Housing, Dundee Contract Services And Environment Services Committee - 21/03/2005

At a MEETING of the HOUSING COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 21st March, 2005.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Bailie WRIGHT, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 21st February, 2005 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I HOUSING REPAIRS CENTRE - STAFFING STRUCTURE

The Director of Housing and Assistant Chief Executive (Management) submitted Joint Report No 138-2005 advising the Housing and Personnel Committees of the progress of the operation of the Housing Repairs Centre and seeking approval of a revised staffing structure.

The Committee approved the terms of the report.

II TENANTS' ALLOWANCES

On a reference to Article III of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 15th March, 2004, the Director of Housing submitted Report No 175-2005 upgrading tenants' allowances in line with inflation.

The Committee approved the recommendations of the report with effect from 1st April, 2005 and further agreed the revised decant allowance for tenants making their own arrangements outlined in paragraph 8 of the report.

III USE OF HOMELESS FUNDING 2005/2006

On a reference to Article I of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 21st June, 2004 and Article VI of the minute of meeting of the Personnel Committee of 14th February, 2005, the Director of Housing submitted Report No 281-2005 seeking approval to spend special grant allocations for 2005/2006 to meet the requirements of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 and the Homelessness etc (Scotland) Act 2003.

The Committee approved the prioritisation of Homeless Task Force Grant for 2005/2006 as undernoted:-

(a) 15,000 be committed to develop and train staff up to Homepoint Standards level;

(b) two vehicles be purchased by the Homeless Services Unit up to the value of 50,000;

(c) investigation into the hidden homeless within the city be addressed by commissioning an independent research study;

(d) the Director of Housing to obtain costs for the refurbishment of the Lily Walker Centre;

and, with regard to paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) above, instructed the Director of Housing to bring forward further reports to the Committee with specific proposals and details of expenditure.

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

There was submitted Agenda Note AN120-2005 requesting that the undernoted Associations be registered as Tenant Organisations:-

h Wiston Foggyley and Clement Park Tenants and Residents Association

h Coldside Residents Association

The Committee, having heard the applications fulfilled the criteria set out in the Act, agreed to approve the applications.

V REGISTERED TENANT ORGANISATIONS - ADMINISTRATION GRANTS

There was submitted Agenda Note AN121-2005 requesting grant assistance towards administration costs for 2004/2005 from the following group:-

The Committee agreed to grant assistance as requested.

VI SCOTTISH HECA OFFICERS NETWORK - ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP

There was submitted Agenda Note AN122-2005 requesting the Committee to authorise the Director of Housing to renew membership of the Scottish HECA Officers Network (SHON) at a cost of 300 per annum.

The Committee authorised the Director of Housing to renew membership of SHON.

VII TENANTS INFORMATION SERVICE ANNUAL CONFERENCE - 25TH-26TH JUNE, 2005 "SETTING THEAGENDA" - HERIOT-WATT UNIVERSITY, EDINBURGH

There was submitted Agenda Note AN123-2005 recommending that the Housing Department send up to seven tenant representatives to the above conference.

The Committee approved accordingly.

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

There was submitted Agenda Note AN124-2005. Reference was made to the minute of 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 February 2005 in each of the categories were as follows:-

* may contain commercial premises.

The Committee resolved under Section 50(A)(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 that the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the undernoted item 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 7A of the Act.

IX PROPOSED RELOCATION OF LOCHEE HOUSING AND SOCIAL WORK OFFICES

The Director of Housing and the Director of Social Work submitted Joint Report No 151-2005 presenting options for the relocation of Lochee Housing and Social Work Offices and proposing that approval in principle be given to a new build option.

The Committee approved the terms of the report and instructed the appropriate officers accordingly.

HELEN WRIGHT, Convener.