Housing, Dundee Contract Services And Environment Services Committee - 20/01/2003

At a MEETING of the HOUSING COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 20th January, 2003.

Present:-

COUNCILLORS

Councillor SHIMI, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 16th December, 2002 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I REVIEW OF RENTS AND OTHER HOUSING CHARGES

The Director of Housing submitted Report No. 42-2003 setting out the proposed rent and other charges for the financial year 2003/2004.

The Committee agreed to the undernoted recommendations:-

(i) rents be increased by 1.26 per week on average subject to a maximum increase of 1.75 from 7th April, 2003.

(ii) the Service Charge for the Concierge Service be increased by 35p per week from 7th April, 2003.

(iii) charges for car parking facilities be increased as follows from 7th April, 2003:

Garage Lock-Ups by 25p to 6.75 per week

Underground Parking Bay by 10p to 1.60 per week

Garage Sites by 10p to 1.60 per week

(iv) where a house is improved during the year the rent be increased in line with the average increase in Gross Annual Value of all affected properties, subject to a maximum of 2.20.

(v) the levels of rents held on the Housing Revenue Account be similarly applied to miscellaneous houses and garage sites, subject to categorisation where appropriate.

II REVIEW OF CHARGES

The Director of Housing submitted Report No. 55-2003 seeking authority to review charges for Furnished Accommodation, Multi-Storey Launderettes, Stair Cleaning Charges, Heating Charges at Brington Place Sheltered Housing Development and Status Enquiry Fees, all being effective from 7th April, 2003.

(a) Mainstream Furnished Lets

It is proposed that the weekly charge for furniture be increased as detailed to cover the increased costs in providing the service. This gives the following charges:-

Fully Furnished

1-apartment 33.56 (up 82p)

2-apartment 37.83 (up 92p)

3-apartment 45.80 (up 1.12)

Charges for part-furnished houses are pro-rata to fully furnished according to the cost of the furniture provided.

(b) Heating Charges - Brington Place Sheltered Housing

It is proposed that the electricity charge for cooking, lighting, heating and hot water provided to the homes of tenants and warden is increased by 15p per week.

(c) Stair Cleaning Charges

It is proposed that all Stair Cleaning charges are increased by 10p per week.

(d) Multi-Storey Launderettes

It is proposed that the charges for Multi-Storey Launderettes be increased to the following:-

Auto-Wash 1.55 (up 5p)

Tumble Drier 75p (up 5p)

Cabinet Drier 75p (up 5p)

(e) Status Enquiry Fees

The fee charged to Banks, Building Societies, etc. for status enquiries will be increased to 30.00.

The Committee approved the above changes.

III HOUSING (SCOTLAND) ACT 1987, SECTION 108 - REPAIRS NOTICE - 123-131 NETHERGATE

On a reference to Article III of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 16th October 2000, the Director of Housing submitted Report No. 21-2003 seeking agreement for the withdrawal of the Repairs Notice at 123, 125, 125A and 125B Nethergate served on 1st February 2001 and approval for the service of a new Repairs Notice on the property at 123-131 Nethergate to carry out the necessary repairs.

The Committee:-

(a) agreed to the withdrawal of the Repairs Notice at 123, 125, 125A and 125B Nethergate served on 1st February, 2001;

(b) approved the service of a new Repairs Notice on the property at 123-131 Nethergate in terms of Section 108 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987 with a time limit of, as nearly as may be, 6 months for compliance with the terms of the Notice;

(c) agreed that should owners fail to comply with the terms of the Notice, the Council should instruct the work to be carried out in default and the Director of Housing, in consultation with the relevant Departments, should appoint suitable consultant(s) to execute the works required; and

(d) agreed that, should default action be implemented, the appropriate officers be instructed to authorise and arrange payments to the appointed consultant(s) and contractor.

IV HOUSING DEPARTMENT - DEVELOPING A TENANCY SUPPORT SERVICE

There was submitted Joint Report No. 30-2003 by the Director of Housing and Director of Personnel and Management Services seeking to implement a Tenancy Support Service within the Housing Department and suggesting how funding could be secured through Supporting People funding to support defined groups.

The Committee:-

(a) approved the Housing Department setting up its own housing support service prior to April 2003, with the aim of providing support to a minimum of 25 tenants, allowing for the full year cost of running the service to be identified for Supporting People funding and with the initial set up and recruitment costs being borne by the Housing Revenue Account (HRA); and

(b) agreed that the Personnel and Management Services Committee approve the establishment of a Housing Support Co-ordinator post (AP5, 21,536 - 23,459), 6 Housing Support Worker posts (AP2, 13,984 - 16,217) and a Housing Assistant post (GS3, 13,124 - 13,664) for a fixed term of one year.

V WATSON STREET/WELLGATE HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS - UPGRADING AND REMEDIAL WORKS

The City Architectural Services Officer submitted Report No. 54-2003 requesting approval to extend the existing contract.

The Committee approved the extension of the existing contract and estimated additional expenditure of approximately 240,000.

VI TENDERS RECEIVED

(a) The City Architectural Services Officer submitted Report No. 40-2003 giving details of offers received for the undernoted contracts:-

(i) Whitfield 5th Development - Kirkconnel Terrace and Strathaven Terrace - Pitched Roof Repairs

The Committee agreed to accept the negotiated offer with Dundee Contract Services to carry out the above works for the sum of 153,281.11 to which required to be added an allowance of 12,960 for professional services making a total expenditure of 166,241.11.

(ii) Lawton Boots Phase 2, Lawton 1st and Glenprosen Developments - Security Lighting

The Committee agreed to accept the lowest offer by Jaydee Heating and Electrical amounting to 22,195.82 to which required to be added an allowance of 1,873.00 for professional services making a total expenditure of 24,068.82.

(iii) St Mary's 10th and 11th Developments Cottages - Heating Installations

The Committee agreed to accept the lowest offer by British Gas plc, Uddingston amounting to 68,738.90 to which required to be added the undernoted allowances:-

Redecoration of elderly tenants' houses 20,400.00

Decoration Vouchers 2,400.00

Carpet Vouchers 350.00

Decanting of tenants 7,200.00

Gas Connection Charges 2,697.09

Electric Connection Charges 4,000.00

Professional Services 8,700.00

making a total expenditure of 114,485.99.

The Committee also noted that British Gas plc had listed the undernoted sub-contractors:-

C & D Heating Services, Crieff Gas Heating

Kelwood Electrical, Dumfries Electrical

DCL Joinery & Contractors Builder and Joinery

(iv) Linlathen 2nd Development - 7 Darvel Place - Roof and Render Repairs

The Committee agreed to accept the negotiated offer with Dundee Contract Services to carry out the above works for a sum of 25,574.20 to which required to be added an allowance of 3,894.00 for professional services making a total expenditure of 29,468.20.

(b) The City Engineer submitted Report No. 25-2003 giving details of offers received to carry out retaining wall replacement at 43 Alloway Terrace.

The Committee agreed to accept the lowest offer by W H Brown Construction (Dundee) Ltd amounting to 11,832.13 to which required to be added allowances of 567.87 for utilities, 2,000.00 for fees and 600 for Planning Supervisor fees, making a total expenditure of 15,000.

VII FUNDING FOR DOMESTIC ABUSE REFUGE ACCOMMODATION

On a reference to Article XI of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 19th February, 2001, there was submitted Agenda Note AN34-2003 advising that after several delays approval had now been given to proceed with the project jointly with Abertay Housing Association and Dundee Women's Aid in 2003/2004 which would require the sale to Abertay Housing Association of a piece of land currently owned by Dundee City Council.

The Committee agreed to negotiations on the sale commencing with the receipt being reinvested in the project and a detailed report to be submitted to a future Committee.

VIII COMMUNITY ASSOCIATIONS AND GROUPS - ADMINISTRATION GRANTS

There was submitted Agenda Note AN35-2003 advising that the Director of Housing had received an application from Dallfield Tenants Association requesting grant assistance towards administration costs for 2002-2003 amounting to 200.00.

The Committee approved accordingly.

IX REGISTRATION OF TENANTS' ORGANISATIONS - HOUSING (SCOTLAND) ACT 2001

There was submitted Agenda Note AN36-2003 advising that an application to be registered as a tenant organisation had been received from Dundee Federation of Tenants Associations.

As the Director of Housing considered that the application fulfilled the criteria set out in the Act, the Committee agreed that the application be approved.

X TRANSFER OF LAND AT ARDLER

On a reference to Article V of the minutes of meetings of the Housing and Leisure and Arts Services Committees of 18th November, 2002 respectively there was submitted Agenda Note AN33-2003 requesting authority to implement the disposal of one disused footpath to Servite Housing Association and an adjacent small section of waste ground from Dundee Contract Services to the owner occupiers at 232 and 234 Rosemount Road, subject to Scottish Ministers' consent as required.

The Committee approved accordingly.

XI WHITFIELD COMMUNITY WOODLAND

There was submitted Joint Report No. 825-2002 by the Director of Planning and Transportation, the Director of Housing and the Director of Dundee Contract Services requesting Committee approval for the proposal to create an estate wide community woodland in Whitfield.

The Committee:-

(a) agreed the details of the proposal, and noted the development of an estate wide framework for future developments which would be reported to future Committees;

(b) remitted to appropriate officers to begin consultations on the estate wide programme of community woodlands with interested community groups;

(c) remitted to appropriate officers to reach agreement with a local training organisation regarding training placements;

(d) approved the allocation of parts of the budgets already assigned within the Housing Capital expenditure plan to the projects;

(e) accepted the offer from Dundee Contract Services of 135,000 for the first scheme at Dunbar Park;

(f) approved the overall expenditure on this first scheme of 150,000, which included further allowances of 15,000 for fees and contingencies.

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

There was submitted Agenda Note AN37-2003. 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 December 2002 in each of the categories were as follows:-

* May include commercial premises.

JILL SHIMI, Convener.