A motion agreed yesterday recognises that there has been a 28% increase in the number of people applying to the council for assistance due to homelessness, a 38% increase in the number of people recorded by the council as homeless and a 101% increase in the backlog of urgent need homeless households awaiting housing.

Proposed by Councillor Davie McLachlan, seconded by Councillor Margaret Cowie, the motion of a housing emergency declaration read: “The council agrees that, further to the report to the executive committee on 8 May on ‘Homelessness Pressures – Impact and Mitigation’ and heightened pressures on housing and homelessness services, a housing emergency be declared in South Lanarkshire.

“The council notes that South Lanarkshire remains a top performing local authority in addressing homelessness applications but, nonetheless, is experiencing significant pressures, in common with other local authority areas, including a 28% increase in the number of people applying to the council for assistance due to homelessness, a 38% increase in the number of people recorded by the council as homeless, and a 101% increase in the backlog of urgent need homeless households awaiting housing.”

The council welcomed measures reported to the executive committee to mitigate the impact of the emergency homelessness situation but, in light of the level of need, it has urged central governments at the Scottish and UK levels to immediately consider the following:

• a full or partial restoration of ‘local connection’ within Scotland to help manage out-of-area homelessness presentations
• the reversal of cuts to the Affordable Housing Supply Programme budget to ensure South Lanarkshire Council can deliver all 1300 additional council homes set out in the Strategic Housing Investment Plan and that national housing targets can be met
• further assistance to manage housing need arising from humanitarian and asylum programmes.

Several other local authorities across Scotland have recently declared homeless emergencies, including Argyll and Bute, the City of Edinburgh, Glasgow, Fife, West Dunbartonshire, West Lothian and Scottish Borders.

• Podcast: Why it is important to declare a housing emergency

The Scottish Government declared a national housing emergency in May, while CIH Scotland used its national conference in March to declare that Scotland has moved past a housing crisis and is in the midst of a housing emergency.

Housing minister Paul McLennan has since revealed he intends to share details on an action plan to tackle the situation.

He said: “We are working collaboratively across the housing sector to identify specific actions to address the current housing emergency. On Friday, I met with the Housing to 2040 Strategic Board to agree how we can work together to respond.

“Housing to 2040 remains our key overarching strategy that sets out a vision and roadmap to ensuring everyone has a safe, good quality and affordable home by 2040. That has not changed, however, we intend to review actions and priorities in the short term to respond to the housing emergency.

“I intend to provide Parliament with an update on the action we will take shortly.”

South Lanarkshire Council also passed motions calling on the new First Minister to respect the democratic mandate of local government and deliver fair funding, and also in support of a campaign on behalf of the local third sector.