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:-

 

Lord Provost John R LETFORD

 

 

 

BAILIES

 

C D P FARQUHAR

John CORRIGAN

Bruce D MACKIE

Helen WRIGHT

 

Ian BORTHWICK

 

COUNCILLORS

 

Jill SHIMI

Joe MORROW

Jim BARRIE

Kevin KEENAN

Fraser MACPHERSON

Will DAWSON

George REGAN

Nigel DON

Elizabeth F FORDYCE

Julia M STURROCK

Richard BEATTIE

Roderick A J WALLACE

Fiona M GRANT

Andrew DAWSON

Charles A WEBSTER

Christopher HIND

Willie W SAWERS

Derek J SCOTT

 

Joe FITZPATRICK

 

 

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:-

 

Contingencies

9,133.23

Euro Bins

7,452.00

Community Skip

1,000.00

Professional Fees

9,500.00

Planning Supervisor

500.00

 

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:-

 

Public Utilities

3,000.00

Contingencies

19,789.07

Professional Fees

12,000.00

Planning Supervisor

600.00

 

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:-

 

Group

 

2004/2005

Approved 2003/2004

Whitfield Area Forum for Tenants

420

385

 

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:-

 

 

Category

Amount of

Grants Approved

No of

Dwellings

Housing Action Areas

0

0

Repairs Notices and other Statutory Notices

15,111

1*

Improvements/Repairs and Conversions within the City Centre

0

0

BTS Improvement/Repair

0

0

Disabled Adaptations

18,293

2

Care and Repair (IG)

2,129

1

Care and Repair (RG)

1,435

1

Serious Disrepair

0

0

Mutual Repairs

4,341

5

Ex-Council (Capital Project)

15,610

6

Windows

0

0

Removal of Lead Plumbing

950

1

Rewiring

4,053

3

Environmental

0

0

Discretionary Improvements

0

0

Discretionary Repairs

29,225

10

Energy Efficiency

0

0

HMOs (Fire Escapes)

4,766

10

TOTAL

95,913

40

 

* 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.