LHS: 02 The Strategic Planning Framework (page 1)

The Programme for Government 'A Partnership for a Better Scotland: Partnership Agreement' sets out the Scottish Government's aims to improve the quality of life for all in Scotland. The commitments most relevant to housing and wider regeneration are to:

• Regenerate our communities, with the aim of building safe, strong communities.
• Deliver good quality, sustainable and affordable housing for all, with a renewed commitment to have a national housing quality standard.
• Work with communities to improve their standard of living.
• Support the voluntary sector.

The Scottish Government's Social Justice Agenda aims to tackle poverty and disadvantage and create sustainable and balanced communities by improving individuals' health, education, employment and housing opportunities. To ensure everyone has access to suitable housing, the Scottish Government has set five national housing objectives. These are:

• Tackling homelessness.
• Reducing the number of households in Scotland that live in fuel poverty.
• Reducing the number of houses with poor energy efficiency.
• Reducing the number of houses below the Tolerable Standard.
• Delivering the new Scottish Social Housing Standard, particularly through community ownership.

The Council has previously, and in future will consider, transferring stock where this helps achieve the necessary investment and has community support. However, following a comprehensive Stock Option Appraisal, the Council has decided not to transfer all of its stock. The Council is able to undertake the necessary investment in its own stock and there was no demonstrable tenant support for stock transfer (see Appendices 4 and 5).

There are several national and regional plans, strategies and policies, which also influence this Strategy. These include:

• Housing (Scotland) Act 2001.
• Local Government (Scotland) Act 2003.
• Homelessness Task Force reports and Homelessness (Scotland) Act 2003.
• Community Care and Health (Scotland) Act 2002, Joint Future Agenda.
• Regulation of Care (Scotland) Act 2001.
• Scottish Government's Fuel Poverty Statement.
• Scottish Government's Housing Improvement Task Force Report.
• Scottish Government's A Scotland Where Everyone Matters.
• Communities Scotland's Clydeside and Lanarkshire Housing Market Context Statements.
• Communities Scotland's Community Regeneration Statement.
• Greater Glasgow and Lanarkshire NHS Boards' Homelessness and Health Action Plans.
• Scottish Enterprise Lanarkshire's Changing Gear Towards 2010.
• NHS Lanarkshire and Glasgow's Health Improvement Plans.
• Glasgow and Clyde Valley Structure Plan.