Housing, Dundee Contract Services And Environment Services Committee - 17/01/2005

At a MEETING of the HOUSING COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 17th January, 2005.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Bailie WRIGHT, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 20th December, 2004 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I REVIEW OF HOUSING DEPARTMENT MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE

The Director of Housing and Assistant Chief Executive (Management) submitted Joint Report No 775-2004 reviewing the management structure of the Housing Department to meet the changing needs of the service and to take forward proposals to incorporate contact centre technology into housing service delivery.

The Committee:-

(a) approved the introduction of a new management structure for the housing service;

(b) remitted to the Director of Housing to set up Working Groups, as detailed in Appendices 2 and 3 of the report, to bring forward proposals to incorporate contact centre technology into service delivery for Lettings, Rent Recovery and Capital Contract Services;

(c) agreed that DFTA and the Trade Unions form part of the core membership of the Working Groups; and

(d) instructed the Director of Housing to bring forward further reports on the staffing structures for the new Sections created through the review.

II REVIEW OF RENTS AND OTHER HOUSING CHARGES

The Director of Housing submitted Report No 13-2005 setting out the proposed rent and other charges for the financial year 2005/2006.

The Committee agreed to the undernoted recommendations:-

(a) rents be increased by 1.83 per week on average subject to maximum increase of 2.25 from 4th April, 2005;

(b) the Service Charge for the Concierge Service be increased by 25p per week from 4th April, 2005;

(c) charges for Car Parking facilities be increased as follows from 4th April, 2005:-

7                                             Garage Lock Ups by 25p to 7.25 per week

7                                             Underground Parking Bay by 10p to 1.80 per week

7                                             Garage Sites by 10p to 1.80 per week;

(d) where a house is improved during the year the rent be increased in line with the average increase in Gross Annual Value of all affected properties, subject to a maximum of 2.00;

(e) the levels of rents held on the Housing Revenue Account be similarly applied to miscellaneous and garage sites, subject to categorisation where appropriate.

III REVIEW OF CHARGES

The Director of Housing submitted Report No 33-2005 seeking authority to review charges for Special Needs (Homeless) Temporary Accommodation, Furnished Accommodation, Multi-Storey Launderettes, Stair Cleaning Charges, Heating Charges at Brington Place Sheltered Housing Development and Status Enquiry Fees, all being effective from 4th April, 2005.

The Committee agreed:-

(a) SPECIAL NEEDS (HOMELESS) TEMPORARY ACCOMMODATION

To meet current and estimated future costs of the service the following charges are proposed:-

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.

(b) FURNISHED ACCOMMODATION

Mainstream Furnished Lets

The weekly charge for furniture be increased as detailed to cover the increased costs in providing the service. This gives the following charges:

Charges for part-furnished houses are pro rata to fully furnished according to the cost of the furniture provided.

(c) HEATING CHARGES - BRINGTON PLACE SHELTERED HOUSING

The electricity charge for cooking, lighting, heating and hot water provided to the homes of tenants and warden is increased by 15p per week.

(d) STAIR CLEANING CHARGES

Stair Cleaning charges are increased by 10p per week.

(e) MULTI-STOREY LAUNDERETTES

The charges for Multi-Storey Launderettes be increased to the following:

(f) STATUS ENQUIRY FEES

The fee charged to Banks, Building Societies, etc for status enquiries will be set at 30.00.

IV REVIEW OF SHELTERED HOUSING SERVICE CHARGE

Bailie Borthwick declared a non-financial interest by virtue of his employment by Age Concern Scotland.

The Director of Housing submitted Report No 41-2005 reviewing the apportionment of Housing Management and Support costs within the Sheltered Housing Service Charge and proposing an alternative charging policy.

The Committee agreed that the Sheltered Housing Service Charge be split between the Housing Management element and the Housing Support element with the Housing Management element being charge separately along with housing rent and the Housing Support element being charged to Supporting People services.

The Committee also agreed that the combined Housing Management and Housing Support element be maintained at the current charge of 16.13 per week for the financial year 2005/2006.

V PITCH RENTS - TRAVELLING PEOPLE'S SITE - BALMUIR WOOD

There was submitted Agenda Note AN22-2005 advising that a pitch rent increase of 1.30 per week was required to ensure the continued levels of service and to meet increasing costs.

The Committee agreed that pitch rents be increased by 1.30 per week for the financial year 2005/2006.

VI TENDERS RECEIVED

(a) The City Architectural Services Officer submitted Report No 45-2005 giving details of offers received for the undernoted contracts:

(i) CRAIGIE STREET SHELTERED HOUSING COMPLEX - FIRE ALARM INSTALLATION

The Committee agreed to accept the lowest offer by Hydro Contracting amounting to 23,466.67 to which required to be added allowances of 331 for Planning Supervisor and 2,748 for professional services, making a total expenditure of 26,545.67.

The Committee also noted that Hydro Contracting had listed the undernoted sub-contractors:-

Chubb Fire Alarms Systems Division, Glasgow - Alarms

Tunstall Telecom, Yorkshire - Warden Call System

(ii) CITYWIDE ROOF SURVEYS 2004 PHASE 2 - ACCESS AND ATTENDANCE WORKS

The Committee agreed to accept a negotiated offer with Raynor Roofing Limited amounting to 24,960 to which required to be added an allowance of 4,208 for professional services making a total expenditure of 29,168.

The Committee also noted that Raynor Roofing Limited had listed A & J Maintenance Support Limited as the sub-contractor for scaffolding.

(iii) 162/166 CLEPINGTON ROAD AND 61/67 PROVOST ROAD - REPAIRS NOTICE IN DEFAULT

On a reference to Article III(a) of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 21st August, 2000 the Committee agreed to accept the negotiated offer with Muirfield (Contracts) Limited amounting to 256,523.11 to which required to be added an allowance 36,000 for professional services making a total expenditure of 292,523.11.

(b) The City Engineer submitted Report No 7-2005 giving details of offers received to carry out the above works.

The Committee agreed to accept the lowest offer by Tayside Contracts amounting to 43,285.90 to which required to be added allowances of 1,714.10 for contingencies, 4,500 for professional fees and 500 for planning supervisor, making a total expenditure of 50,000.

VII KIRKTON HOUSING SECURITY IMPROVEMENTS

Reference was made to Article IV(b) of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 15th December, 2003. There was submitted Agenda Note AN20-2005 advising that on the instruction of the Director of Housing, the City Engineer had negotiated an extension of the existing contract with T & N Gilmartin (Contractors) Limited based on the competitive rates obtained in tender for the sum of 64,448.72. The Committee approved the action taken and noting that an overall allowance of 80,000 including professional fees and contingencies.

VIII FOOTPATHS BETWEEN PITKERRO ROAD AND MOSSGIEL PLACE

Reference was made to Article IV(b)(i) of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 19th January, 2004. There was submitted Agenda Note AN21-2005 advising that on the instruction of the Director of Housing, the City Engineer had negotiated an extension of the existing contract with Dundee Plant Company Limited based on the competitive rates obtained in tender for the sum of 90,721.90.

The Committee approved the action taken and noted that an overall allowance of 112 included professional fees, street lighting and contingencies.

The Convener agreed that the undernoted item be considered as a matter of urgency under Standing Order No 17(b) in view of the timescales involved.

IX CHARTERED INSTITUTE OF HOUSING IN SCOTLAND ANNUAL CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION - 7TH TO 10THMARCH, 2005 - ABERDEEN

There was submitted Agenda Note AN29-2005 advising that delegates were invited to attend the above Conference and Exhibition.

The Committee authorised the attendance of one member of the Administration, one member of the SNP Group and one member of the Conservative Group.

HELEN WRIGHT, Convener.