Housing, Dundee Contract Services And Environment Services Committee - 17/11/2003

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

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Councillor HIND, Convener, in the Chair.

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

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I BEST VALUE OPTION APPRAISAL ON REPAIRS SERVICE

The Chief Executive submitted Report No 774-2003 outlining the results of an option appraisal of the main vehicles to manage the housing response repairs service carried out by the Repairs Review Working Group.

The Committee agreed:-

(a) to recommend a Partnering approach to managing the housing repairs be developed to replace the existing schedule of rates contract by 1st April 2004;

(b) the Director of Housing and Director of Dundee Contract Services bring forward to this Committee a Partnership Agreement and establish a Partnership Board with the composition and role outlined in 9.4 and Appendix 1 of the report;

(c) the Director of Housing and Director of Dundee Contract Services create a joint Management Board for the repairs service;

(d) the Depute Chief Executive (Finance) and Director of Dundee Contract Services work together to ensure that, where appropriate, all relevant accounting and related systems in regard to the housing responsive repairs service are amended to comply with the Trading Account legislation contained in the Local Government in Scotland Act 2003 and the recommended Partnering approach;

(e) the Depute Chief Executive (Support Services) assist in developing the appropriate legal framework for a Partnering Agreement between the Housing Department and Dundee Contract Services;

(f) to introduce a Repairs Contact Centre to contribute to the communication strategy outlined in Section 10 of the report;

(g) to recommend that the Partnership Agreement includes the key features listed at 9.9 of the report;

(h) the remit for Stage 2 of the review process be passed to the Repairs Development Team as outlined in paragraph 11.2, the Repairs Review Working Group be wound up and the Directors of Housing and Dundee Contract Services charged with the joint responsibility to bring forward the Partnership Agreement and outline membership, role and responsibilities for a Partnership Board to be formed; and

(i) to agree the level of authority of the Partnership Board as outlined in Appendix 1 of the report.

II TENDERS RECEIVED

The City Engineer submitted Report No 511-2003 giving details of the contracts to carry out environmental improvements at Prieston Road.

The Committee agreed to accept the lowest offer by T & N Gilmartin (Contractors) Limited amounting to 35,816.97 to which required to be added allowances of 7,183.03 for contingencies, 4,000 for professional fees and 500 for Planning Supervisor, making a total expenditure of 47,500.

III GARRY PLACE SHELTERED HOUSING - HEATING REPLACEMENT AND ELECTRICAL UPGRADING -EXTENSION TO CONTRACT

On a reference to Article IV(b) of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 30th June 2003 the City Architectural Services Officer submitted Report No 718-2003 requesting approval to extend the existing contract by CFM Building Services Limited, Carluke.

The Committee approved accordingly and noted that the additional costs of the works was expected to be in the region of 97,500 inclusive of an allowance for professional services.

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

There was submitted Agenda Note AN504-2003 advising that an application had been received by the Director of Housing from the Melfort and Kilmore Residents' Action Group to be registered as a tenant organisation.

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

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

There was submitted Agenda Note AN505-2003. 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 October 2003 in each or the categories were as follows:-

* May include commercial premises.

CHRISTOPHER HIND, Convener.