Housing, Dundee Contract Services And Environment Services Committee - 17/05/2004

At a MEETING of the HOUSING COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 17th May, 2004.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Councillor HIND, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 19th April, 2004 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I QUALITY OF LIFE - HOUSING FOOTPATH REPAIRS

There was submitted Joint Report No 269-2004 by the Director of Planning and Transportation and the Director of Housing updating the Committee on progress with the City-wide survey of housing footpaths and seeking authority to commence a programme of footpath repairs for 2004-2006.

The Committee agreed to:

(a) note the contents of this report and agree the prioritisation of footpath repairs in accordance with Appendices 1 and 2 to the report; and

(b) authorise the City Engineer to obtain tenders for carrying out this work based on the unit rate contract for minor roadworks.

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

(a) 2-8 WHITEHALL CRESCENT

The Director of Housing submitted Report No 253-2004 seeking approval for the service of a Repairs Notice on the above property 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) agreed that should owners fail to comply with the terms of the Notice, the Council should instruct the work to be carried out in default and that the Director of Housing, in consultation as appropriate with the relevant departments, should appoint suitable consultants to execute the work required and noted that should the works not be carried out in terms of the Repairs Notice then a further report for Committee would be brought forward to make a decision as to whether to do the works in default; and

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

(b) 2-12 CASTLE STREET AND 2 HIGH STREET

The Director of Housing submitted Report No 262-2004 seeking approval for the service of a Repairs Notice on the property at 2-12 Castle Street and 2 High Street 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) agreed that should owners fail to comply with the terms of the Notice, the Council should instruct the work to be carried out in default and that the Director of Housing, in consultation as appropriate with the relevant departments, should appoint suitable consultants to execute the work required and noted that should the works not be carried out in terms of the Repairs Notice then a further report for Committee would be brought forward to make a decision as to whether to do the works in default; and

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

III DEMOLITION OF NUMBERS 1, 7, 49 AND 67 MIDMILL ROAD

The Director of Housing submitted Report No 332-2004 seeking approval for the demolition of 24 flats at the above addresses in Mid Craigie.

The Committee:

(a) agreed to declare surplus and demolish 24 flats at 1, 7, 49 and 67 Midmill Road, Mid Craigie;

(b) remitted to the Director of Housing to award priority re-housing status to the remaining tenants together with the statutory Home Loss Payment of 1,500; and

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

IV DALFIELD MSD - CCTV SECURITY UPGRADE - EXTENSION TO CONTRACT

On a reference to Article VI(i) of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 16th February, 2004 the City Architectural Services Officer submitted Report No 362-2004 requesting approval to extend the existing contract with Video Watchman Systems Limited.

The Committee approved the extension of the existing contract and estimated additional expenditure of 19,100.

V TENDERS RECEIVED

The City Architectural Services Officer submitted Report No 346-2004 giving details of a negotiated tender by Raynor Roofing Limited to carry out Pitched Roof Repairs Phase 3 at Lawton First Development for the sum 161,720.43 to which required to be added allowances of 1,352 for planning supervisor and 11,321 for professional services, making a total expenditure of 174,393.43.

VI REGISTRATION OF TENANT ORGANISATIONS - HOUSING (SCOTLAND) ACT 2001

There was submitted Agenda Note AN201-2004 advising that an application to be registered as a tenant organisation had been received by the Director of Housing from Balgowan/Helmsdale Area Residents Association.

As the Director of Housing considered that the application fulfilled the criteria set out in the Act, the Committee approved the application.

VII REGISTERED TENANT ORGANISATIONS - ADMINISTRATION GRANTS

There was submitted Agenda Note AN202-2004 advising that the Director of Housing had received the undernoted application requesting grant assistance towards administration costs for 2004/2005.

The Committee approved accordingly.

VIII FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION TO TENANTS' INFORMATION SERVICE

There was submitted Agenda Note AN210-2004 requesting a financial contribution.

The Committee agreed a financial contribution of 700 to the Tenants' Information Service.

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

There was submitted Agenda Note AN203-2004. Reference was made to the minute of meeting of this Committee of 15th November, 1999 when grant expenditure under the Housing (Non HRA) Budget was agreed.

It was agreed that the grants approved during April 2004 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 public and press 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 SITE AT BALGARTHNO ROAD

There was submitted Agenda Note AN204-2004 advising that the person holding the ground lease for the above site had requested a review of the lease arrangements involving transition to ownership.

The Committee noted that provisional agreement had been reached to sell the site and approved the terms and conditions as detailed.

XI THE PROVISION OF SUPPORTED ACCOMMODATION FOR PEOPLE WITH LEARNING DISABILITIES

Bailie Borthwick declared a non-financial interest by virtue of his spouse's employment, by the Social Work Department.

There was submitted Agenda Note AN209-2004 in relation to Dundee City Council's Partnership In Practice Agreement for People with Learning Disabilities.

The Committee noted that four individuals would be provided with a six months Short Scottish Secure Tenancy by the Housing Department with Social Work support and a further report would be submitted to the Committee in due course.

CHRISTOPHER HIND, Convener.