At yesterday’s meeting of the Caithness Committee, councillors agreed a Housing Revenue Account Capital Programme that will see £2,684,000 spent on making improvements to Caithness council homes. On top of this funding, an additional £134,000 will be ring-fenced to provide aids and adaptations to assist tenants requiring extra support to stay living in their homes as long as possible.

During 2023 upgrade works will include replacing kitchens, bathrooms with priority given to the improving the energy efficiency of the housing stock through a range of measures, such as heating upgrade, solar installations, insulation works and a continued focus on windows and doors replacements.

Chair of the Committee, Councillor Ron Gunn, said: “This is our share of the wider Highland Housing Revenue Account Capital Programme and we will be using it to carry out work to improve our housing stock. We are all aware of the continued need to invest in our housing stock and with the demands on resources, it is only right that we prioritise work.

“A previous survey of our tenants showed a priority for them was the replacement of windows and doors. Having this clear way forward over the next year will allow us to get on with the work so I would like to thank my fellow councillors, our maintenance teams, and tenants for their assistance.

“I am particularly pleased that funding to carry out specific work to help tenants with special needs has been set aside as it is important that we do all we can to help people adapt as their needs change. Following referral from an Occupational Therapist this work can include making sometimes very simple adaptations within the home that have a big positive impact on the quality of life for anyone needing extra support to continue living in their council home.”

The Caithness committee will receive regular updates on how the improvement works are progressing.