Dundee City Council's housing department has met most targets in an action plan to improve services in the city.

The council's housing, Dundee Contract Services and environment services committee will on Monday 26 April be discussing a progress report on an improvement plan agreed following an inspection by the Scottish Housing Regulator.

The report states that 76% of actions due to be completed by last month have been carried out, and progress was being made on the remainder.

Housing Convener Councillor Jimmy Black said: "We set up a special working group of tenants, councillors, officials and Shelter to scrutinise progress, and this group has been very effective at holding officers and the Administration to account. The group has heard detailed presentations from staff about improvements to rent collection, the homelessness service, a better standard for relets and many other issues.

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"A good example is our record on carrying out gas safety checks within 12 months. The council was roundly criticised by the Regulator for not getting all our gas safety checks done on time. Now we're hitting 100%.

"Everyone is determined that the Regulator will have nothing to complain about in future inspections, and the staff are working hard to that end. It's not just about ticking the Regulator's boxes. By the end of this process - in September 2011 - all our systems will be more efficient and cost effective. The service we offer tenants, housing applicants and homeless people will be considerably improved."

The improvement plan was agreed by the housing regulator last September, and regular updates on progress are presented to councillors.

(CD/GK)