Stirling Council’s Housing Service scoops prestigious COSLA prize

Stirling Council’s Housing Service has won a COSLA 2023 Excellence Award in recognition of an innovative project that improves the health of homes and tenants.

Officers from Stirling Council's housing service are joined by Council Leader, Chris Kane, Community Wellbeing and Housing Convener Cllr Gerry McGarvey, Joe FitzPatrick MSP and broadcaster, Sally Magnusson at the COSLA 2023 Excellence awards
Stirling Council leader Chris Kane, Stephen Clark, Chief Officer, Housing (3rd left), Cllr Gerry McGarvey (2nd right), Stirling Council Housing service officers, Joe FitzPatrick MSP & Sally Magnusson

The service was presented with the Scottish Government Delivering Excellence Award last Thursday (28 Sept) for its Healthier Homes Project, which was also a finalist in the Service Innovation and Improvement category.

Healthier Homes sees environmental sensors installed in an increasing number of council properties. The sensors monitor ambient conditions such as air quality, temperature and condensation, with the information being made available to both individual tenants as well as Housing Service maintenance officers.

Innovative reporting system

The innovative reporting system enables staff to proactively respond to any issues arising from condensation, damp and mould and reduce negative impacts on tenants. The data also identifies the least energy-efficient homes and allows improvements that can be made, such as using solar technology.

Community Wellbeing and Housing Convener, Cllr Gerry McGarvey said: “I’m incredibly proud of our Housing Service for earning national recognition at the COSLA 2023 Excellence Awards for this outstanding project.

“The Healthier Homes Project makes a substantial difference in how our council properties are maintained, using modern tech to identify and proactively respond to issues caused by damp, mould and condensation. This in turn reduces any potential impacts on the health of our tenants.

“A huge congratulations to all our staff involved in delivering this innovative project that is making a real difference to people’s lives across Stirling.”  

The COSLA Excellence Awards celebrate the very best of Scottish Local Government, with the event held at the Crieff Hydro.

Scotland’s 32 Councils were invited over the summer to submit entries to a judging panel comprising a number of experts across local and national government as well as the private sector.

More than 200 applications were received, and the judges had the unenviable task of choosing just five category winners, as well as the winners of four special awards, including the Scottish Government Delivering Excellence Award.