ANCHO and Cairn Housing Association are working together on a potential partnership which, if supported by ANCHO tenants, would see the Irvine based housing association become part of a larger Cairn Group with around 4,000 homes across Scotland.  ANCHO tenants are now being asked for their views on the proposed partnership, with ANCHO aiming to ask tenants to vote in a ballot on the final proposal in early 2018.
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A panel of tenant volunteers supported by the Tenant Information Service (TIS) who have been appointed to provide independent advice to tenants has already met with ANCHO staff to help shape the plans ahead of two open events planned for later this month at the Redburn Community Centre where ANCHO tenants can meet with staff from both organisations.

Mags Lightbody, ANCHO interim Director, said;
“A new look ANCHO, within the Cairn Group, would be just like the ANCHO we know but even better.  This partnership would allow us to accelerate investment on homes and the environment with £3.2m extra money to spend on tenants priorities, it would deliver lower and guaranteed rent increases for the next 5 years to ensure rents remain affordable and it would also ensure a continued local presence with ANCHO staff based right here in Irvine.  Working with Cairn would allow us to become more efficient and open up the exciting possibility of building much needed new affordable homes in Ayrshire.”

ANCHO tenants are invited to attend a choice of 2 information and consultation events which will be held on the 17th and 31st August from 3.30pm to 6pm at the Redburn Community Centre.  Any tenants who can’t make it along to either of the events, but would like to hear more about the proposed partnership can call ANCHO on 01294 313 121, email on mail@ancho.co.uk  , speak to any of the staff team or call TIS for independent advice on Freephone 0800 731 3772.

Jackie Browne, Chair of the ANCHO Management Board said;
“We’re really looking forward to putting the case for the partnership to our tenants.  We’d encourage as many people as possible to come along and chat to our staff and the team from Cairn so they can make an informed choice on ANCHO’s future when the proposal goes to a ballot.  They’re sure to be lively and informative afternoons and we hope to see a big turnout.  The tenants we’ve spoken to have been enthusiastic and this is a great opportunity for everyone to get involved and share their ideas about what is most important to our tenants and communities.”

At a meeting of ANCHO’s Management Board on 26 January 2017, the Board agreed to withdraw ANCHO’s application for the Community Asset Transfer of Redburn Community Centre at this time.  No further comment will be made in this regard. 

ANCHO and Cairn Housing Association are formally exploring the establishment of a constitutional partnership which will have a total of 4200 homes under management across 22 local authorities.  The potential partnership would increase the financial and business resilience of the combined organisations and put in place an important new housing group in the Scottish sector.
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In a joint statement from the ANCHO Chair Jackie Brown and Cairn’s Chair Simon Guest, they said:

The prospective partnership between ANCHO and Cairn will bring considerable new investment into the Ayrshire economy, a continued local service based in the community and a guarantee to keep rents affordable.  The partnership also offers the potential capacity for building much needed new homes in Ayrshire.

Subject to due diligence, detailed work on the business case, a positive outcome of a ballot of ANCHO tenants, and final partnership agreement being reached, it is anticipated that there could be significant advantages to ANCHO tenants and the local community.  Indicatively, these benefits could include :-

• An additional £2.2m to invest in improvements to ANCHO properties, including energy efficiency measures and early replacement of kitchens and bathrooms
• A continued ANCHO presence locally, with delegated local decision-making
• An additional £1m to invest in environmental improvements within ANCHO estates
• A rent guarantee of inflation-only rent increases of CPI for 5 years

There will be full consultation with ANCHO’s and Cairn’s tenants over the coming months and any final proposed partnership will depend upon regulatory approval, Board approvals, lender consents and the outcome of a ballot of ANCHO tenants next Summer 2017.

Our 16th Annual General Meeting took place on Wednesday, 24 August 2016, in the Board Room, Sovereign House, Irvine.

As usual all ANCHO Members were invited and the meeting was also open to the general public.

At the AGM, the Members received reports from ANCHO’s Chair and from our Auditor.
Members then elected Board Members to fill some of the available vacancies on our Management Board.

​ANCHO’s new Management Board for 2016/17 are:

ANCHO’s 10th annual Community Fun Day was held at Redburn Community Centre on 12 August 2016.  A combination of fun and access to a wide range of information about services and initiatives within the area, it was attended by almost 120 people, despite the weather not being the best on the day. 

With all activities indoors due to the weather, there were bouncy castles, facepainter, balloon artist, music therapy and an extensive range of stalls giving health, money and other advice and tips. 

If you weren’t there, you missed out – remember to come next year!