Housing, Dundee Contract Services And Environment Services Committee - 16/02/2004

At a MEETING of the HOUSING COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 16th February, 2004.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Councillor HIND, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 19th January, 2004 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I SALE OF LAND IN WHITFIELD - SALTON CRESCENT

The Director of Housing declared a non-financial interest by virtue of her spouse's employment.

On a reference to Article I of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 15th October, 2001 the Chief Executive submitted Report No 140-2004 facilitating the continuing regeneration of the Whitfield area by releasing land to a registered social landlord to accommodate rehousing of Council tenants from properties declared surplus.

The Committee:-

(a) agreed to dispose of land at Salton Crescent identified on the map attached to the report to Home in Scotland Housing Association Limited;

(b) instructed the Director of Economic Development to negotiate the sale; and

(c) instructed the Depute Chief Executive (Support Services) to prepare the necessary offer and Draft Disposition and to seek Scottish Ministers' consent to dispose of the site.

II REVIEW OF SPECIAL NEEDS (HOMELESS) TEMPORARY ACCOMMODATION CHARGES

The Director of Housing submitted Report No 87-2004 seeking authority to review the above charges effective from 5th April, 2004.

The Committee agreed to the proposed charges as undernoted:-

Where no charge is shown no facility of the type is available at this time. If required such facilities will be provided and charged pro rata.

III HOUSING DEPARTMENT - SUPPORTED TEMPORARY ACCOMMODATION PROJECT

The Director of Housing and the Assistant Chief Executive (Management) submitted Joint Report No 93-2004 seeking approval for the establishment of a supported temporary accommodation project, including the establishment of posts.

The Committee approved the establishment of a supported temporary accommodation project as outlined in the report.

IV USE OF HOMELESSNESS FUNDING ALLOCATIONS 2003-04

On a reference to Article V of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 19th January, 2004 the Director of Housing submitted Report No 102-2004 seeking approval to spend specific grant allocations for 2003-2004 to meet the requirements of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 and the Homelessness etc (Scotland) Act 2003.

The Committee approved the following expenditure:-

(a) 50,000 be committed prior to 31st March, 2004 to provide additional office accommodation at Lily Walker Centre for Homeless Services Unit staff;

(b) 261,000 be committed to the acquisition and development of available premises prior to 31st March, 2004 to provide additional supported temporary accommodation linked to education and training for employment;

(c) 40,000 be committed prior to 31st March, 2004 to develop additional supported temporary accommodation; and

(d) necessary staff costs be claimed prior to 31st March, 2004 to cover salaries and costs for the Homelessness Strategy Team 2003/04.

V PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT FOR REPAIRS SERVICE 2004-2009

On a reference to Article I of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 17th November, 2003 the Director of Housing and the Director of Dundee Contract Services submitted Joint Report No 147-2004 seeking approval of the Partnership Agreement for the new Housing Repairs Service.

The Committee:-

(a) approved the Partnership Agreement for implementation in April 2004 for the new repairs service;

(b) agreed that the Convener of Housing, Convener of Finance and Convener of Dundee Contract Services sign the Partnership Agreement on behalf of the Council;

(c) agreed that the Dundee Federation of Tenants' Associations sign the Charter as a partnership member; and

(d) agreed the Repairs Priorities and list of benchmark jobs as outlined in Appendices 1 and 2 of the Partnership Agreement.

VI TENDERS RECEIVED

(a) TENDERS RECEIVED BY CITY ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES OFFICER

The City Architectural Services Officer submitted Report No 151-2004 giving details of the offers received for the undernoted contracts:-

(i) DALLFIELD MSD - CCTV SECURITY UPGRADE

The Committee agreed to accept the lower offer by Video Watchman Systems Ltd, Coatbridge amounting to 69,773.55 to which required to be added allowances of 733.00 for Planning Supervisor and 7,955.00 for professional services, making a total expenditure of 78,461.55.

The Committee also noted that Video Watchman Systems Limited had listed Gomer Electrical Limited at the sub-contractor for electrical work.

(ii) ST MARYS 3RD AND 9TH DEVELOPMENTS - PITCHED ROOF REPAIRS PHASE 3

The Committee authorised the Depute Chief Executive (Support Services) in conjunction with the Director of Housing, to accept a negotiated offer recommended by the City Architectural Services Officer from Dundee Contract Services at a figure not exceeding 99,130.00 to which required to be added allowances of 955.00 for Planning Supervisor and 9,913.00 for professional services, making a total expenditure of 109,998.00.

(b) TENDERS RECEIVED BY CITY ENGINEER

The City Engineer submitted Report No 99-2004 giving details of the offers received for the undernoted contracts:-

(i) 1-7 AND 6-10 CRAIGMOUNT AVENUE - DEMOLITION

The Committee agreed to accept the lowest offer by Central Demolition and Dismantling to carry out the above works for the sum of 49,625.00 to which required to be added the undernoted allowances:-

making a total expenditure of 104,919.

(ii) BARRA TERRACE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENTS

The Committee agreed to accept the lowest offer by Torith Ltd amounting to 29,794.50 to which required to be added the undernoted allowances:-

making a total expenditure of 45,000.

VII LANSDOWNE MSD, PITALPIN COURT, FABRIC REPAIRS - EXTENSION TO CONTRACT

On a reference to Article II of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 15th September, 2003 the City Architectural Services Officer submitted Report No 101-2004 requesting approval to extend the existing contract.

The Committee approved the extension of the existing contract and the estimated additional expenditure of approximately 56,000 by the existing contractor, Castle Contracting Ltd.

VIII PARTNERING PROJECTS LET

Reference was made to Article IV of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 19th May, 2003.

There was submitted Agenda Note AN63-2004.

The Committee noted that further partnering projects had been let as part of the 2003/2004 Central Heating Programme, as undernoted:-

The expenditure on the heating installations of the first seven projects listed will be met from the Scottish Executive allocation to fund the Central Heating Initiative in 2003/2004 while the gas heating installations at Taybank will be substantially met from the Leased Heating for Council Housing Initiative. The electrical upgrading and other costs will be met from the Housing Capital Budget 2003/2004.

IX GARRY PLACE, FOOTPATH AND DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS

There was submitted Agenda Note AN64-2004 advising that on the instruction of the Director of Housing it was proposed to undertake remedial works to the footpaths within the above sheltered housing complex, involving re-grading of the footpaths and the installation of additional drainage measures.

The Committee agreed to accept an offer from Torith Ltd based on the Unit Rate Contract for Minor Roadworks for 2003-2004 amounting to 54,733.50 to which allowances of 12,500 for professional fees and 18,016.50 for contingencies required to be added, giving a total expenditure of 85,250.

X REGISTRATION OF TENANT ORGANISATIONS - HOUSING (SCOTLAND) ACT 2001 (THE ACT)

There was submitted Agenda Note AN65-2004 advising that an application to be registered as a tenant organisation had been received by the Director of Housing from Haldane Area Residents and Tenants' Association.

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

XI PRIVATE SECTOR HOUSING GRANT - INVITATION TO BID

There was submitted Agenda Note AN85-2004 advising the Committee of the arrangements for the allocation of Private Sector Housing Grant (PSHG) which were to be implemented for the financial year 2004/05.

The Committee noted that due to the timescales involved it would not be possible to report to Committee prior to the bidding date and the Committee authorised the preparation and submission of a suitable bid to the Scottish Executive for an indicative bid element of 270,000 before the closing date of 3rd March, 2004. The Committee also noted that a full report would be submitted to the Committee in due course.

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

There was submitted Agenda Note AN66-2004. 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 2004 in each of the categories were as follows:-

The grants approved under the new grant scheme HOUSING (SCOTLAND) ACT, 2001

Previous applications transferred and approved under the new grant scheme Housing (Scotland) Act, 2001 (additional grant expenditure) **

* May include commercial premises

** No works having commenced under old grant scheme applicants therefore chose a financial test of resources and transfer to new scheme.

The Committee resolved under Section 50(A)(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act, 1973 that the public and press be excluded from the meeting for the undernoted items of business on the grounds that it involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 6 and 9 of Part I of Schedule 7(A) of the Act.

XIII WHITFIELD COMMUNITY SERVICES COMPLEX, 101 WHITFIELD DRIVE

Reference was made to Article VIII of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 19th February, 2001. There was submitted Agenda Note AN67-2004 giving details of the lease terms for the above complex, which had been provisionally agreed by the Director of Economic Development after consultation with the Director of Housing.

The Committee approved the proposed lease as detailed.

CHRISTOPHER HIND, Convener.