Housing, Dundee Contract Services And Environment Services Committee - 16/12/2002

At a MEETING of the HOUSING COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 16th December 2002.

Present:-

COUNCILLORS

Councillor SHIMI, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 2nd December 2002 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I EMERGENCY REPAIRS

The Director of Housing submitted Report No 830-2002 seeking approval for a list of overnight emergencies, daytime emergency and three day urgent repairs to be operated by the Housing Department and Dundee Contract Services as part of the Council's repairs service.

The Committee agreed to the list of overnight and daytime emergency repairs and three day urgency repairs as outlined in Appendix 1 to the report.

II TRAVELLING PERSONS SITE (T.P.S.), TEALING

The Director of Housing submitted Report No 849-2002 examining the difficulties regarding occupancy rates at the Travelling Persons Site and recommending investment to address the situation.

The Committee agreed the carrying out of essential repairs to 20 blocks in the immediate future and to 20 pitches in the following years should occupying increase.

III TENANT PARTICIPATION PROVISIONS OF THE HOUSING (SCOTLAND) ACT 2001

The Director of Housing submitted Report No 843-2002 advising the Committee on the Tenant Participation provisions of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 which directly involved the Committee at this stage and recommending a course of action to be adopted in light of Scottish Executive guidance.

The Committee agreed to the course of action outlined in Section 11 (paragraph 11.3) as undernoted:-

(a) applications for registration are considered by the Housing Committee, in light of an assessment of the application by the Director of Housing; and

(b) a Sub-Committee of the Housing Committee is established to consider any appeals which may be made following an application for registration being refused.

IV REVIEW OF SPECIAL NEEDS (HOMELESS) TEMPORARY ACCOMMODATION CHARGES

The Director of Housing submitted Report No 806-2002 seeking authority to review charges for Special Needs (Homeless) Temporary Accommodation effective from 1st January 2003.

The Committee agreed to the charges proposed in the report.

V ROUGH SLEEPERS INITIATIVE LOCAL OUTCOME AGREEMENT 2003/2004 AND HOMELESSNESS STRATEGY 2003/2006

The Director of Housing submitted Report No 848-2002 reporting progress on the existing Rough Sleepers Initiative (RSI) Local Outcome Agreement 2003/2004 and the intended outcomes, informing the Committee of the content of the RSI Local Outcome Agreement for 2003/2004 and updating the Committee on the development of Dundee's Homelessness Strategy 2003/2006.

The Committee approved the RSI Local Outcome Agreement for 2003/2004 as detailed in Appendix 1 of the report, noted the progress on development of the Homelessness Strategy 2003/2006 and agreed the proposed timescales.

VI FUNDING OF HOUSING SUPPORT SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE HOME CARE SERVICE

The Director of Social Work and the Director of Housing submitted Joint Report No 872-2002 seeking the Committee's approval for the proposed alteration to the method of funding some housing support services.

Councillor Borthwick declared an interest and took no part in discussion of this item.

The Committee approved the proposals contained in the report.

VII TENDERS RECEIVED

(a) The City Architectural Services Officer submitted Report No 889-2002 giving details of offers received for the undernoted contracts:-

(i) 6 CRAIGIE STREET - MOTORISED DOORS

The Committee agreed to accept the lowest offer by Jaydee Heating and Electrical amounting to 3,535.62 to which required to be added an allowance of 596 for professional services, making a total expenditure of 4,131.62.

The Committee also noted that Jaydee Heating and Electrical had listed Tormax, Surrey, as the sub-contractor for door installation.

(ii) HOUSING OFFICE, 1 TO 4 SHORE TERRACE - LIGHTING UPGRADE

The Committee agreed to accept a negotiated offer with Dundee Contract Services to carry out the above works for the sum of 44,893 to which required to be added allowances of 5,000 for contingencies and 8,976 for professional services, making a total expenditure of 58,869.

(iii) INDIVIDUAL HOUSES, VARIOUS ADDRESSES - HEATING AND ELECTRICAL UPGRADING

The Committee agreed to accept a negotiated offer with Dundee Contract Services to carry out the above works for the sum of 24,500 to which required to be added allowances of 500 for gas connection charges, 500 for electrical connection charges and 3,060 for professional services, making a total expenditure of 28,560.

(b) The City Engineer submitted Report No 883-2002 giving details of offers received for the undernoted contracts:-

(i) DUNCAN TERRACE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENTS

The Committee agreed to accept a negotiated offer with Dundee Contract Services to carry out the above works for the sum of 31,892.86 to which required to be added the undernoted allowances:-

making a total expenditure of 46,200.

The Committee also noted that Dundee Contract Services had listed Martin Alan Construction Limited as the sub-contractor for road works.

(ii) KIRKTON AVENUE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENTS

The Committee agreed to accept a negotiated offer with Dundee Contract Services to carry out the above works for the sum of 70,515.20 to which required to be added the undernoted allowances:-

making a total expenditure of 97,300.

The Committee also noted that Dundee Contract Services had listed Martin Alan Construction Limited as the sub-contractor for road works.

(iii) HALDANE TERRACE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENTS

The Committee agreed to accept a negotiated offer with Dundee Contract Services to carry out the above works for the sum of 30,513.01 to which required to be added the undernoted allowances:-

making a total expenditure of 43,000.

The Committee also noted that Dundee Contract Services had listed Martin Alan Construction Limited as the sub-contractor for road works.

VIII CHARTERED INSTITUTE OF HOUSING IN SCOTLAND ANNUAL CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION 2003 - 10TH TO 13TH MARCH2003, ABERDEEN

There was submitted Agenda Note AN325-2002 inviting delegates to attend the above conference.

The Committee authorised the attendance of one member of the Administration Group, one member of the Major Opposition Group and one member of the Minority Group.

IX FLAT 3, ST HELEN'S, 474 PERTH ROAD, DUNDEE - REVOCATION OF CLOSING ORDER

Reference was made 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 AN326-2002 advising that the owner of Flat 3 had carried out substantial renovation works to Flat 3 and, following an inspection, the Director of Housing and the City Engineer were satisfied that the flat had now been brought up to the tolerable standard and an application had been received on behalf of the owner seeking revocation of the Closing Order.

The Committee approved the revocation of the Closing Order affecting Flat 3, 474 Perth Road, Dundee.

X COMMUNITY ASSOCIATIONS AND GROUPS - ADMINISTRATION GRANTS

There was submitted Agenda Note AN327-2002 advising that an application had been received by the Director of Housing requesting grant assistance towards administration costs for 2002/2003 from the Charleston Residents' Association.

The Committee approved a grant of 270.

XI HOUSING (SCOTLAND) ACT 1987 - IMPROVEMENT, REPAIRS AND ENVIRONMENTAL GRANTS, HOMES 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 AN328-2002.

* 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 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.

XII GROUND AT 22 KINGENNIE COURT/KINGSWAY EAST

There was submitted Agenda Note AN332-2002 advising that the owner had offered to purchase an area of ground extending to 32 square metres or thereby.

The Committee agreed to the sale of the ground on the terms and conditions stated.

XIII GROUND AT 62 FREDERICK STREET

There was submitted Agenda Note AN333-2002 advising that the owner had offered to purchase an area of ground extending to 300 square metres or thereby.

The Committee agreed to the sale of the ground on the terms and conditions stated.

XIV GROUND AT 64 FREDERICK STREET

There was submitted Agenda Note AN334-2002 advising that the owner had offered to purchase an area of ground extending to 301 square metres or thereby.

The Committee agreed to the sale of the ground on the terms and conditions stated.

JILL SHIMI, Convener.