Housing in Scotland
Self-assessment checklist for council officers

Prepared by Audit Scotland
July 2013

Introduction

1.	Audit Scotland published its national report, Housing in Scotland, on 11 July 2013. The checklist on the next few pages sets out some of the issues around effective planning and delivery raised in the main report. Council officers may wish to use this checklist to assess their council against each statement as appropriate and consider which statement most accurately reflects their current situation. This should help officers identify what actions need to be taken forward.
2.	Copies of the national report can be downloaded from our website www.audit-scotland.gov.uk

Self-assessment checklist for council officers to assess council performance in relation to housing
The last column in the checklist can be used to record sources of evidence, supplementary comments to support your assessment or to highlight areas of interest.
Issue	Assessment of current position	Comments	
	No - action needed	No - but action in hand	Yes - in place but needs improving	Yes - in place and working well	Not applicable		
Planning arrangements	
We ensure that housing strategies and the associated plans and investment decisions are clearly based on evidence of local housing needs							
We develop our housing strategies and the associated plans and investment decisions in conjunction with all relevant partners including RSLs and tenants							
The Community Planning Partnership's role in housing is clear 							

Issue	Assessment of current position	Comments	
	No - action needed	No - but action in hand	Yes - in place but needs improving	Yes - in place and working well	Not applicable		
Financial reporting	
We have reviewed our recording of spend through the Housing Revenue Account and the general fund for housing, and improved its transparency to tenants 							
We have reviewed our recording of spend through the Housing Revenue Account and the general fund for housing to ensure it provides a clear picture of our spending on homelessness services							
We have a clear understanding of the condition of private sector housing in our area and of the investment required in the future							

Issue	Assessment of current position	Comments	
	No - action needed	No - but action in hand	Yes - in place but needs improving	Yes - in place and working well	Not applicable		
Housing services	
Homelessness:
We have reviewed the way housing services are designed and delivered in light of any recent reductions in the number of people assessed as homeless							
Management of housing stock:
We have reviewed the performance and the long-term financial position of our housing stock							
Management of housing stock:
We have developed strategies, including rent strategies, to address any future long-term liabilities and maintain the value of the stock