WGHC scores another ‘first’ for our tenants
Following the success of the “Financial Foundations, Cost of Living” workshop delivered to WGHC tenants, RBS / NatWest visited our Boardroom again to deliver a “Fraud and Scams” workshop.
WGHC is the first registered social landlord in the UK to benefit from these workshops and the reaction and feedback from our tenants has helped RBS tailor the workshops to better suit people.
During a ‘round robin’ tour of Scotland, the RBS / NatWest Group Chief Executive, Mr. Paul Thwaite, spent 90mins at WGHC during the workshop and answering questions from WGHC tenants. That’s another ‘first’ both for WGHC and our tenants.
RBS have been so impressed with WGHC tenants, they wish to return and make a film promoting their
Emergency Contact Details
Financial Foundations programme. They are looking for volunteers from amongst the WGHC tenants who have already attended 1 or both of the workshops to appear in their promotional video.
There will be a mixture of ‘non-speaking’ and ‘speaking’ parts with filming in the WGHC Boardroom and maybe within Granton Mill Crescent and the play park. Filming is currently scheduled for Thursday 13 November 2025 (times to be agreed). Get in touch with Laura on the front desk if you wish to get in on the action!
➜ Aquarius ‘out of hours emergency’ repairs 0131 608 1447 ➜ Lothian Gas any gas emergency repair 0131 440 4666 ➜ Scottish Water emergencies 0800 0778 778
We (have to) charge… some others don’t
We offer a service to WGHC tenants whereupon a bulk uplift of unwanted items can be arranged (removal of floor coverings, some white goods, general waste, furniture items etc.) in accordance with Appendix 1, the schedule of rates for recharged repairs which is part of our debt management policy available via the WGHC website or in our office.
However, the City of Edinburgh Council will also undertake uplift of abandoned or dumped items –and this can be arranged by calling the waste and
environmental service on 0131 608 1100. This can also be arranged via their website: https://www. edinburgh.gov.uk/bins-recycling/request-collectionbulky-waste-items
In addition, if you have metal items and goods (scrap, bikes, steel, aluminium, copper, brass, washing machines, tumble dryers etc.) you can contact Ryley Recycling on 07940 215978. They will NOT collect fridges or freezers.
Problem with the pavement or road outside your house
If the pavement / path outside your garden is damaged, sinking or there is a problem with the road or drains collapsing or sinking, large potholes etc. – you can call the City of Edinburgh Council on
Your Committee
Your Committee work tirelessly in the best interests of all tenants, our homes and the estate in general. Unfortunately, we have lost some members lately and our number is now down to 9 x fully elected members.
Minutes of Committee meetings are published on our website and can be found here:
Your Committee members are:
Colin Fraser (Chair)
George Thomson
Morag Orr
0800 232323 in working hours, 0131 200 2000 outside of normal working hours, or via their website: https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/report-problem-road/ report-road-pavement-problem
https://www.westgrantonhousing.coop/about-wghc/ work-of-the-committee/
Please take the time to look and see the work and effort that Committee members and WGHC staff take in support of all WGHC tenants.
Lynn Jameson (Vice Chair)
Liz Robertson
Alan Lamont
Jim Hemphill
Amanda Aitchison
Elizabeth Stewart
We have 3 positions available on the Committee for co-optees, until the next round of elections in September 2026.
If you are interested in a position on the Committee and want to have a say in your local community, please contact Larke Adger, CEO or David Mills, COO – either of whom, will be delighted to help you. Please feel free to call on 0131 551 5035
Forth Quarter flats –cladding update
In the Spring Tenant Newsletter, we told you about a potential cladding issue with 45 of our flats across at Colonsay Close and Waterfront Park. This was as a result of the new Housing (Cladding Remediation) (Scotland) Act which came into effect on 6th January 2025, following the Grenfell Tower Tragedy.
We updated you further in the Summer Tenant Newsletter to inform you that we had been presented with unexpected, proposed costs of £3.6million to effect the necessary and required remedial works (to remove and replace the affected cladding).
After much campaigning, including having a crossparty group of MSPs assisting us and with even more liaison with the Scottish Government’s Cladding Remediation Directorate, WGHC has now been identified as a ‘pathfinder’ organisation enabling the Scottish Government a mechanism to fund the external cladding remediation works required to return the building to within a tolerable level.
As a show of further support, an offer of grant funding has been made available to undertake additional works and install a highly sophisticated wireless fire alarm system to the affected flats meaning if an alarm rings in one flat, it rings in all flats. This grant funding is c. £220k.
WGHC management have been in liaison with 3 x fire alarm specialists via the Scottish Procurement Alliance to ensure the installation meets the Scottish Government technical specification.
Both of the above bits of news are hugely important and should put WGHC in a better financial position than was being anticipated or expected.
In addition to the above, WGHC have self-funded a series of fire compartmentalisation works within the riser cupboards in the blocks and have almost completed a programme of works to the flat main doors (as all these doors are fire doors)
These works have been paid by WGHC and don’t warrant any support from Scottish Government. These works have, so far, cost c. £25k.
There are a number of measures still in place until such time that the cladding works are implemented and completed. These could take 2 to 3 years. In the interim, we have made changes to the bin stores to make them more secure, a higher frequency of staff attendance for estate inspection and stair inspections has been implemented, along with more testing of the alarm systems, dry risers, wet risers, automatic smoke vents, stair and landing checks etc. – all for the safety of the tenants who live within these affected blocks.
If you have any concerns, please contact the office on 0131 551 5035 and ask to speak with either the COO or CEO.
Out-of-office emergencies: 0131 608 1447
WGHC Annual Performance Report
The Housing (Scotland) Act 2010 introduced the Scottish Social Housing Charter. This was updated again in 2017. The Charter sets the standards and outcomes that all social landlords should aim to achieve.
As a social landlord we are responsible for meeting the standards and outcomes set out in the Scottish Social Charter.
Each year we are required to report to you how we have performed in delivering these outcomes and standards detailed in the Scottish Social Housing Charter. Along with your Newsletter this quarter, we are pleased to present a copy of our latest annual performance report on the Scottish Social Housing Charter 2024. A copy will be posted on our website too.
WGHC celebrates its 35th AGM
WGHC held its 35th Annual General Meeting on Saturday 6th September 2025 in the function hall of The Action Group local office (formerly the Prentice Centre). The rules of WGHC state that at least 10% of tenant members must attend for the meeting to proceed. This year, the meeting was incredibly well attended – which is testament to interest and support of the WGHC tenants.
A huge ‘thank you’ to all the WGHC tenant members who supported the Co-op by attending and to all those who organised proxies on their behalf. Well done to the £50 voucher winners as well.
WGHC is your co-op. You are the members. You are the ‘owners’. It has now been proven that, with some effort, the AGM can be an event for members to show their support for the co-op. This has enthused us to encourage and entice even more members to attend next year’s AGM. Aside from the statutory requirements that are fulfilled during the AGM, your Committee members were confirmed as was the auditor for the next year.
WGHC nominated for 2 awards!
WGHC has been nominated for 2 awards at the Social Enterprise Awards, Scotland:
➜ Inclusive and Democratic Business Model – Community Wealth Building
➜ The People’s Choice Award
The award ceremony takes place on Thursday 06 November 2025 – Fingers crossed we win one of the awards! We’ll post an article to the website.
