This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Action to help Glasgow Housing Association
18/11/2005
The Executive today took action to remove potential legal obstacles facing Glasgow Housing Association (GHA).
An amendment has been lodged to the Housing Bill which enables Ministers to direct GHA to delegate functions to local housing organisations in Glasgow.
The move has been welcomed by GHA. It had feared the impact that EU procurement laws might have on renewing interim management contracts it has with local housing organisations without going through a full-blown tendering process.
The net effect of the amendment - if accepted by Parliament - is that EU procurement is no longer an obstacle.
Communities Minister Malcolm Chisholm said:
"We made a commitment to tenants in Glasgow at the time of the transfer vote - to devolve control of housing to local communities as quickly as possible.
"That is a shared commitment made by the Executive, Glasgow City Council and Glasgow Housing Association which we will deliver. We are determined nothing is going to get in its way and that we keep local arrangements in place and build on them.
"The Housing Bill now going through Parliament gives us the chance to nail this issue on the head and ensure local control is maintained.
"Second stage transfer is not affected by the procurement issue but by resolving it, Glasgow Housing Association and the Local Housing Organisations in Glasgow will be able to concentrate on working towards delivering second stage transfers.
"It's right and sensible to take these powers now to protect the guarantees we gave to tenants, rather than leave this to chance.
"We have had very constructive meetings with GHA which has welcomed this development.
"The action we are proposing will ensure that GHA is able to deal with the potential legal problem.
"We'd be failing the interests of tenants and the pledges we made to them if we didn't do this. Our commitment to second stage transfer and devolving power to local communities remains absolute."
The amendment does not affect any stock transfers currently going through - including Edinburgh's.