Fife Council has called for the Scottish Government to look at ways of significantly improving legislation that deals with Dilapidated Properties and take a stronger stand to fixing the issue.

In a letter to the Minister for Planning & Local Government, Derek McKay, Councillor Lesley Laird – who is an executive member for Business, Enterprise, Economy & Planning – said that while changes to the Building (Scotland) Action 2003 are proposed in relation to cost recovery, there is a concern that the changes do not go far enough.

Councillor Laird explained: "There are a number of aspects in the report that simply do not reflect our experience in Fife. Local people and businesses are fed up with these eyesore properties in their communities. They feel they detract from their local amenities and area – and you cannot disagree with that view."

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Earlier this month, a new plan to save Scotland's town centres was unveiled via the National Review of Town Centres. The report, which was commissioned by the Scottish Government and chaired by architect Malcolm Fraser, found that public bodies should put town centres first in their decision-making, with a mix of leisure, public facilities and homes being needed in the areas.

However, Councillor Laird added that while the report "offers some good ideas", "for many businesses who are trying to trade next to one of these dilapidated properties it simply detracts from their own business image and trading amenity and does not help our efforts in terms of town centre regeneration.

"At the present time, unless the owner is prepared to come to the table and work with the Council, then in effect the Council is left as 'banker of last resort'."

Ms Laird explained: "At a time of on-going budget cuts this approach is an unfair burden and risk on Council finances. Even getting to the point where the Council can take action just takes too long and successful cost recovery is poor. The current raft of legislation is too cumbersome. We are asking the Scottish Government to simplify this and give local authorities a stronger remit in terms of early sanction and fines for errant property owners.

"Fife Council is taking a very proactive approach to this issue. We have offered to meet and work with the Scottish Government to streamline the approach and provide stronger and more effective powers for local authorities to deal with these eyesore properties."

(JP/MH)