Housing, Dundee Contract Services And Environment Services Committee - 18/03/2002

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

Present:-

COUNCILLORS

Councillor SHIMI, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 18th February, 2002 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

ITENANTS' ALLOWANCES

 

On a reference to Article I of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 19th February, 2001 the Director of Housing submitted Report No. 116-2002 updating allowances in line with inflation.

 

The Committee approved the recommendations of the report with effect from 1st April, 2002.

 

IILEASED HEATING FOR COUNCIL HOUSING

 

The Director of Housing submitted Report No. 165-2002 recommending that the Council enter into a contract agreement with a specialised leasing finance company and heating contractors to lease the moveable elements of the Housing Department's replacement heating programme to make savings of approximately 2.132m to the capital budget in 2002/03.

 

The Committee agreed:-

 

(a)to leasing of heating systems due to be funded from the City Council's "Heating for All Programme".

 

(b)officers from the Housing Department, in conjunction with the City Architectural Services Officer, the Finance Department and the Legal Department seek tenders from leasing companies and providers to procure leasing finance with the results being reported to a future Housing Committee for approval. The Committee also agreed to appoint the successful leasing Finance Company and report to this Committee retrospectively on the successful provider appointed.

 

(c)to the Leasing Company link to the partnership being developed with four contractors installing the central heating forming the 2002/2003 programme.

 

(d)the new Scottish Secure Tenancy for Dundee City Council tenants include a clause reflecting that the finance company has a right to remove the leased heating system if the Council defaults on the lease charges.

(e)the possibility of leasing electrical central heating be considered for future financial years.

 

(f)application be made to Transco to partake in the affordable warmth scheme thus ensuring that any residual value after the first ten years of leasing be underwritten.

 

IIIAT RISK HOUSING

 

On a reference to Article V of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 19th January, 1998 the Director of Housing reported that the At Risk Working Group had recommended that the undernoted properties be regarded as At Risk of being demolished due to lack of demand, being mainly two-apartment housing of which there had been no express demand and at least 85% of the void houses had been empty in excess of six months:-

 

						Void		Occupied
3, 5, 7		Cumnock Place		18 x 2 apts		11 (61%)		7
23, 25		Honeygreen Road		12 x 2 apts		10 (83%)		2
10, 11, 18		Gruinard Terrace		31 x 2 apts		10 (31%)		21
1, 2, 3, 4		Lewis Terrace		32 x 2 apts		10 (62%)		12
1, 2		Mull Terrace		24 x 2 apts		18 (75%		6
1, 2, 5, 6		Uist Terrace		48 x 2 apts		22 (45%)		26
11, 12, 13		Colonsay Terrace		11 x 3 apts		9 (80%)		2
				6 x 4 apts		6 (100%)		0
		TOTAL		182		106		76

 

The Committee remitted to the officers to undertake consultation with residents of each of the above locations to identify their views about potential demolition of properties with a report being presented to Committee for consideration.

 

The Committee noted the properties and remitted to the Director of Housing to stop letting properties at these addresses and to seek Council Tax exemption on all current vacant and new vacant (as they occur) properties within these addresses.

 

IVCONCRETE REPAIRS - UNDERGROUND GARAGES - DERBY STREET MSD

On a reference to Article IV(a) of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 15th October, 2001 when approval was given for MacKenzie Construction Limited to carry out concrete repairs at an overall cost of 46,882.16, the Committee noted that extensive additional structural defects of the reinforced concrete structures had been uncovered during the works.

To maintain the structural integrity of the structure the Director of Housing had instructed the City Engineer to undertake the necessary additional works which were liable to be in the region of 30,000 and exact costs would be reported to a future meeting of this Committee.

V CHARTERED INSTITUTE OF HOUSING CONFERENCE - BEYOND THE BOUNDARIES - 11-14 JUNE, 2002 - HARROGATE

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

VITENDERS RECEIVED

 

The City Architectural Services Officer submitted Report No. 204-2002 giving details of offers received for the undernoted contracts:-

 

(a) Broughty Ferry 3rd Development - Roof Renewals Phase 2/1

 

The Committee agreed to accept the lowest offer by Dundee Contract Services amounting to 141,230.55 to which required to be added allowances of 500 for reposition BT wiring and 11, 135 for professional services making a total expenditure of 152,865.55.

 

The Committee also noted that Dundee Contract Services had listed the undernoted sub-contractors:-

 

A & J Maintenance - Scaffolding

Nicoll Aerials - TV Aerials

K & S Plumbing & Heating - Plumber

 

(b)Menzieshill 7th Development - 13-33 Tweed Crescent - Pitched Roof Replacement

 

The Committee agreed to accept the lowest offer by Raynor Roofing Limited amounting to 30,071.28 to which required to be added an allowance of 4,253 for professional services, making a total expenditure of 34,324.28.

 

(c)Lily Walker Centre - Internal Improvements

 

The Committee agreed to accept the lowest offer by Alexander Oastler Limited amounting to 20,990.41 to which required to be added allowances of 406 for building warrant and 3,904 for professional services, making a total expenditure of 25,300.41.

 

The Committee noted that Alexander Oastler Limited had listed the undernoted sub-contractors:-

 

Discovery Glazing - Glazing

I S McKenna, Kirriemuir - Electrical

Skene Blair & Son Limited, Forfar - Plumbing

Wallace Decorators - Painting

 

(d)98 Dunholm Road - Reinstatement of Fire Damaged Flat and Renewal of Roof

 

The Committee agreed to accept a negotiated offer with Dundee Contract Services to carry out the above work for the sum of 38,526.90 to which required to be added an allowance of 6,935 for professional services, making a total expenditure of 57,261.90.

 

VIIDEMOLITION OF 8 AND 10 INVERCRAIG PLACE, CHARLESTON

The Director of Housing submitted Report No. 220-2002 seeking approval for the demolition of eight properties in Invercraig Place, Charleston.

The Committee agreed to the demolition of eight flats at the above addresses and remitted to the City Engineer to prepare tenders and seek offers for demolition and post-demolition treatment at the appropriate time.

VIII 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 February 2002 in each of the categories were as follows:-

JILL SHIMI, Convener.