Housing, Dundee Contract Services And Environment Services Committee - 22/04/2002

At a MEETING of the HOUSING COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 22nd April, 2002.

Present:-

COUNCILLORS

Councillor SHIMI, Convener, in the Chair.

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

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I SUPPORTING PEOPLE - REVIEW OF STAFFING ARRANGEMENTS

The Director of Housing, Director of Social Work and Director of Personnel and Management Services submitted Joint Report No. 225-2002 seeking approval for the extension of the Supporting People Team utilising the additional funding from the Scottish Executive for 2002-2003.

The Committee approved the proposed staffing structure outlined in Appendix 1 to the Report and agreed to the continuation of the Supporting People Team until March 2004.

II AN ACCOMMODATION STRATEGY FOR OLDER PEOPLE

The Director of Housing submitted Report No. 288-2002 describing a programme for returning sheltered housing which was hard to let to the Mainstream Letting Pool.

The Convener, seconded by Councillor de Gernier, moved that

(a)Sheltered housing for which there was no demand should be identified and decommissioned and let as mainstream housing which would improve the range of mainstream accommodation available

(b)The rehousing policy for the decommissioning process identified in paragraphs 6.11 to 6.19 be adopted

(c)Policy and Plans would liaise with other providers of accommodation for older people through the Community Care Housing Forum with the aim of bringing forward a joint strategy to address the long term accommodation needs of older people, and

(d)A review of the allocation policy for sheltered housing to ensure better matching of needs to the physical attributes of housing should be carried out as part of the wider Housing Letting Review.

As an amendment, Councillor Dawson, seconded by Councillor Fordyce, moved that the Committee defer consideration of the Report to allow the formation of a cross party group.

On a division, there voted for the motion - the Convener, Lord Provost Letford and Councillors de Gernier, Wright, Ward, Presswood, Regan, Farquhar, Sturrock, Glen, Grant, Rolfe, Powrie, Mackie, Wallace, Scott, Macpherson and Borthwick (18); and for the amendment - Councillors Barrie, Richard Beattie, Dawson, Sawers, FitzPatrick, Guild and Dave Beattie (9) - whereupon the motion was declared carried.

III ST HELEN'S, 474 PERTH ROAD - SUSPENSION OF CLOSING ORDER

On a reference to Paragraph 1 of the minute of meeting of the Loans, Grants and Modernisation Sub-Committee of the Housing Committee of the former City of Dundee District Council of 28th November, 1989 there was submitted Agenda Note AN24-2002 recommending that the Committee approve the suspension of the Closing Orders affecting flat 3 and flat 4 at 474 Perth Road.

The Committee approved accordingly.

IV THE INSTALLATION OF SMART TECHNOLOGY INTO A COUNCIL FLAT

There was submitted Agenda Note AN25-2002 for the information of the Committee advising that Smart Technology was to be installed in a flat currently leased to the Tayside Primary Care Trust and used by them as an assessment flat for people with traumatic brain injuries as part of a rehabilitation programme.

The Committee noted that all costs associated with the project would be funded by Tayside Primary Care Trust and the project would be completed by the end of April, 2002.

V TENDERS RECEIVED

The City Architectural Services Officer submitted Report No. 263-2002 giving details of offers received for the undernoted contracts:-

(a) 30 - 34 UNION STREET - REPAIRS NOTICE IN DEFAULT

The Committee agreed to accept the lowest offer by Alexander Oastler Limited amounting to 128,926.31 to which required to be added allowances of 6,000 for additional stonework repairs, 10,000 for contingencies and 20,000 for professional services making a total expenditure of 164,926.31.

The Committee also noted that the undernoted sub-contractors had been listed by Alexander Oastler Limited.

Lindsay Rennie, Plasterers, Tealing - Stonework and Specialist Treatments

W Lyon, Builder - Builderwork and Stonework

Alliance Timber Preservation, Abernethy - Specialist Treatments

A Clarke (Slater) Limited - Slater

Aim Developments, Perth - Flat Roofs

J M Guild, Forfar - Plumber

Alliance Electrical Services Limited, Forfar - Electrical

Angus Decorating, Arbroath - Painter

(b)MENZIESHILL 12TH DEVELOPMENT - 48-66 DICKSON AVENUE - ROOF REPAIRS

The Committee agreed to accept a negotiated offer with Dundee Contract Services amounting to 69,197.17 to which required to be added an allowance of 8,617 for professional services making a total expenditure of 77,814.17.

VI CENTRAL HEATING PROGRAMME - PARTNERSHIP CONTRACTS

There was submitted Agenda Note AN26-2002. On a reference to Article V of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 20th August, 2001 the Committee noted that the undernoted 3 Partnering Contracts had been let for 2002-2003:-

VII GROUND AT COUPAR ANGUS ROAD

There was submitted Agenda Note AN27-2002 advising that the Department of Planning and Transportation wished to install a bus shelter south of Lansdowne Gardens on ground at Coupar Angus Road which was in the ownership of the Housing Department.

The Committee agreed that this ground be transferred to the Planning and Transportation Department at nil value.

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. There was submitted Agenda Note AN82-2002

It was agreed that the grants approved during March, 2002 in each of the categories were as follows:-

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 items of business on the grounds that they involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 6 and 9 of Part I of Schedule 7(A) of the Act.

IX PROPOSAL TO PROVIDE A PILOT ASSESSMENT UNIT FOR PEOPLE WITH LEARNING DIFFICULTIES

The Director of Housing and Director of Social Work submitted Joint Report No. 270-2002 outlining a proposal to use a Very Sheltered bedsit unit as a pilot assessment flat to develop the concept of Life Sharing for people with learning disabilities who currently lived with and received support from their families.

The Committee approved the recommendations of the Report.

X GROUND AT 50 COURT STREET

There was submitted Agenda Note AN28-2002 advising that an interested party had offered to purchase an area of ground for an extension to his existing lock up garage.

It was reported for the information of the Committee that the Director of Economic Development, after consultation with the Director of Housing, the Convener and the spokespersons of the Opposition Groups had agreed to sell the above area to the interested party on the terms and conditions stated.

JIM SHIMI, Convener.