Audit Scotland has praised Orkney Islands Council's 'well-developed local housing strategy' in a report for the Accounts Commission.

The report states that the council has a well-developed local housing strategy which focuses on the need to ensure an adequate supply of affordable housing.

However, it performs less well in its housing landlord service. Communities Scotland's inspection found the management of the housing service was 'fair', while they rated the repairs and homelessness services as 'poor'.

The council has a clear action plan to address identified weaknesses. The council's local housing strategy focuses on the need to ensure an adequate supply of affordable housing to sustain communities.


Gross expenditure on council housing for 2000/2007 was £1.7m, which is met from rents and other income. Net expenditure on other housing functions for the same period was around £300,000, mainly relating to homelessness services. The council has fully paid off its capital housing debt.

Accounts Commission Chairman, John Baillie said: "We welcome the extent of the council's community engagement and its financial planning and sustainability and we acknowledge its level of self-awareness and culture of openness."

Alistair Buchan, Council's Chief Executive said: "The report is an independent way of identifying the things we do well and the ways we can improve our services. It largely confirms our own views of our strengths and the areas where improvement is needed and in many cases already underway.

"It also confirms the commitment and hard work of the Council's employees which clearly sends out the message to people in Scotland and beyond that Orkney is a good place to live and work."

(GK/JM)