Housing, Dundee Contract Services And Environment Services Committee - 18/02/2002

At a MEETING of the HOUSING COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 18th February 2002.

Present:-

COUNCILLORS

Councillor SHIMI, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 28th January 2002 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I HOUSE LETTING REGULATIONS - HOUSING (SCOTLAND) ACT 2001

The Director of Housing submitted Report No 134-2002 seeking approval to make the necessary amendments to the House Letting Regulations to ensure that they complied with the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001.

The Committee approved the changes outlined in Section 7 of the report and agreed that the House Letting Regulations Booklet be rewritten to reflect the new legislative requirements.

II HOUSING DEPARTMENT PRIVATE SECTOR GRANT UNIT AND HOUSING ACTION AREA SECTION - REVIEW OF ESTABLISHMENT

The Director of Housing and the Director of Personnel and Management Services submitted Joint Report No 3-2002 advising the Committee of the findings and recommendations emanating from a review of the Private Sector Grants Unit and Housing Action Area Section of the Housing Department.

The Committee approved:-

(a)the proposed staffing structure in Appendix 1 of the report;

(b)the deletion of a post of Housing Officer, AP3 SCP23-26 (16,173 - 17,796);

(c)the deletion of two posts of Clerical Officer, GS3 SCP13-15 (12,624 - 13,164); and

(d)the deletion of a post of Clerical Officer, GS1/2 SCP3-12 (9,180 - 12,399).

III TENANTS' ALLOWANCES

The Committee noted that this report had been withdrawn by the Director of Housing.

IV SINGLE HOMELESS AND YOUTH HOUSING STRATEGIES 1998/2001 UPDATE AND INTEGRATION INTO HOMELESSNESS STRATEGY 2003/2006

The Director of Housing submitted Report No 58-2002 reporting progress on existing homeless strategies and describing the requirements to produce a Homelessness Strategy in line with the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 and proposing that the Single Homeless and Youth Housing Strategies be integrated into the required Homelessness Strategy 2003/2006.

The Committee (a) acknowledged the success of the Single Homeless and Youth Housing Strategies 1998/2001, produced and implemented in partnership with the Single Homeless and Youth Housing Strategy Groups, (b) noted the requirements to produce a comprehensive Homelessness Strategy as set out in the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001, and (c) approved the proposal to incorporate the Single Homeless and Youth Strategies into the comprehensive Homelessness Strategy required under the new housing legislation.

V CITYWIDE COMMUNAL CLEANING

On a reference to Article I of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 17th November 1997 the Director of Housing submitted Report No 152-2002 seeking approval to pursue communal cleaning citywide through an external contract with Tayside Contracts.

The Committee agreed:-

(a)to pursue pro-actively citywide communal cleaning in all areas where there was some degree of Council ownership, subject to obtaining the prescribed levels of approval for each individual communal block of properties: this would be 50% of properties which must include 100% approval from any owner/occupier within the communal block;

(b)that negotiations be entered into with Tayside Contracts to provide a workforce to carry out a communal cleaning contract, subject to being at a competitive cost over a prescribed contract period;

(c)that staff currently operating in these areas be redeployed within the Housing Department in accordance with the Council's redeployment policy: the existing posts (two) of Manual Grade 3 would be deleted from the Housing Department structure;

(d)that the Director of Housing include communal cleaning as part of the new tenancy agreement under the "Scottish Secure Tenancy ?" when the communal property has previously been part of the scheme or is intended to become part of the scheme; and

(e)that a standard specification, including bin store cleaning and returning of wheelie bins, be negotiated with Tayside Contracts.

VI PITCH RENTS - TRAVELLING PEOPLE'S SITE - BALMUIR WOOD

On a reference to Article VI of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 19th March, 2001, the Committee agreed that pitch rents be increased by 1.45 per week for the financial year 2002/2003.

VII COMMUNITY ASSOCIATIONS AND GROUPS - ADMINISTRATION GRANTS

The Director of Housing reported that the undernoted applications had been received requesting grant assistance towards administration costs for 2001/2002 as undernoted:-

The Committee approved accordingly.

VIII HOUSING (SCOTLAND) ACT 1987, SECTION 108 - REPAIRS NOTICES - ADMINISTRATION FEES

The Director of Housing reported that it was proposed that in the Repairs Notice Default Contracts the level of administration fee on accounts to owners should be increased from the present level of 5% for full default contracts and 7?% for part default. Owners who paid in full in advance would be charged at the lower rate of 5% and owners paying some or none of the costs in advance would be charged pro-rata to a maximum of 12?% to reflect the higher administrative costs involved.

The Committee authorised the Director of Housing to charge the amended fees.

IX KIRKTON HOUSING SECURITY LIGHTING - PHASE 3

On a reference to Article I of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 29th October 2001 the Director of Housing reported that in order to maximise expenditure in the financial year it was recommended that the works be undertaken as an extension to the main contract for Kirkton Housing Security Improvements Phase 3 currently on site.

The Committee agreed to accept the offer by T & N Gilmartin (Contractors) Limited, Lighting Section, to carry out the extension to the contract for the sum of 52,488.73 to which required to be added allowances of 7,511.27 for fees and contingencies, making a total expenditure of 60,000.

X SOUTH ROAD E

 

The Director of Housing reported that proposals had been prepared for carrying out environmental improvement works to properties in South Road and Dunholm Terrace.

 

The Committee agreed to accept a negotiated offer from T & N Gilmartin (Contractors) Limited to carry out the first phase of work amounting to 37,870.90 to which required to be added allowances of 6,000 for professional fees and 6,129.10 for contingencies, making an overall expenditure of 50,0000.

 

XI AMENITY PARKING AT HALDANE AVENUE

 

On a reference to Article I of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 29th October 2001 the Director of Housing reported that an offer had been negotiated with T & N Gilmartin (Contractors) Limited to carry out the above works for the sum of 20,287.72 to which required to be added allowances of 2,000 for professional fees and 4,112.28 for contingencies, making an overall expenditure of 26,400.

 

XII SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE CENTRAL HEATING INITIATIVE

 

On a reference to Article V of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 20th August 2001 the Committee noted that the undernoted contracts had now been let:-

 

Development	Contractor	Total Amount
Mains of Fintry 1st and 2nd Developments Heating Installation (88 houses)	CFM Building Services Ltd, Carluke	300,095.00
Mains of Fintry 3rd and 4th Developments Heating Installation (85 houses)	CFM Building Services Ltd, Carluke	291,084.00
Hilltown Terrace and McDonald Street Development Heating Installation (25 houses)	Skillbase, Livingston	88,899.00

 

Development	Contractor	Total Amount
Douglas and Angus 2nd Development Electric Heating Installation (29 houses)	Dundee Contract Services	81,078.00
Douglas and Angus 2nd Development Gas Heating Installation (69 houses)	McGill Electrical Ltd, Dundee	256,547.00

 

XIII SHELTER SCOTLAND - HOUSING ALLOCATIONS AND CHOICE SEMINAR - 25TH MARCH 2002 - GLASGOW

 

The Committee authorised the attendance of the Convener, or her nominee, at the above conference.

 

XIV FUNDING FOR STARTER PACKS, DUNDEE

 

It was reported that Starter Packs Dundee, a local charity, which assisted homeless people to move into Council, Housing Association and private sector accommodation requested support from the Housing Department to produce starter and bedding packs which included duvets, pillows and kettles.

 

The Committee agreed to make a funding contribution of 200 to Starter Parks Dundee.

 

XV TENDERS RECEIVED

 

(a)The City Architectural Services Officer submitted Report No 109-2002 giving details of offers received for the undernoted contracts:-

 

(i)Various Properties - Replacement Windows

 

The Committee agreed to accept a negotiated offer by Dundee Contract Services to carry out the above works for the sum of 25,500 to which required to be added an allowance of 2,097 for professional services, making a total expenditure of 27,597.

 

(ii)Housing Estates (Various) - Stair Lighting - 2001/2002

 

The Committee agreed to accept the lowest offer by Maclin Electric Limited, Musselburgh, to carry out the above works for the sum of 45,530.95 to which required to be added allowances of 18,550 for electric connection charges and 4,415 for professional services, making a total expenditure of 68,495.95.

 

(b)The City Engineer submitted Report No 69-2002 giving details of offers received to carry out demolition at 12 Gourdie Street.

 

The Committee agreed to accept the lowest offer by Trojan Metals Limited amounting to 20,285 to which required to be added the undernoted allowances:-

 

Public Utilities	350.00
Landscaping	750.00
Planning Supervisor	300.00
Professional Fees	2,100.00
Total	3,500.00

 

making a total expenditure of 23,785.

 

XVI 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 January 2002 in each of the categories were as follows:-

 

Category	Amount of Grant Approved	No of Dwellings
Housing Action Areas	0	0
Repairs Notices and other Statutory Notices	60,323	83*
Improvements/Repairs and Conversions within the City Centre	25,200	5
BTS Improvement/Repair	0	0
Disabled Adaptations	0	0
Care and Repair	0	0
Serious Disrepair	0	0
Mutual Repairs	2,068	2
Ex Council (Capital Project)	8,762	6
Windows	0	0
Removal of Lead Plumbing	1,436	2
Rewiring	1,646	2
Environmental	0	0
Discretionary Improvements	0	0
Discretionary Repairs	18,707	16
Energy Efficiency	788	1
HMOs (Fire Escapes)	1,153	2
TOTAL	120,083	119

 

* May include commercial premises.

 

The Committee resolved, under Section 50(A)(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, that the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the undernoted item of business on the grounds that it involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 6 and 9 of Part I of Schedule 7(A) of the Act.

 

XVII 40 UNION STREET

 

The Director of Economic Development reported that three offers had been received for the second floor flat at 40 Union Street.

 

It was also reported for the information of the Committee that, after consultation with the Convener and Spokespersons from the Opposition Groups the Director of Supports Services had been requested to conclude the necessary legal formalities in respect of the highest offer and, in the event that this transaction was not completed for any reason, to conclude a sale to the second highest offerer.

 

 

 

 

JILL SHIMI, Convener.