Housing, Dundee Contract Services And Environment Services Committee - 17/06/2002

At a MEETING of the HOUSING COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 17th June 2002.

Present:-

COUNCILLORS

Councillor SHIMI, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 20th May 2002 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I HOUSING SERVICE PLAN - PERFORMANCE REPORT

The Director of Housing submitted Report No 473-2002 informing the Committee of the performance against targets set in the Housing Department's Service Plan 1999/2002 and how the Department aimed to improve housing services and performance against targets in the financial year.

The Committee:-

(a) noted the performance against targets set in the Housing Service Plan 1999/2002;

(b) approved the Service Plan set for April 2003;

(c) noted the Improvement Action Progress Report produced as the result of the Performance Management and Planning Audit; and

(d) noted that the Department's Management Team would commence detailed consultation to draft a Service Plan for the 2003/2007 period which would take account of the Community Plan, Council Priorities, Best Value and local Housing Strategy.

II DEMOLITION OF FLATS IN MILL O' MAINS AND LINLATHEN

The Director of Housing submitted Report No 482-2002 seeking approval for the demolition of 154 properties in Mill O' Mains and 30 properties in Linlathen.

The Committee:-

(a) agreed to declare surplus and demolish -

?         32 flats at 10, 11 and 18 Gruinard Terrace (Appendix 1);

?         18 flats at 11, 12 and 13 Colonsay Terrace (Appendix 1);

?         32 flats at 1, 2, 3 and 4 Lewis Terrace (Appendix 1);

?         24 flats at 1 and 2 Mull Terrace (Appendix 1);

?         48 flats at 1, 2, 5 and 6 Uist Terrace, including 4 sheltered properties (Appendix 1);

?         18 flats at 3, 5 and 7 Cumnock Place; and

?         12 flats at 23 and 25 Honeygreen Road (Appendix 2).

(b) remitted to the Director of Housing to award priority rehousing status to the remaining tenants on a phased basis at the Director of Housing's discretion as outlined in 7.1 of the report, together with the statutory Home Loss payment of 1,500 (Appendix 3);

(c) approved, in principle, the repurchase of the two owner-occupied properties, remitted to the Director of Economic Development to enter negotiations with the two owners on a "without prejudice" basis and remitted to the Director of Housing to award the appropriate financial and rehousing package (Appendix 4); and

(d) remitted to the Director of Housing to bring forward proposals for redevelopment where appropriate and noted that it was likely that the cleared land in Mill O' Mains would be redeveloped in the foreseeable future but it was possible that the land in Linlathen would be redeveloped in the future.

III TRANSFER OF LAND AT BOUNDARY WITH C J LAING, LONGTOWN ROAD, MID CRAIGIE TO ANGUS HOUSINGASSOCIATION

There was submitted Agenda Note AN123-2002 advising that a strip of land had been omitted from the original Disposition in order that the Director of Planning and Transportation could apply for a Closing Order and that this strip of land, once closed off, would greatly enhance the security of the adjacent properties currently under construction by Angus Housing Association.

In order to facilitate the planned development programme and reduce ongoing maintenance costs for the Housing Department, the Committee agreed that the land be transferred to Angus Housing Association at nil cost, subject to Scottish Minister's consent, with the land valuation determined by the Economic Development Department as being of no commercial value.

IV COMMUNITY ASSOCIATIONS AND GROUPS - ADMINISTRATION GRANTS

There was submitted Agenda Note AN124-2002 advising that the Director of Housing had received an application from St Mary's Association of Residents and Tenants requesting grant assistance towards administration costs for 2002/2003 amounting to 400.

The Committee approved accordingly.

V TENDERS RECEIVED

(a) The City Architectural Services Officer submitted Report No 513-2002 giving details of offers received for the undernoted contracts:-

(i) Broughty Ferry 3rd Development - Roof Repairs Phase 2/2

The Committee agreed to accept a negotiated offer by Dundee Contract Services to carry out the above works for the sum of 246,739.74 to which required to be added allowances of 518 for building warrant and 16,054 for professional services, making a total expenditure of 263,311.74.

(ii) HOSPITAL PARK DEVELOPMENT - REMOVAL OF INSULATION FROM UNDERBUILDINGS AND REPAIRS TO HEATING SYSTEMS

The Committee agreed to accept the lowest offer by ARDS Limited amounting to 118,176 to which required to be added allowances of 5,937 for repairs to heating systems by Dundee Contract Services and 15,177 for professional services, making a total expenditure of 139,290.

(iii) MAGDALENE'S KIRKTON 2ND DEVELOPMENT - PITCHED ROOF COVERING REPLACEMENT - PHASE 5

The Committee agreed to accept a negotiated offer by Dundee Contract Services to carry out the above works for the sum of 258,000 to which required to be added allowances of 518 for building warrant and 16,482 for professional services, making a total expenditure of 275,000.

(b) The City Engineer submitted Report No 502-2002 giving details of offers received to carry out waterproofing to fire escape walkways at Wellington and Carnegie Towers.

The Committee agreed to accept the lowest offer by Castle Contracting Limited amounting to 77,813 to which required to be added allowances of 50,419 for anti-bird netting, 2,418 for contingencies and 9,350 for professional fees including planning supervisor, making a total expenditure of 140,000.

VI HOUSING (SCOTLAND) ACT 1987 - IMPROVEMENT, REPAIRS AND ENVIRONMENTAL GRANTS, HOME LOANSETC

There was submitted Agenda Note AN125-2002. 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 May 2002 in each of the categories were as follows:-

VII MEMBERSHIP FEES

There was submitted Agenda Note AN126-2002 relative to the undernoted membership fees:-

(a) ENERGY ACTION SCOTLAND - ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP

The Committee authorised the Director of Housing to continue membership of Energy Action Scotland at a cost of 132, plus VAT, per annum.

(b) HOME ENERGY CONSERVATION ACT 1995 (HECA) - SCOTTISH HECA OFFICERS' NETWORK (SHON)

The Committee authorised the Director of Housing to continue membership of the Scottish HECA Officers' Network (SHON) at the cost of 300, plus VAT, per annum.

JILL SHIMI, Convener.