Housing, Dundee Contract Services And Environment Services Committee - 20/12/2004

At a MEETING of the HOUSING COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 20th December, 2004.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Baillie WRIGHT, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 15th November, 2004 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I TENDERS RECEIVED

(a) The City Architectural Services Officer submitted Report No 829-2004 giving details of a negotiated offer with Dundee Contract Services to carry out pitched roof repairs at phases 9 and 10 of Magdalene's Kirkton 2nd Development for the sum of 514,066.49 to which required to be added allowances of 2,719 for planning supervisor and 25,919 for professional services making a total expenditure of 542,704.49.

The Committee agreed to accept the offer.

(b) The City Engineer submitted report No 673-2004 giving details of offers received for the undernoted contracts:-

(i) Mill O Mains Bin Store - Phase 1

The Committee agreed to accept the lowest offer by J D Minto Limited to carry out the above works for the sum of 79,954.06 to which required to be added the undernoted allowances:-

Making a total expenditure of 107,539.29.

(ii) St Mary's Environmental Improvements - Phase 1

The Committee agreed to accept the lowest offer by T & N Gilmartin (Contractors) Limited amounting to 84,610.93 to which required to be added the undernoted allowances:-

Making a total expenditure of 120,000.

(iii) Gowrie Court - Car Park Resurfacing

The Committee agreed to accept the lowest offer by Ennstone Thistle Ltd amounting to 14,349 to which required to be added allowances of 2,500 for contingencies and 2,500 for fees making a total expenditure of 19,349.

II MENZIESHILL HOUSING FOOTPATH REPAIRS

Reference was made to Article V of the minute of meeting of the Recess Sub-Committee of 19th July 2004 when it was agreed to accept an offer from Tayside Contracts to carry out Quality of Life Housing Footpath Repairs Contract 3 in the Menzieshill Area.

There was submitted Agenda Note AN464-2004 advising that in order to ensure that these works were completed within the current financial year an offer had been negotiated with Tayside Contracts based on the rates obtained in competitive tender for the Quality of Life Housing Footpath Repairs Contract 3.

The Committee agreed to extend the existing contract with Tayside Contracts to include this additional work amounting to 16,152.96 to which required to be added allowances of 4,846.04 for professional fees and 2,000 for contingencies giving an overall expenditure of 23,000.

III REGISTERED TENANT ORGANISATIONS - ADMINISTRATION GRANTS

There was submitted Agenda Note AN465-2004 requesting grant assistance towards administration costs for 2004-2005 from the following group:-

The Committee agreed to grant assistance as requested.

IV HOUSING (SCOTLAND) ACT 2001 - IMPROVEMENT, REPAIRS AND ENVIRONMENTAL GRANTS, HOME LOANSETC

There was submitted Agenda Note AN466-2004. Reference was made to the minute of the meeting of the Housing Committee of 15th November 1999 when grant expenditure now under Private Sector Housing Grant was agreed.

It was agreed that the grants approved during November 2004 in each of the categories were as follows:-

* may contain commercial premises.

The Convener had agreed to include the undernoted item as a matter of urgency in terms of Standing Order 17(b) in view of the timescales involved.

V REVIEW OF RENTS AND OTHER CHARGES

There was submitted Agenda Note AN496-2004 advising that the Director of Housing and Depute Chief Executive (Finance) would submit a report to this Committee on 17th January, 2005 which it was proposed might recommend a rent rise of 1.83 per week on average to a maximum increase of 2.25 and the following increases on other housing charges as calculated by the Depute Chief Executive (Finance) and the Director of Housing:-

Concierge Service be increased by 25p per week

Garage lock ups be increased by 25p to 7.25 per week.

Underground Parking Bay be increased by 10p to 1.80 per week.

Garage sites be increased by 10p to 1.80 per week.

These increases were proposed to be applied from 4th April, 2005.

The Housing Department proposed to consult tenants on the proposals by posting the details as to how and when to comment as follows:-

Information would be provided on the public information boards in housing offices, information would be displayed on the Council's website and information would be included in a public notice to be advertised in the local newspaper.

The Committee noted that following the consultation period and having regard to the proposals and the views expressed during the consultation, a report would be submitted to this Committee on 17th January, 2005.

HELEN WRIGHT, Convener.