Housing, Dundee Contract Services And Environment Services Committee - 20/11/2000

At a MEETING of the HOUSING COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 20th November, 2000.

Present:-

COUNCILLORS

Councillor LUKE, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 30th October, 2000 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I NEW HOUSING PARTNERSHIPS 2000 - 2001

The Committee was advised that the Scottish Executive on 17th October, 2000 had confirmed that consent had been given to incur capital expenses for the development of the Government's New Housing Partnership Programme with grants available for:-

Financial Viability - Stock Transfer Option Appraisal 240,000

Ardler Regeneration 407,000

The Committee noted the position and agreed that completed monitors be returned to the Scottish Executive along with any other information requested, briefs be issued to consultants and a copy of the consultant's report with regard to the Financial Viability Study be sent to the Scottish Executive.

II ARDLER - A NEW BEGINNING (NEW HOUSING PARTNERSHIP)

(a) SALE OF SITE 1A TO WIMPEY HOMES

On a reference to Article III(a) of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 18th September, 2000, the Director of Housing reported that Wimpey Homes would be undertaking the demolition of properties at 213-385 Turnberry Avenue and 90-228 Rosemount Road and would be reimbursed for the demolition costs from the New Housing Partnership Allocation.

The Committee noted that the valuation for the site was 720,000 and the demolition costs would amount to 390,000.

(b) SALE OF SITE 1B TO SANCTUARY SCOTLAND HOUSING ASSOCIATION

On a reference to Article IX(b) of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 18th October, 2000, it was reported that as the majority of the land was covered by an outstanding binding agreement with Scottish Homes, disposal of the site would generate a small receipt to the Council of 157,000 which would be credited to the Ardler Community Facilities Budget.

III OFFICER'S APPROVALS

(a) NEW HOUSING PARTNERSHIPS - ARDLER ENABLING WORKS

The Director of Housing submitted Report No 650-2000 for the information of the Committee.

(b)NEW HOUSING PARTNERSHIPS - CITYWIDE STUDY - APPOINTMENT OF A CONSULTANT TO UNDERTAKE THE NEEDS/DEMAND/AFFORDABILITY STUDY

The Director of Housing submitted Report No 696-2000 for the information of the Committee.

IV DUNDEE SINGLE HOMELESS HOUSING STRATEGY REVIEW 2000

The Director of Housing submitted Report No 689-2000 reporting on progress and seeking the Committee's continued approval of the revised strategy produced in partnership by the Single Homeless Strategy Group and presenting the strategy's updated Action Plan for the period 2000 - 2002.

The Committee approved the Strategy and updated Action Plan.

V LIGHTNING PROTECTION (MULTI STOREY PROPERTIES)

The Committee agreed to accept an offer from the specialist contractor, Brooke Edgley Specialist Technical Services Ltd, amounting to 16,633 plus contingencies, for the upgrade of existing lightning protection systems on various multi-storey developments at 25 locations across the city.

VI DEMOLITION OF PROPERTIES AT 21-23 LINFIELD STREET, DUNDEE

The Director of Housing submitted Report No 700-2000 noting the demolition of the properties at the above addresses and requesting agreement to the remedial works at 25 Linfield Street and the post demolition environmental works in the vicinity of the above addresses.

The Committee:-

(a)noted the necessity for the City Engineer to demolish the properties at 21 and 23 Linfield Street;

(b)agreed to reinstate the property at 25 Linfield Street to a habitable conditions;

(c)agreed to carry out post demolition works at these addresses;

(d)agreed to carry out any necessary repairs to neighbouring properties;

(e)agreed to the removal of 21 and 23 Linfield Street from the Housing Department letting stock; and

(f)agreed to the suspension of the Housing Department Letting Regulations and to afford the Director of Housing discretionary powers to respond to the rehousing requirements of the household occupants of 21, 23 and 25 Linfield Street.

Councillor Petrie expressed his appreciation for the sympathetic help of the Director of Housing's staff and the Police involved in the incident. The Convener also thanked Councillor Petrie for his own efforts in helping the occupants involved.

VII FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR DUNDEE HOUSING AID CENTRE

The Director of Housing reported that Shelter Scotland had requested a financial contribution towards the operation of the Dundee Housing Aid Centre.

The Committee agreed to a contribution of 700.

VIII FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION FOR TENANTS' INFORMATION SERVICE

The Director of Housing reported that the Tenants' Information Service had requested a contribution towards the provision of advice, information and training to tenants in Dundee.

The Committee agreed to a contribution of 5,000.

IX EVALUATION OF HOUSING FOR OLDER PEOPLE IN ANGUS, DUNDEE AND PERTH AND KINROSS

It was reported that the City Council along with Scottish Homes, Angus Council and Perth and Kinross Council had agreed to undertake a study to evaluate the accommodation available for older people in the Tayside area and how well these had met older peoples' needs.

The research would be co-ordinated by Scottish Homes on behalf of the funding partners and tenders would be invited for consultants to undertake the project with a view to the study being undertaken between November 2000 and February 2001.

The Committee noted the aims of the study and that the Housing Department had agreed to contribute up to 2,000 from the Housing Revenue Account.

X DUDHOPE COURT MSD - HEATING REPLACEMENT AND ELECTRICAL UPGRADE AND SECURITY INITIATIVE

The City Architectural Services Officer reported that D H Morris, the principal contractor, had proposed the undernoted sub-contractors:-

Hall & Tawse - Builder/Painter

G S White, Monifieth - Plumber

Scotshield - CCTV/Access

D Brader - Plasterer

E Scott - Carpets

The Committee approved accordingly.

XI TENDERS RECEIVED

(a) TENDERS RECEIVED BY CITY ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES OFFICER

The City Architectural Services Officer submitted Report No 718-2000 giving details of the offers received for the undernoted contracts:-

(i) 104 Dunholm Road - Reinstatement of Fire Damage, etc

The Committee agreed to accept a negotiated offer with Dundee Contract Services to carry out the above work for the sum of 42,606.43 to which required to be added an allowance of 7,686 for professional services making a total expenditure of 50,292.43.

The Committee also noted that Dundee Contract Services had listed McGill Electrical Ltd as the sub-contractor for electrical work.

(ii) Hilltown West Phases 3, 4 and 5 Window Replacement

The Committee agreed to accept a negotiated offer with Dundee Contract Services to carry out the above work for the sum of 175,212.73 to which required to be added an allowance of 6,760 for professional services making a total expenditure of 181,972.73.

(b) TENDERS RECEIVED BY CITY ENGINEER

The City Engineer submitted Report No 720-2000 giving details of the offers received for the undernoted contracts

(i) Kingsway East Environmental Improvements

The Committee agreed to accept the lowest offer by T & N Gilmartin amounting to 295,514.92 to which required to be added the undernoted allowances:-

Making a total expenditure of 370,000.

The Committee also noted that T & N Gilmartin had listed W H Brown, Alpha Fencing Ltd and Angus Decorating Ltd as sub-contractors.

(ii) 37-90 Aberlady Crescent - Demolition

The Committee agreed to accept the lowest offer by Central Demolition amounting to 51,528.00 to which required to be added the undernoted allowances:-

Making a total expenditure of 99,028.

(iii) 19-54 Hollyblue Court - Demolition

The Committee agreed to accept the lowest offer by Central Demolition amounting to 41,120.00 to which required to be added the undernoted allowances:-

Making a total expenditure of 75,520.

(c) I AFTON PLACE DEMOLITION

The City Engineer submitted Report No 734-2000 giving details of offers received to carry out the above works.

The Committee agreed to accept the lowest offer by Safedem Limited amounting to 22,922 to which required to be added the following allowances:-

Making a total expenditure of 29,322.

XII SOLACE AND CHARTERED INSTITUTE OF HOUSING SEMINAR "STOCK TRANSFER - DOES IT ADD UP?" - 29TH NOVEMBER 2000 - DUNDEE

The Committee agreed that any interested member be authorised to attend the above seminar.

XIII HOUSING (SCOTLAND) ACT 1987 - IMPROVEMENT, REPAIRS AND ENVIRONMENTAL GRANTS, HOME LOANS, ETC

Reference was made to the minute of meeting of the Housing Committee of 15th November, 1999, when grant expenditure under the Housing (Non HRA) Budget was agreed.

It was agreed that the grants approved during October 2000 in each of the categories were as follows:-

* May include commercial premises

XIV ROUGH SLEEPERS INITIATIVE - AWARDS TO PROJECTS

The Committee noted that following successful co-ordination by the Housing Department, a total of 84,259 had been awarded to nine Dundee projects from Tayside Health Board's allocation of resources through the Rough Sleepers initiative (RSI) as undernoted:-

a) The Wishart Centre, Constable Street

Alterations to Toilets 7,156.00

b) The Corner, Young Persons' Health & Information Project

Young Mens' Lifeskills Training 15,850.00

c) Salvation Army, Strathmore Lodge, Ward Road

Wheelchair Access & Level Access Showers 14,996.47

d) Salvation Army, Strathmore Lodge, Ward Road

Fitness Equipment, Lighting & Ventilation 1,989.87

e) Positive Steps Partnership, Dispersed leased flats

White goods and showers 17,100.00

f) Community Chiropody, City centre hostels

Footbaths and Sterilising Equipment 5,218.00

g) Dundee Survival Group, Foundry Lane

Beds, Hoist 5,558.93

h) Salvation Army, Clement Park House

Shower Cubicle & Overbath Shower 2,850.00

i) DCC Housing Department

Hospital Discharge Protocols 13,540.00

TOTAL 84,259.27

These resources would enable the above projects to contribute to achieving the goals of Dundee's Single Homeless Housing Strategy. This most recent award brought the total RSI funding attracted to the city to over 1.5 M.

IAIN LUKE, Convener.