Housing, Dundee Contract Services And Environment Services Committee - 16/06/2003

At a MEETING of the HOUSING COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 16th June 2003.

Present:-

COUNCILLORS

Councillor HIND, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 19th May 2003 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I REVIEW OF HOUSING ALLOCATIONS WORKING GROUP

There was submitted Agenda Note AN304-2003 relative to the above Working Group.

The Committee agreed that eight places be allocated on the basis of three members of the Administration, three members of the SNP Group and two members of the Conservative Group.

II RESPONSE TO FINAL REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE HOUSING IMPROVEMENT TASK FORCE ANDCONSULTATIONS ON THE TENEMENT (SCOTLAND) BILL

The Director of Housing submitted Report No 377-2003 advising the Committee on both the Final Report of the Housing Improvement Task Force (HITF) entitled "Stewardship and Responsibility: A Policy Framework for Private Housing in Scotland" and the Consultation Paper on the Tenement (Scotland) Bill and submitting draft responses from Dundee City Council to these documents.

The Committee approved the draft responses (Appendices 1 and 2 of the Report) and agreed to their submission as Dundee City Council's response to the HITF Final Report and the Consultation Paper.

III SCOTTISH POWER ENERGY EFFICIENCY COMMITMENT SCHEME

Councillor Will Dawson declared a non-financial interest by virtue of his employment by a rival company.

The Director of Housing submitted Report No 382-2003 outlining the advantages to the Housing Department of entering into a partnership with Scottish Power in order to provide energy efficiency measures to Council housing stock through the Energy Efficiency Commitment (EEC) Scheme.

The Committee agreed:-

(a)to enter into an agreement with Scottish Power whereby energy efficiency measures would be carried out to the City Council's housing stock through Energy Efficiency Commitment funding (EEC) available through Scottish Power;

(b)that where EEC monies were not required by the City Council for a specific purpose such as off-setting owner occupier bills for improvements, that these monies should be passed to the Dundee Community Energy Partnership (DCEP) in order to fund both their survey programme and energy efficiency measures identified as a result of survey work;

(c)to Scottish Power contributing 40,000 to DCEP as core finance for the project;

(d)that Dundee City Council enter into an exclusivity deal with Scottish Power whereby EEC funding would not be sought from any other utility without Scottish Power's agreement: this partnership would be reviewed when the current DCEP programme was completed; and

(e)that Scottish Power become a partner in DCEP.

IV B & Q DECORATION VOUCHER SCHEME

The Director of Housing submitted Report No 361-2003 outlining the advantages to the Housing Department of entering into an agreement with B & Q DIY Store Group for provision of Decoration "Gift" vouchers to be used in their stores by tenants entitled to Decoration Allowances through relet or capital programmes.

The Committee agreed:-

(a)to the Council entering into an agreement with B & Q for a pilot period of one financial year: the Council would enter into the Decoration Scheme with B & Q and run this in tandem with the existing system of Council Decoration Vouchers, maintaining tenants' freedom of choice: this would be the recommended option as some tenants might not wish to use B & Q because of travel logistics etc; and

(b)to B & Q becoming the preferred supplier for wallpaper for Dundee Contract Services when carrying out decoration in tenants' homes following major works.

V QUALITY OF LIFE - HOUSING FOOTPATHS UPGRADING

The Director of Housing and the Director of Planning and Transportation submitted Joint Report No 246-2003 on proposals for surveying and carrying out works to footpaths currently on the Housing Department's Account to be funded from the Quality of Life Fund in 2003/2004.

The Committee:-

(a)agreed to the prioritisation criteria for deciding on work packages, developed for a previous project, being used on the city-wide programme;

(b)noted the proposal to transfer responsibility for the management of the future maintenance of footpaths included within the programme from the Housing Department to the Planning and Transportation Department, including the adoption of footpaths which met the necessary criteria;

(c)remitted to the City Engineer to survey areas, assess remedial works, develop work packages and cost estimates with a view to obtaining prices from contractors using the unit rate contract for Minor roadworks;

(d)agreed to the appointment of three contractors from the list of tenderers for the unit rate contract minor roadworks to act in a consultancy capacity to assist the City Engineer in his pre-tender work, with a view to reducing the pre-tender timescale as required by the programme; and

(e)approved the pre-tender expenditure of 30,000 for preparation of tender packages, noting these would be met from the Quality of Life Fund in 2003/2004.

VI LAUNDRY FACILITIES IN MULTI-STOREY SHELTERED HOUSING

The Director of Housing submitted Report No 383-2003 introducing a scheme to allow residents of multi-storey sheltered housing access to laundry facilities on a similar basis to other sheltered housing tenants.

The Committee agreed to provide free wash and dry facilities to multi-storey sheltered housing tenants as detailed in the report.

VII TENDERS RECEIVED

(a) The City Architectural Services Officer submitted Report No 408-2003 giving details of offers received for the undernoted contracts:-

(i) Magdalenes Kirkton 3rd Development (Swedish Timber) - 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 91,596.21 to which required to be added allowances of 914 for planning supervisor and 9,160 for professional services, making a total expenditure of 101,670.21.

(ii) Mid Craigie 4th Development - Roof Repairs Phase 2

The Committee agreed to accept the negotiated offer with Dundee Contract Services to carry out the above works amounting to 117,976.56 to which required to be added allowances of 1,125 for planning supervisor and 11,325 for professional services, making a total expenditure of 130,426.56.

(b) The City Engineer submitted Report No 353-2003 giving details of offers received to carry out concrete repairs to Camperdown Developments and other areas.

The Committee agreed to accept the lowest offer by Castle Contracting Limited amounting to 52,559 to which required to be added allowances of 1,750 for contingencies, 7,500 for professional fees and 750 for planning supervisor, making a total expenditure of 62,559.

VIII COMMUNITY ASSOCIATIONS AND GROUPS - ADMINISTRATION GRANT

There was submitted Agenda Note AN305-2003 advising that the Director of Housing had received the undernoted application requesting grant assistance towards administration costs for 2003/2004:-

The Committee approved accordingly.

IX PROVISION OF HOUSING ACCOMMODATION - SOCIETY OF ST FRANCIS, GLASGOW

Councillor Morrow declared a non-financial interest by virtue of his membership of the Scottish Episcopal Church and being the Priest for the Parish in which the properties were located.

There was submitted Agenda Note AN306-2003 advising that a request had been received from the Society of St Francis to have two properties allocated to enable them to work with the community in Mid Craigie. The Society of St Francis was a religious community within the Scottish Episcopal Church and was a registered charity with the Brothers and Sisters owning no property and having no income of their own.

The Committee agreed to the request and instructed the Director of Housing to offer two three apartment or four apartment properties for rent in the Mid Craigie area to the Society of St Francis.

X ENERGY ACTION SCOTLAND - ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP

There was submitted Agenda Note AN307-2003 requesting the Committee to authorise the Director of Housing to continue membership of Energy Action Scotland at a cost of 132 plus VAT per annum to be funded from the Housing Revenue Account.

The Committee approved accordingly.

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

There was submitted Agenda Note AN308-2003 requesting the Committee to authorise the Director of Housing to continue membership of the Scottish HECA Officers' Network (SHON) at a cost of 300 plus VAT pr annum to include the expense of speakers at each Network Forum.

The Committee approved accordingly.

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

There was submitted Agenda Note AN309-2003 advising that applications to be registered as tenant organisations had been received from Adamsons and Elders Tenants' Associations and Balmoral Tenants' and Residents' Association.

The Committee noted that the Director of Housing considered that the applications fulfilled the criteria set out in the Act and agreed that the applications be approved.

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

There was submitted Agenda Note AN310-2003. 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 April and May 2003 in 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.

XIV SALE OF PROPERTIES AT 4, 17 AND 19 ROSEFIELD STREET, BLACKNESS

There was submitted Agenda Note AN311-2003. The Committee agreed to suspend Standing Order 39(1) to discuss the agenda note.

Reference was made to Articles V (c) and (d) of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 17th March 2003 when it was agreed that the void flats and tenanted flats (when empty) at the above addresses be sold on the open market for occupation by a single person or couple.

The Committee agreed that these properties be now sold to an interested party rather than on the open market at a value to be determined by the District Valuer.

XV EXCAMBION OF 31 CARNEGIE SQUARE/5 ARKLAY PLACE, DUNDEE

There was submitted Agenda Note AN312-2003. Reference was made to Article V of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 17th February 2003 when it was agreed that the residential properties at 1 to 61 Carnegie Square be demolished and it be remitted to the Director of Economic Development to enter repurchasing negotiations with the owners of privately owned properties in Carnegie Square.

The Committee agreed that the Council enter into an excambion of 31 Carnegie Square and 5 Arklay Place as detailed in the report and that the Director of Economic Development request the Director of Support Services to conclude the necessary legal formalities.

XVI REPURCHASE OF A RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY

There was submitted Agenda Note AN313-2003. Reference was made to Article V of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 17th February 2003 when it was agreed that the residential properties at 1 to 61 Carnegie Square be demolished and it be remitted to the Director of Economic Development to enter repurchasing negotiations with the owners of privately owned properties in Carnegie Square.

The Committee agreed to the repurchase of the property in question on the terms and conditions detailed.

CHRISTOPHER HIND, Convener.