Angus Council has offered an olive branch to sheltered housing residents with a vow that it will try to retain their current tenancy support officers.
A full meeting of the council unanimously agreed to bring forward a working plan for existing tenancy support officers (TSOs) to be given the “best possible opportunity for continuity of employment”.
The plan will see them employed either with Angus Council, a social enterprise or through an arms length trading organisation.
The details will be considered by a new cross-party member officers group that will be chaired by the council’s chief executive, Richard Stiff, before being brought back to council committee.
A raft of other changes were agreed at the meeting, including a move for 210 of the 626 existing sheltered housing units to be designated as retirement housing.
Prior to the council meeting a protest involving around 40 people, including many sheltered housing residents, was held outside the council chambers in Forfar.
In December, a petition signed by more than 1,900 against the proposed changes to the tenancy support officers was submitted to Angus Council.
Montrose councillor David May said: “I hope this… will go a long way to reassure all stakeholders, especially residents in complexes, that the services they currently use will continue.
“Officers are instructed to bring forward a working plan or model whereby the existing TSOs are given the best possible opportunity to continue with the role they play to serve the residents.
“Can I lastly assure the residents that all of us are aware of the huge role TSOs play in their sheltered housing complexes.”
Arbroath councillor David Fairweather added: “I think this is a win win. It’s been a long, hard road and I can understand where the residents have come from. There’s been a lot of fear.
“Hopefully this will reassure the residents that we will work together with them to retain TSOs in some form. They do a fantastic job for our sheltered housing tenants.”
Forfar councillor Glennis Middleton asked that the new plan be completed in a timeous manner.
She added: “With regards to the wider consultation I think the tenants should be involved because it is their homes we are talking about.”
Councillor Euan Smith added: “A lot of times when you’re a councillor you have to stand here and make tough decisions. This was a very, very easy decision to make.
“I have not wavered at all about how I’ve felt about TSOs from the start. I’m glad we’ve come to some form of agreement on this.”
After the meeting sheltered housing resident Ted Smith, from Blackfriars Court in Montrose, said: “It’s a way forward as long as the council remembers to get the tenants involved.
“I’m happy with what was said today but we need to work together to make sure it does work.”