At yesterday’s Area Committee, councillors agreed a Housing Revenue Account Capital Programme that will see £653,752 spent on making improvements to council homes.

On top of this funding, an additional £27,000 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 Biz Campbell said: “The money is our share of the wider Highland Housing Revenue Account Capital Programme. Key to developing our planned programme of works for the coming year has been the input from tenants, our local maintenance teams and the ward councillors so I would like to thank everyone. We need to make sure that we target our resources to best meet the locally identified priorities.”

She added: “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. Sometimes simple adaptations can provide a big impact on the quality of life for anyone needing extra support to continue living in their council home.”

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