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Council’s Housing and Environment directorate reports another successful year

The achievements of Aberdeen City Council’s Housing and Environment department have been mapped out in a new report by director Pete Leonard.

It presents the directorate’s highlights of 2011 which includes the completion of major housing projects, accolades for various departments and individuals and even the council’s continued success in the Loo of the Year Awards.

The document was welcomed by members of the Housing and Environment Committee when they met today [Tuesday 24 January].

Mr Leonard said: “Looking back on 2011, it’s fair to say that we should feel a sense of satisfaction about how our staff and the directorate as a whole have responded to some pretty significant challenges. So many areas of our business have continued to deliver high quality services, despite the budgetary pressures that so often seem to be the focus of attention. The fact people have continued to do their jobs to such a high standard says volumes about our workforce.”

Mr Leonard said the council’s response to last year’s extreme winter weather demonstrated the commitment of Housing and Environment staff.

He added: “We continued to provide a waste service, responded to hundreds of burst pipes in homes and properties, assisted roads colleagues in keeping icy paths safe and ensured that vulnerable people were being taken care of.”

The report shows that Aberdeen’s public conveniences continue to be maintained to the highest possible standard with the Upperkirkgate facility in particular being awarded the maximum five stars in the Loo of the Year Awards 2011.

Elsewhere, Aberdeen was awarded a Silver Gilt medal and named overall winner in the City Category in the annual Beautiful Scotland Awards. Five council staff received the prestigious Royal Horticultural Society’s Long Service Medal in 2011, recognising 40 years of continuous practical horticultural employment.

Aberdeen City Council’s commitment to building new council homes is also highlighted in the report. A total of 85 houses have been completed for phase one at Byron Court, Hayton Road and Rorie Court. The phase two development at Marchburn Park is well under way and will see an additional 35 new homes built. Phase three, at Oldcroft Gardens, Stockethill, will feature 31 properties.

Commenting on the report, Councillor Aileen Malone, convener of the Housing and Environment Committee, said: “The directorate had an extremely successful year in 2011 and this is apparent in the many awards bestowed upon staff and departments. The workforce must be commended for putting in such a huge effort in what has often been challenging circumstances. I am in no doubt 2012 will see similar successes and I look forward to seeing what will be achieved.”

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