Last Friday, along with other Dundee City Councillors, I took part in a briefing on the subject of amenity housing, organised by the council’s Housing Department. Amenity Housing is being considered for a relatively small number of sheltered housing that the department is finding hard to let and is offered (without warden services) to persons over the age of 50.
This proved to be a useful briefing and exchange of views. Last month, I expressed concerns about the decision to decommission two sheltered properties at the Morven Terrace/Ancrum Place sheltered housing without advising the sheltered tenants or local councillors. Following a meeting I organised with the tenants at which senior housing department attended, I have sought reassurances on behalf of tenants about the situation.
These concern the need to exhaust all possibilities to get new sheltered tenants before any conversion to amenity housing, clarity on the right of existing sheltered tenants aged under 75 to their sheltered TV licence, the position re council house sales and amenity housing and the possible viability of providing external lifts to the first floor properties at the Morven Terrace/Ancrum Place sheltered housing.
I have now written to all tenants at the Morven Terrace/Ancrum Place sheltered housing updating them on these issues.
It is vitally important that sheltered tenants are reassured on this matter and that any questions or concerns they have are addressed. I am pleased that the housing department has held a briefing for councillors across the city as it allowed for all the issues and questions we have to be discussed.