Housing, Dundee Contract Services And Environment Services Committee - 24/10/2005

At a MEETING of the HOUSING COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 24th October, 2005.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Bailie WRIGHT, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 19th September, 2005 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I HOUSING (SCOTLAND) ACT 1987 - SECTION 108 REPAIRS NOTICE - 1 RUSTIC PLACE, DUDHOPE STREET AND 65, 69A AND 69B CONSTITUTION ROAD

On a reference to Article III of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 15th December, 2003, the Director of Housing submitted Report No 601-2005 seeking agreement for the withdrawal of the Repairs Notice at 1 Rustic Place, Dudhope Street and 69 Constitution Road served on 10th February, 2004 and the service of a new Repairs Notice on the above property to carry out the necessary repairs.

The Committee:-

(a) agreed to the withdrawal of the Repairs Notice at 1 Rustic Place and 69 Constitution Road;

(b) approved the service of a new Repairs Notice on the property at 1 Rustic Place, Dudhope Street, 65, 69A and 69B Constitution Road in terms of Section 108 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987 with a time of limit, as nearly as may be, six weeks for compliance with the terms of the Notice;

(c) recommended that should owners fail to comply with the terms of the Notice, the Council should consider instructing works 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 works required;

(d) noted that should the works not be carried out in terms of the Repairs Notice, a further report for this Committee would be brought forward to make a decision as to whether to carry out the works in default;

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

II FUEL POVERTY INITIATIVE

Councillor Will Dawson declared a non-financial interest by virtue of his employment by Scottish and Southern Energy plc.

The Director of Housing submitted Report No 583-2005 requesting agreements to launch a Fuel Poverty Initiative which would introduce a social housing tariff in conjunction with Scottish and Southern Energy plc (trading locally as Scottish Hydro Electric) for tenants in Lansdowne/Pitalpin MSD and to offer an electrical appliance package in conjunction with Scottish Hydro Electric and Discovery Credit Union as a pilot scheme for tenants in the above multi storey developments.

The Committee agreed:-

(a) to a Pilot Fuel Poverty Initiative to introduce a social housing tariff to tenants in the above multi storey developments, where tenants coming forward to joint the scheme who were in fuel poverty be given a 20% reduction in fuel (electricity) costs to be borne by Scottish and Southern Energy plc; and

(b) to Scottish and Southern Energy plc and Discovery Credit Union in partnership with the Council offering an appliance package to eligible tenants in the above multi storey developments up to the numbers which could be funded through the scheme, ie a maximum of 50 and for a maximum 8,410 from the Community Energy Efficiency Fund.

III PURCHASE OF PEOPLE CARRIERS FOR HOMELESS SERVICES UNIT

The Director of Housing submitted Report No 615-2005 giving details of offers received for the supply of two people carriers.

The Committee agreed to accept the lowest offer for the supply of two vehicles by Arnold Clark (Fiat Fleet Sales), Dundee at a total cost of 31,744.

IV TENDERS RECEIVED

The City Architectural Services Officer submitted Report No 647-2005 giving details of offers received for the undernoted contracts:-

(a) MENZIESHILL 1ST DEVELOPMENT - PITCHED ROOF REPLACEMENT PHASE 1

The Committee agreed to accept the lowest offer by Ward Building Services Limited amounting to 67,976.05 together with allowances of 716 for Planning Supervisor and 7,211 for professional services, making a total expenditure of 75,903.05.

The Committee also noted that Ward Building Services Limited had listed Ward Plumbing and Heating as the sub-contractor for plumber work.

(b) MENZIESHILL 11TH AND 13TH DEVELOPMENTS - ROOF AND RENDER REPLACEMENT

The Committee agreed to accept the lower offer by Muirfield (Contracts) Limited amounting to 503,152.34 together with allowances of 2,681 for Planning Supervisor and 30,692 for professional services, making a total expenditure of 536,525.34.

The Committee also noted that Muirfield (Contracts) Limited had listed the undernoted sub-contractors:-

Pitairlie Plumbing & Heating, Newbigging Plumber

Marley Contract Services, Glasgow Roofing

(c) MENZIESHILL 11TH DEVELOPMENT - ROOF AND RENDER REPLACEMENT

The Committee agreed to accept the lowest offer by Muirfield (Contracts) Limited amounting to 430,416.09 together with allowances of 2,426 for Planning Supervisor and 26,360 for professional services, making a total expenditure of 459,202.09.

The Committee also noted that Muirfield (Contracts) Limited had listed the undernoted sub-contractors:-

Pitairlie Plumbing & Heating, Newbigging Plumber

Marley Contract Services, Glasgow Roofing

(d) 14 ST FILLANS ROAD - ROUGHCAST RENEWAL

The Committee agreed to accept the partnership offer by Dundee Contract Services to carry out the above works for the sum of 10,000 together with an allowance of 1,686 for professional services, making a total expenditure of 11,686.

V DUNDEE EAST AREA HOUSING OFFICE, PITKERRO ROAD - NEWBUILD

On a reference to Article II(c) of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 18th October, 2004, the Director of Housing and the City Architectural Services Officer submitted Joint Report No 652-2005 giving details of offers received for the construction of the above Area Office.

The Committee agreed to accept the lowest offer by Forman Construction Limited amounting to 2,404,443.10 after savings of 94,424.76 together with the undernoted allowances:-

making a total expenditure of 2,778,219.10.

The Committee also noted that Forman Construction Limited had listed the undernoted sub-contractors:-

VI LOCAL HOUSING STRATEGY 2004-2009

Reference was made to Article II of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 19th April, 2004 which approved Dundee City Council Local Housing Strategy. There was submitted Agenda Note  AN415-2005 advising that since then the above document had been amended to take account of comments raised by Communities Scotland and approval was now sought to publish the amended strategy.

The Committee approved publication of the amended strategy plus performance update.

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

There was submitted Agenda Note AN416-2005. 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 September 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 items of business on the grounds that they involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 6 and 9 of Part 1 of Schedule 7A of the Act.

VIII SALE OF PROPERTIES AT ROSEFIELD STREET

Reference was made to Article V of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 17th March, 2003 and to Article XIV of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 16th June, 2003 relative to the sale of properties at Rosefield Street.

There was submitted Agenda Note AN417-2005 advising that provisional agreement had now been reached to sell these properties to an interested party on the terms and conditions detailed subject to approvals from the Scottish Ministers being obtained.

The Committee approved the sales as detailed.

IX TRANSFER OF TITLE OF FIVE EX-COUNCIL HOUSES IN ARDLER

Reference was made to Article VI(c) of the minute of meeting of the Recess Sub-Committee of 31st July, 2000. There was submitted Agenda Note AN418-2005 advising that the above five properties would be transferred to an interested party on the terms and conditions detailed.

The Committee approved the transfer of title of the five ex-Council houses.

X SITE AT TROTTICK

On a reference to Article V of the minute of meeting of the Education Committee of 19th April, 2004, the Director of Economic Development submitted Report No 643-2005 requesting approval to the sale of the above site as detailed.

Councillors Andrew Dawson and FitzPatrick requested clarification of details regarding the development of the above site at Trottick and thereafter the Committee approved the terms of the report.

XI REPURCHASE OF PROPERTIES FOR DEMOLITION - MILL O'MAINS AND HILLTOWN

Reference was made to Article V of the minute of meeting of this Committee held on 18th October 2004 wherein Members agreed that a number of residential properties were to be demolished. The Director of Economic Development was therein remitted to enter repurchasing negotiations with the respective owners of the properties. There was submitted Agenda Note AN419-2005 advising that the Director of Economic Development had reached provisional agreement with the owners.

The Committee authorised the Director of Economic Development to request the Depute Chief Executive (Support Services) to conclude the necessary legal formalities on the terms and conditions detailed.

HELEN WRIGHT, Convener.