Housing, Dundee Contract Services And Environment Services Committee - 17/03/2003

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

Present:-

COUNCILLORS

Councillor SHIMI, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 17th February 2003 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR

On a reference to Article X of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 18th June 2001 the Director of Housing and the Director of Support Services submitted Joint Report No 219-2003 reviewing the response by the Council to anti-social behaviour outwith the Council Housing Sector in light of the positive response to the introduction of the Anti-Social Behaviour Team in November 2001 and the successes of the City Council in obtaining Anti-Social Behaviour Orders against Council tenants.

The Committee agreed that:-

(a) the Housing Department and Support Services Department consult with Tayside Police regarding developments of protocol for ASBO applications from owner/occupiers and those in the private rented housing sector;

(b) additional resources be identified from the General Services Account to fund investigation of serious cases of anti-social behaviour emanating from the owner/occupier and private rented housing sector and increased level of legal actions on ASBOs;

(c) a mechanism for recharging costs associated with seeking private sector ASBOs be explored; and

(d) the Anti-Social Behaviour Team be relocated to accommodate the additional staff required, funded from the General Services Account.

II QUALITY OF LIFE - HOUSING FOOTPATHS UPGRADING

The Committee noted that this item had been withdrawn.

III SUPPORTING PEOPLE - SERVICES EXEMPT FROM CHARGING

On a reference to Article I of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 18th November 2002 the Director of Housing and the Director of Social Work submitted Joint Report No 169-2003 advising the Council which services the Scottish Executive had advised should be free to service users and the implications for Dundee City Council.

The Committee agreed that the services identified in the report be considered short term and that these services should be exempt from the Council's Supporting People Charging Policy.

IV USE OF HOMELESSNESS FUNDING ALLOCATIONS

On a reference to Article IV of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 18th February 2002 the Director of Housing submitted Report No 170-2003 seeking approval to spend specific grant allocations for 2002/2003 and 2003/2004 to meet the requirements of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 and the recommendations of the Homelessness Task Force.

The Committee approved the following expenditure for 2002/2003 and 2003/2004 to maximise the use of allocations for homelessness purposes:-

(a) 17,700 be committed prior to 31st March 2003 to provide temporary furnished accommodation for disabled clients;

(b) 200,000 be committed to the acquisition and development of available premises, prior to 31st March 2003 to provide additional temporary accommodation;

(c) 12,000 be committed prior to 31st March 2003 to provide three additional single person homeless network flats;

(d) 25,300 be committed prior to 31st March 2003 to spot purchase accommodation for homeless persons in advance of Housing Benefits payments; and

(e) the necessary staff costs be claimed prior to 31st March 2003 to cover salaries and costs for the Homelessness Strategy Team 2002/2003.

V ROSEFIELD STREET, BLACKNESS, DUNDEE

The Director of Housing submitted Report No 142-2003 seeking approval to declare the Council owned properties at 4, 6, 8, 10, 17 and 19 Rosefield Street surplus to requirements.

The Committee:-

(a) agreed to declare surplus 4, 6, 8, 10, 17 and 29 Rosefield Street;

(b) agreed that the occupied flats at 6, 8 and 10 Rosefield Street be vacated and sold with the existing void flats to Gowrie Housing Association;

(c) agreed that the void flats at 4, 17 and 19 Rosefield Street be sold on the open market each for occupation by a single person or couple;

(d) agreed that the tenanted properties at 4 Rosefield Street be vacated and sold on the open market;

(e) remitted to the Director of Support Services to seek Minister?s approval to sell the properties at 4, 6, 8, 10, 17 and 19 Rosefield Street;

(f) remitted to the Director of Housing to award priority rehousing status to the remaining eleven tenants at 4, 6, 8 and 10 Rosefield Street, as outlined in Appendix 2 of the report, together with the statutory Home Loss payments;

(g) remitted to the Director of Economic Development to negotiate with Gowrie Housing Association regarding the sale of the properties at 6, 8 and 10 Rosefield Street, assuming that transfer of ownership would be on the basis of vacant possession with valuation to be set by the District Valuer; and

(h) remitted to the Director of Economic Development to market the void properties at 4, 17 and 19 Rosefield for occupation by a single person or couple as soon as possible.

VI DEMOLITION OF 84 FLATS AT KILWINNING PLACE (1 TO 56) AND FENWICK PLACE (37 TO 65),WHITFIELD, DUNDEE

The Director of Housing submitted Report No 176-2003 seeking approval for the demolition of 56 flats at the above addresses in Whitfield.

The Committee:-

(a) agreed to declare surplus and demolish 56 flats at 1 to 56 Kilwinning Place, and 28 flats at 37 to 65 Fenwick Place, Whitfield, Dundee;

(b) remitted to the Director of Housing to award priority rehousing status to the remaining tenants, together with the statutory Home Loss payment of 1,50;

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

(d) remitted to the Director of Housing to bring forward proposals for redevelopment at the appropriate time.

VII TENDERS RECEIVED

The City Architectural Services Officer submitted Report No 243-2003 giving details of offers received for the undernoted contracts:-

(a) BROUGHTY FERRY 1ST, 2ND AND 4TH DEVELOPMENTS - ROOF RENEWALS PHASE 3

The Committee agreed to accept the lowest offer by Dundee Contract Services to carry out the above works for the sum of 255,272,09 to which required to be added an allowance of 16,073 for professional services, making a total expenditure of 271,345.09.

The Committee also noted that Dundee Contract Services had listed the undernoted sub-contractors:-

SGB Scaffolding

Nicol Aerials TV Aerials.

(b) CRAIGIE DRIVE 2ND DEVELOPMENT PHASE 1 - 2 TO 72 GARDYNE PLACE, FLAT ROOF RENEWAL

The Committee agreed to accept the lowest offer by Dundee Contract Services to carry out the above works for the sum of 96,582.59 to which required to be added allowances of 1,500 for window panels and 4,480 for professional services, making a total expenditure of 102,562.59.

The Committee also noted that Dundee Contract Services had listed the undernoted sub-contractors:-

A & J Maintenance Scaffolding

Discovery Roofing Limited, Montrose Cladding.

(c) 110 to 116 seagate and 35 to 39 st andrews street - repairs notice in default

The Committee agreed to accept the negotiated offer with Nortel Builders amounting to 183,264.46 to which required to be added an allowance of 25,000 for professional services, making a total expenditure of 208,264.46.

The Committee also noted that Nortel Builders had listed the undernoted sub-contractors:-

RAS Crockett & Partners Limited, Dundee Electrical

David Sim, Birkhill Plumbing and Heating.

VIII MAGDALENE'S KIRKTON 2ND DEVELOPMENT PITCHED ROOF COVERING REPLACEMENT PHASE 5 - EXTENSIONTO CONTRACT

On a reference to Article V(a) (iii) of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 17th June 2002 the City Architectural Services Officer submitted Report No 254-2003 requesting approval for extending the existing contract.

The Committee agreed to the extension of the existing contract and the estimated additional expenditure of 80,000.

IX PARTNERING PROJECTS LET

Reference was made to Article V of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 20th August 2001. There was submitted Agenda Note AN154-2003.

The Committee noted that further partnering projects had been let as part of the 2002/2003 programme as undernoted:-

X OFFICERS' APPROVAL - DOUGLAS VILLAGE GREEN - LANDSCAPE PROPOSALS

There was submitted Agenda Note AN155-2003 reporting for the information of the Committee that the Director of Housing, after consultation with the Convener and the Spokespersons of the Opposition Groups, had agreed to accept an offer from J D Minto Limited amounting to 61,049.32, together with allowances for fees, contingencies and annual maintenance charges, making a total expenditure of 90,000.

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

There was submitted Agenda Note AN156-2003 advising that an application to be registered as a tenant organisation had been received from Blackness Area Residents' Association.

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

XII COMMUNITY ASSOCIATIONS AND GROUPS - ADMINISTRATION GRANTS

There was submitted Agenda Note AN157-2003 advising that the Director of Housing had received the undernoted applications requesting grant assistance towards administration costs for 2002/2003:-

The Committee approved accordingly.

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

There was submitted Agenda Note AN158-2003.

Reference was made to the minute of meeting of this Committee of 15th November 1999 when grant expenditure under the Housing (Non HRA) Budget was agreed.

It was agreed that the grants approved during February 2003 in each of the categories were as follows:-

* May include commercial premises.

XIV TENDER RECEIVED BY CITY ENGINEER - ABERLOUR PLACE, BROUGHTY FERRY

The City Engineer submitted Report No 266-2003 giving details of offers received to carry out demolition of a wall at Aberlour Place, Broughty Ferry

The Committee agreed to accept the lowest offer by Trojan Limited to carry out the above works for the sum of 8.078 to which required to be added allowances of 1,200 for general contingencies and 800 for fees, making a total expenditure of 10,078.

JILL SHIMI, Convener.