be put back as could help deter people cutting through. Jane will also speak to ASB team about patrolling around blocks and speaking to anyone cutting thro as recent robbery at local shop and perpetrators cut thro complex. To be actioned by Jane/Capital team
Issues to be raised with HSCP
Jane passed on the update Linda had provided on Margaret’s buzzer calls and Margaret keen to discuss with Linda. To be actioned by Linda
Etta raised a concern about a buzzer call at Gray street not responded to recently when a lady fell in the common room.
General concerns about alerts not being answered and tenants keen to get reassurance. Agreed that Jane would get updates on the call response times again for Forum meetings so that can monitor the response times. To be actioned by Jane
Updates from Tenant Participation (Jane Mack)
The Council is due to review it’s Allocation policy this year –Allocation policy sets out how it allocates properties. Once details of consultation are known, Jane will share with Forum so that they can take part.
Summer edition of HN will be delivered around 28/6. One of our Scrutiny Panel members shared a tomato soup recipe for the spring edition so if you have any good soup recipes please let Jane know. Also looking to set up a group to review the Housing News and help put together ideas for future editions so if interested to let Jane know.
The WDTRO –who are the West Dunbartonshire Tenants & Residents Organisation – an umbrella group for all tenant groups have been shortlisted for a national award run by TIS for Tenant Group of the Year Award – they’ll find out on Friday if they have won but even to be shortlisted is a great achievement and they do great work on behalf of all WDC tenants.
Update on Housing new builds – copy on back of agenda
Willox Park, Dumbarton
This project of 17 new sheltered houses is now halfway through the construction programme. The main structure of the houses are complete, with roof and window installation complete.
Tenants are being kept up to date with monthly progress meetings and we are looking to pre allocate the new homes to allow the tenants to choose floor colours, within the next month.
Bank Street, Alexandria
The 22 new flats plus staff, laundry and common room will replace the Sheltered Housing Complex at Gray Street.
We have full planning permission, and the contract has been awarded to JR Group.
The site start date will now be later this year as we work through all the planning conditions and statutory approvals.
We have organised a Q&A for the tenants of Gray Street, with the contractor for 4th July, all tenants have been notified by letter and we will prepare a little information booklet for those tenants who can’t come along to the meeting.
West Thomson Street, Clydebank
This project is on the site of the old Clydebank Health Centre.
The project will include 27 units of either sheltered housing or and 15 units of family housing.
We are progressing with the design and hope to submit for planning permission in August.
We have had further consultation with Housing, HSCP, the adjacent residents and tenants of Young Street about our proposals.
Mount Pleasant, Old Kilpatrick
Although not Sheltered housing, the Forum may be interested to know about our 19 units of housing for over 60s that’s been developed in Old Kilpatrick. A mix of tenemental, cottage flats and terraced cottages, one and two bedrooms, centred around a community garden, which is now complete with tenants in the process of moving in.
Any queries can be sent to morehomes@west-dunbarton.gov.uk or via Jane
Any Other Business
- Concessionary TV licence for tenant still not resolved and John has received a warning letter about non-payment. To be actioned by Linda/Lee
- Cathy gave a note of some issues at Manse Gardens– Jane to contact warden for more info to pursue. To be actioned by Jane
- Betty at 23 Melfort had an outside socket but building now been clad and when she phoned up Council said she would have to pay for another one herself. Jane to contact Capital programme team and confirm if that correct or should it have been discussed with tenant beforehand. To be actioned by Jane/Capital Programme Team
- Grass cutting at Melfort Avenue – have cut grass at front but not the back. Also hedges at back 12 ft. Meant to collect grass cuttings but been doing that and cut grass blows onto paths making them slippery. Jane to email concerns to Greenspace. To be actioned by Jane/Greenspace
- Jane to provide Margaret with an email address for Greenspace so she can contact re the park area across from her. To be actioned by Jane
- Request to be made to get dropped kerb at 17 Millbrae painted as cars still parking at it. Jane advised that there is a long delay in getting road painting done as Manse still waiting on there’s but will get request made. To be actioned by Jane
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Jane to contact Housing Officer (Tom McDermott) re hedge at 39 Melfort growing over washing line and height of back hedges. To be actioned by Jane/HO
Date and venue of next meeting
Thursday 16 October 2025, 2pm at Gray Street common room, Alexandria - Jane will arrange transport.
Sheltered Housing Forum 6th March 2025
at Willox Park, Dumbarton
Attendance:
Angus Ferguson (Mill Road)
James O’Driscoll (Mill Rd)
John Stewart (Mill Rd)
Margaret Stevenson (Melfort Ave)
Jimmy Dyet (Melfort Ave)
Mary Paton ( Willox Park)
Linda Ryan (Sheltered Housing Supervisor)
Jane Mack (Snr Housing Development Officer -Tenant Participation)
Welcome, introductions and apologies.
Apologies received from Cathy Duncan (Manse Gardens), Catherine Gair (Second Avenue), Etta King (Gray Street), Margaret Whitten (Hogan Court), Janet Robertson (Manse Gardens), and Lee Bell (HSCP).
Ice Breaker - Positive News
Jane welcomed everyone to the meeting and good news was shared.
Updates from last meeting (28/11/24)
Still some tree/s at back of Manse Gardens to be done but delayed due to other storm priorities. To be actioned by Jane/Lee
Old damaged streetlight still not been removed from outside 17 Millbrae Crescent -order was passed 13/9 and Jane has sent photos to Building Services Officer to chase up it’s removal. To be actioned by Jane
Care Inspectorate report been put up on complex noticeboards – is also on website.
Level access to Manse still being pursued and Lee been in discussion with Housing – Jane will request an update. To be actioned by Lee/Housing
Grass cutting at Mill Road – Greenspace confirmed that grass cutting season ends sept/October and should be cut every 4 weeks so about 7 cuts a year.
Housing Officer aware of concerns about people cutting down side of 17 Millbrae Crescent but will discuss again once scaffolding is down. Rotten tree at Mill Road still to be removed but also been delayed due to other storm priorities. To be actioned by Jane/HO
Jane been in touch with repairs to remind them of commitment to improve the sound proofing when flats were empty as work is very disruption. Jane to chase up an update. To be actioned by Jane
Jane has had it confirmed that once Mill Road external cladding is completed, an additional number plaque will be put up at 205 Mill Road.
Update on Review of Sheltered Housing Tenant Handbook
Quite a few suggestions came from tenants which have been taken on board. There will now be a bit more information added on how to use services online, and a change to the order of the handbook itself.
As the Tenancy Agreement is quite complex the handbook is to supplement this making it a bit easier to read and to also help tenants find things, making it more user friendly. Existing tenants will get a copy of the handbook too once it’s printed.
Update from HSCP
The Care at Home team is still under extreme pressure and still unable to take on any more clients. If being discharged from hospital will still get home-care but no new referrals. Anyone getting home care will still get their care provided and Lee will update when situation improve.
Update from Tenant Participation – Jane Mack
Rent setting – at Council meeting 5 March, rent increase was agreed – 8% - will all get a letter giving the statutory 28 days’ notice. 1669 tenants voted for their preferred options in the rent setting consultation and the 8% option got 80% of the votes. Anyone struggling with their rent or want advice about housing benefit should speak to their Housing Officer.
New Repairs policy – following a review and consultation last year, there is a new repairs policy being implemented from 1 April 2025. Emergency repairs will still be done within 24 hours, routine repairs in 20 days - main change is that urgent repairs will be done in 5 days instead of 10. From the consultation too tenants wanted better communication so for all internal repairs you will be given an appointment and get reminders about it so make sure they have your contact details.
Spring edition of Housing News is being put together and will be delivered around 28/3. Front page will be on the rent increase, there’s a feature on tenant responsibility as well as new Repairs policy, new build updates and the Scrutiny panel’s recommendations for improving the repair reporting process for tenants.
Trishaws in Levengrove Park – been up and running for a while but took a break over Christmas and will probably get back to being regularly there on Wednesdays once worse of the winter weather is over. They are doing an event at the park on Sunday 9/3 between 11 and 3. They will also be contacting wardens directly to arrange opportunities for sheltered tenants to have a ride.
Update on Housing new builds – Jane Mack
Willox Park, Dumbarton
This project started on site Monday 25th November and we are on schedule. The timber kits will be arriving within the next few weeks, as to date all the work has been ground works and foundations.
Also working on phase 2 feasibility proposal, which would see 20 x 1 bedroom terraced cottages being built.
Bank Street, Alexandria
The 22 new flats plus staff, laundry and common room will replace the Sheltered Housing Complex at Gray Street.
Have full planning permission and the contract has been awarded to JR Group. Hopeful of a site start date of June 2025.
West Thomson Street: Clydebank
This project is on the site of the old Clydebank Health Centre. Have now appointed a design team for this project, headed by Collective Architecture who have a vast experience of designing social housing throughout Scotland.
The project will include up to 27 units of either sheltered housing or housing for the elderly and 15 units of family housing.
We anticipate that the design and planning process will take one year to complete with a further year for construction, which will take us to early summer 2027. The demolition of the former health centre was completed in December 2024.
We have had further consultation with Housing and HSCP about our proposals.
Mount Pleasant, Old Kilpatrick
Although not Sheltered housing, may be of interested ,19 units of housing for over 60s being developed in Old Kilpatrick. A mix of tenemental and cottage flats and terraced cottages, one and two bedrooms, centred around a community garden, will complete at the end of April, located in the centre of the village on the site of the former care home. Any queries can be sent to morehomes@west-dunbarton.gov.uk or via Jane.
Any other business
· Questions were asked about the situation with the Fire Extinguishers and whether there was any information/training for tenants on how to use them and if the tab on them was easy to remove for use. It was explained that Sheltered Housing has a stay put policy for tenants, and that regular safety checks are in place to ensure no combustibles are left in any areas to help minimise any risks. Supervisors also regularly check all areas to ensure that this is the case.
· Questions were asked regarding the situation with the concessionary TV Licence for tenants. Linda explained that applications for these were about to be sent away along with the required site plans for the complexes. We are currently waiting to hear back from TV Licencing and hopefully they should be in place soon.
· James asked whether Mill Rd would be getting new doors as they had received a form to pick one and have heard nothing since. To be actioned by Jane
· Margaret mentioned that she had previously pressed her pendant 6 times with no answer. She also has had a smoke alarm going off twice a few weeks ago and again no answer to this either. Linda will feed this back to Community Alarms. To be actioned by Lee/Linda
· Margaret mentioned cars speeding up and down Melfort Ave regardless of the speed bumps in place. Jane advised Margaret to contact Police with this concern.
· Mary Paton asked about a letter to Willox Park tenants regarding the speed of the cars coming in and out of the complex. It was suggested that a notice on the newsletter would be a good option. To be actioned by Lee
Date and venue of next meeting
Thursday 19 June 2025, 2pm at Melfort Avenue common room, Clydebank- Jane will arrange transport.