Housing, Dundee Contract Services And Environment Services Committee - 17/02/2003

At a MEETING of the HOUSING COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 17th February 2003.

Present:-

COUNCILLORS

Councillor SHIMI, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 20th January 2003 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I TENANTS' ALLOWANCES

On a reference Article I of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 18th March 2002 the Director of Housing submitted Report No 97-2003 updating allowances in line with inflation.

The Committee approved the recommendations of the report with effect from 1st April 2003.

II SHELTERED HOUSING WARDENS SERVICE CHARGE

There was submitted Agenda Note AN92-2003.

The Committee agreed that the current charge be increased by 42p per week (3%) and would be eligible for Housing Benefit with existing protections to prevent financial hardship remaining in place. The charge would be applied over 52 weeks in the year with no non-chargeable weeks.

III PITCH RENTS - TRAVELLING PEOPLE'S SITE - BALMUIR WOOD

There was submitted Agenda Note AN93-2003. On a reference to Article VI of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 16th February 2002 the Committee agreed that pitched rents be increased by 1.45 per week for the financial year 2003/2004.

IV PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE CURRENT TENANT PARTICIPATION POLICY

The Director of Housing submitted Report No 163-2003 recommending proposed changes to the current Tenant Participation Policy (TPP) in light of the Tenant Participation Provisions of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001.

The Committee approved the recommended changes as set out in paragraphs 7.1 to 7.9 of the report.

V SURPLUS FLATS AT 65 - 69 and 87 - 97 ST FILLANS ROAD, DUNDEE AND DEMOLITION OF CARNEGIESQUARE

The Director of Housing submitted Report No 75-2003 bringing forward proposals for the demolition of 54 flats at St Fillans Road and 61 properties at 1-61 Carnegie Square.

The Committee in the case of 65 - 69 and 87 - 97 St Fillans Road:-

(a) agreed that the 54 flats at 65 - 69 and 87 - 97 St Fillans Road were surplus to requirements and should be demolished.

(b) remitted to the Director of Housing to award priority rehousing status to the remaining tenants outlined in Appendix 2 of the report together with the statutory home loss payment of 1,500.

(c) remitted to the City Engineer to prepare tenders and seek offers for demolition and permanent post demolition treatment at the appropriate time;

and in the case of 1 - 61 Carnegie Square the Committee:-

(a) agreed that the 61 properties at 1-61 Carnegie Square were surplus to requirements and should be demolished.

(b) remitted to the Director of Housing to award priority rehousing status to remaining tenants as outlined in Appendix 2 of the report together with a statutory home loss payment of 1,500.

(c) approved in principle the repurchase of the 4 owner occupied properties remitted to the Director of Economic Development to enter into negotiations with the owners on a "with prejudice" basis and remitted to the Director of Housing to award the appropriate financial and rehousing package.

(d) remitted to the City Engineer to prepare tenders and seek offers for demolition and post demolition treatment at the appropriate time.

(e) remitted to the Director of Housing to bring forward proposals for redevelopment at the appropriate time and if (remitted to the Director of Housing to bring forward a report on the Maxwelltown state which considered options for sustainability and stablisation.

VI TENDERS RECEIVED

(a) the City Architectural Services Officer submitted Report No 175-2003 giving details of offers received for Arklay Street 2nd Development Downpipe Repairs.

The Committee agreed to accept the lowest offer by George Martin Limited amounting to 82,417 to which required to be added an allowance of 9,430 for professional services making a total expenditure of 91,847.

The Committee also noted that George Martin Limited had listed Domestic Plumbing and Heating as the sub-contractors for plumbing and electrical.

(b) the City Engineer submitted Report No 153-2003 giving details of the offers received for undernoted contracts:-

(i) DEMOLITION OF 37 ST COLUMBA GARDENS

The Committee agreed to accept the lowest offer from Trojan Contracting and DIY Limited amounting to 18,650 to which required to be added the undernoted allowances making a total expenditure of 30,484:-

(ii) DEMOLITION OF 11, 12 & 13 COLONSAY PLACE, 1,2,3,4 LEWIS TERRACE AND 1, 2 MULL TERRACE

The Committee agreed to accept the lowest offer by D Geddes Contractors (Limited) amounting to 105,363 to which required to be added the undernoted allowances making a total expenditure of 201,690:-

VII BROUGHTY FERRY 3RD DEVELOPMENT ROOF REPAIRS PHASE 2/2 EXTENSION TO CONTRACT

On a reference to Article V(a)(i) of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 17th June 2002 the City Architectural Services Officer submitted Report No 146-2003 recommending that approval be given for extending the existing contract and incurring estimated additional expenditure of approximately 65,000.

The Committee approved the estimated additional expenditure and agreed to extend the existing contract.

VIII SCOTTISH COUNCIL FOR SINGLE HOMELESS (SCSH) - FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION

There was submitted Agenda Note AN94-2003 advising that a request had been received from the above body for a financial contribution from the Council.

The Committee agreed to a contribution of 600.

IX FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION TO SHELTER SCOTLAND

There was submitted Agenda Note AN95-2003 advising that a request for financial contribution had been received from Shelter Scotland who operated the Dundee Housing Aids Centre.

The Committee agreed to a financial contribution of 500.

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

There was submitted Agenda Note AN96-2003. 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 January 2003 and each of the categories were as follows:-

* 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.

XI REPURCHASE OF PROPERTIES FOR DEMOLITION

There was submitted Agenda Note AN97-2003. Reference was made to Article II of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 17th June 2002 wherein it was agreed that a number of residential properties were to be demolished.

The Director of Economic Development advised that provisional agreement had been reached with the owner of the property detailed and, subject to the approval of Members, he would request the Director of Support Services to conclude the necessary legal formalities. The Director of Economic Development would report further provisional agreements in due course.

XII REPURCHASE OF EX-COUNCIL PROPERTIES IN MAXWELLTOWN

There was submitted Agenda Note AN98-2003. Reference was made to Article V above and it was reported that this would lead to expenditure on home loss, disturbance and repurchase of various properties from the current owners.

The Committee approved accordingly.

JILL SHIMI, Convener.