Housing, Dundee Contract Services And Environment Services Committee - 18/04/2005

At a MEETING of the HOUSING COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 18th April, 2005.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Baillie WRIGHT, Convener, in the Chair.

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

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I BUILDING STRONGER COMMUNITIES - PHYSICAL REGENERATION IN THE COUNCIL SECTOR - SURPLUSHOUSING AT MENZIESHILL

On a reference to Article II of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 21st June, 2004 the Director of Housing submitted Report No 255-2005 informing the Committee of the tenants' responses to demolition proposals for the "At Risk" properties in Menzieshill and seeking approval for the demolition of these properties.

The Committee:

(a) Agreed that the 420 "At Risk" properties, including 39 sheltered houses, and associated 105 lock-ups be declared surplus for demolition.

(b) Remitted to the Director of Housing to award redevelopment priority status for rehousing together with the statutory Home Loss payment of 1,500 per household.

(c) Remitted to the Director of Planning and Transportation to prepare tenders and seek offers for demolition at the appropriate time.

(d) Remitted to the Director of Housing to bring forward proposals for redevelopment at the appropriate time and

(e) Agreed that Sheltered Housing Wardens posts would become surplus should this report be approved and the Director of Social Work would consult with the Trade Unions and employees regarding suitable redeployment.

II PROPOSED DEMOLITION OF 18-20 BALBEGGIE STREET, DOUGLAS AND ANGUS

The Director of Housing submitted Report No 15-2005 seeking approval for the fire damaged properties at 18 to 20 Balbeggie Street, Douglas and Angus to be demolished.

The Committee:

(a) Agreed to demolish 12 flats at 18 to 20 Balbeggie Street, Douglas and Angus

(b) Remitted to the Director of Housing to award priority rehousing status (as detailed in Appendix II of the report) to the remaining 11 tenants, together with the statutory Home Loss payment.

(c) Remitted to the City Engineer to prepare tenders and seek offers for the demolition and post demolition treatment at the appropriate time and

(d) Remitted to the Director of Housing to bring forward proposals for redevelopment of the cleared site at the appropriate time.

III HOUSING (SCOTLAND) ACT 1987 - SECTION 108 - REPAIRS NOTICES

(a) 40 PROVOST ROAD

The Director of Housing submitted Report No 238-2005 seeking approval for the service of a Repairs Notice on the property at 40 Provost Road to carry out the necessary repairs.

The Committee:

(i) Approved the service of a Repairs Notice in terms of Section 108 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987, with a time limit of, as nearly as may be, six months for compliance with the terms of the Notice.

(ii) Recommended that should the owners fail to comply with the terms of the Notice, the Council should consider instructing the work to be carried out in default and, if necessary, that the Director of Housing, in consultation as appropriate with the relevant departments, should appoint suitable consultants to execute the work required.

The Committee also noted that should the works not be carried out in terms of the Repairs Notice, a further report to Committee would be brought forward to make a decision as to whether to carry out the works in default and

(iii) Agreed that should default action be implemented, the appropriate officers be instructed to authorise and arrange payments to the engaged consultants as appropriate.

(b) 50 PROVOST ROAD

The Director of Housing submitted Report No 239-2005 seeking approval for the service of a Repairs Notice on the property at 50 Provost Road to carry out the necessary repairs.

The Committee:

(i) Approved the service of a Repairs Notice in terms of Section 108 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987, with a time limit of, as nearly as may be, six months for compliance with the terms of the Notice.

(ii) Recommended that should the owners fail to comply with the terms of the Notice, the Council should consider instructing the work to be carried out in default and, if necessary, that the Director of Housing, in consultation as appropriate with the relevant departments, should appoint suitable consultants to execute the work required.

The Committee also noted that should the works not be carried out in terms of the Repairs Notice, a further report to Committee would be brought forward to make a decision as to whether to carry out the works in default and

(iii) Agreed that should default action be implemented, the appropriate officers be instructed to authorise and arrange payments to the engaged consultants as appropriate.

(c) 52 PROVOST ROAD

The Director of Housing submitted Report No 240-2005 seeking approval for the service of the Repairs Notice on the property at 52 Provost Road to carry out the necessary repairs.

The Committee:

(i) Approved the service of a Repairs Notice in terms of Section 108 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987, with a time limit of, as nearly as may be, six months for compliance with the terms of the Notice.

(ii) Recommended that should the owners fail to comply with the terms of the Notice, the Council should consider instructing the work to be carried out in default and, if necessary, that the Director of Housing, in consultation as appropriate with the relevant departments, should appoint suitable consultants to execute the work required.

The Committee also noted that should the works not be carried out in terms of the Repairs Notice, a further report to Committee would be brought forward to make a decision as to whether to carry out the works in default and

(iii) Agreed that should default action be implemented, the appropriate officers be instructed to authorise and arrange payments to the engaged consultants as appropriate.

IV OWNERS' CHARTER

The Director of Housing submitted Report No 242-2005 seeking Committee approval for the Owners' Charter.

The Committee approved the details of the Ex-Council House Owners' Charter attached to the report as a statement of intent from Dundee City Council and Dundee Association of Council Houses Owners (DACHO) as a way forward to provide quality housing services.

V HOUSING DEPARTMENT - DUNDEE ENERGY EFFICIENCY ADVICE PROJECT (DEEAP)

The Director of Housing and the Assistant Chief Executive (Management) submitted Joint Report No 202-2005 seeking approval for the Council to assume responsibility for Dundee Energy Efficiency Advice Project and employ the existing staff and outlining the need for enhanced energy advice in the City, how this could be achieved and how it would be paid for by the use of funds generated by the preferred energy supplier scheme.

The Committee:

(a) Approved the establishment of the Dundee Energy Efficiency Advice Project within the Housing Department

(b) Noted that the project would relocate to Housing Department Offices at 1 Shore Terrace and

(c) Agreed the establishment of a Urgent Fuel Poverty Fund of 5,000 paid for from the Community Efficiency Fund, funded through the preferred fuel supplier scheme to allow the Senior Energy Adviser to fund small scale projects to help individuals in the City overcome fuel poverty and noted the criteria for deciding on requests detailed at paragraph 8 of the report.

VI TENDERS RECEIVED

The City Architectural Services Officer submitted Report No 234-2005 giving details of offers received for the undernoted contracts:

(a) BYRON STREET TENEMENTS - 51-57 BYRON STREET - PITCHED ROOF REPLACEMENT

The Committee agreed to accept the lowest offer by Dundee Contract Services amounting to 97,647.33 (less specialist work and insulation carried out direct by the client) together with the undernoted allowances:

Making a total expenditure of 106,700.33.

The Committee also noted that Dundee Contract Services had listed A & J Scaffolding as sub-contractor for scaffolding.

(b) 13-15 SANDEMAN STREET - CHIMNEY DEMOLITION AND ROOF REPLACEMENT

The Committee agreed to accept the lowest offer by Raynor Roofing Limited amounting to 50,100.35 together with allowances of 1,500 for building warrant, 573 for planning supervisor and 7,830 for professional services, making a total expenditure of 60,003.35.

VII DALFIELD MSD ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENTS

Reference was made to Article IV of the minute of meeting of the Policy and Resources Committee of 8th November, 2004. There was submitted Agenda Note AN148-2005 advising the Committee that on the instruction of the Director of Housing, the City Engineer had negotiated an extension to the original works to upgrade the car park off Dock Street to the value of 25,000 and to take advantage of an opportunity to start earlier than planned, the Chief Executive had granted approval for the works.

The Committee approved the action taken.

VIII FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION TO TENANTS' INFORMATION SERVICE

There was submitted Agenda Note AN144-2005 requesting that the Committee agree to a financial contribution of 700 to the Tenants' Information Service (TIS).

The Committee approved the contribution.

IX REGISTERED TENANT ORGANISATIONS - ADMINISTRATION GRANTS

There was submitted Agenda Note AN147-2005 requesting grant assistance towards administration costs for 2005/2006 from Charleston Tenants and Residents Association.

The Committee agreed to a grant of 250.

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 items of business on the grounds that they involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 6 and 9 of Part I of Schedule 7A of the Act.

X TRANSFER OF GROUND AT 20 CRAIGMOUNT ROAD

There was submitted Agenda Note AN146-2005 in connection with the proposed incorporation of the above ground into a garden area and the transfer of ownership.

The Committee agreed the transfer subject to Scottish Ministers' consent on the terms and conditions detailed.

XI LEASE OF GARDEN GROUND

There was submitted Agenda Note AN171-2005 advising that an application to lease an area of garden ground had been received.

The Committee approved the provisional agreement which had been reached after consultation with the Director of Housing on the terms and conditions detailed.

XII ASDA, KIRKTON, DERWENT AVENUE

There was submitted Agenda Note AN172-2005 advising that the Council held the ground lease of the above premises.

The Committee approved the rent review on the terms and conditions detailed.

HELEN WRIGHT, Convener.