Ministers are promising to map out a new future for public housing next week, in the wake of the publication of the first in-depth assessment of Glasgow Housing Association's performance.

The Communities Scotland report, which followed a two-month evaluation of GHA, said that it had accomplished enough in its four-year history to label its performance "fair", third place on a four-point scale which runs from "excellent" to "poor".

However, the report said the public housing body should carry out a fundamental rethink of its purpose, including an attempt to better understand the views of tenants.

The report was accepted by ministers, but it was made clear that there would be a change in approach next week. "This report looks back at stock transfer and draws a line under that policy," said a spokesman. "Next week we will look forward to dealing with the bigger issue."

Communities Minister Stewart Maxwell said: "I welcome this thorough and impartial report. We will be studying it in detail over the coming weeks."

He added: "However, it is immediately clear the previous administration failed to put in place a coherent long-term plan when the GHA was created."

It is understood Mr Maxwell, Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and Colin Deans, Glasgow City Council's SNP group spokesman on housing, met on Monday to discuss how the party would react to the report, with the role of Wendy Alexander in the setting up of the GHA the main topic of conversation.

There has also been speculation the report was made public earlier than originally intended to coincide with next week's housing debate and as a potential dampen on Ms Alexander's honeymoon period.

One window into the thinking of the SNP government on breaking the impasse on second stage transfer (SST) was provided by Alex Neil MSP, a long-term watcher of housing issues in Glasgow. He blamed Communities Scotland and the previous coalition administration for failing to fund SST, and said the deadlock may be broken by a trade-off.

Mr Neil said: "The government has little option but to intervene in Glasgow's housing problems. But it may come down to funding either secondary transfer or more investment in housing stock. With the tight spending review it is unlikely to be both."

Mr Maxwell added: "The clock is ticking - GHA now has eight weeks to produce a comprehensive improvement plan that addresses the concerns highlighted in the report.

"I will ensure MSPs have an early opportunity to give this important issue the prominence it deserves."

Shadow communities minister Johann Lamont said: "The SNP now has a responsibility to take that work forward, to find solutions to the challenges and to insist that the GHA shift from using all its energy to explaining why nothing can be done - despite record investment and real talent and expertise across Glasgow - to being an organisation that will work with others to act and think creatively in the interests of Glasgow tenants and communities."

Frank McAveety, the Glasgow Labour MSP and now shadow sports minister, said: "As an advocate of community ownership I want to get to second stage transfer as soon as possible. "

Bill Aitken, Conservative MSP for Glasgow, said: "We supported the transfer of housing stock to the GHA on the basis it would be transferred efficiently and rapidly to local housing associations. This report confirms the urgent need for that still to happen."

GHA chief executive Taroub Zahran declined to comment on the housing minister's views but said: "The purpose of GHA is to serve the tenants of Glasgow, to ensure they have warm, dry and secure homes. This is what we've worked tirelessly for, it has always been our focus and I don't expect that to change."