Housing, Dundee Contract Services And Environment Services Committee - 19/12/2005

At a MEETING of the HOUSING COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 19th December 2005.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Councillor REGAN, Convener, in the Chair.

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

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I CONCRETE REPAIRS TO EXTERNAL ELEMENTS 2005/06 - EXTENSION TO CONTRACT

There was submitted Agenda Note AN471-2005, making reference to Article III(b) of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 20th June, 2005 wherein authority was given for the City Engineer to appoint Castle Contracting Limited to undertake repair works for the above contract.

It was reported that the Director of Housing had subsequently instructed the City Engineer to obtain costs for similar additional works to housing within Broughty Ferry 1st-4th Developments and the City Engineer had negotiated an extension to the existing contract with Castle Contracting Limited for the additional sum of 76,031 based on existing rates obtained in competition with contingencies of 3,969 allocated, resulting in a total additional expenditure of 80,000.

The Committee approved this additional expenditure, having noted that this would be funded from the 2005/06 HRA Planned maintenance budget.

II HOUSING (SCOTLAND) ACT 2001 - IMPROVEMENT, REPAIRS AND ENVIRONMENTAL GRANTS, HOME LOANS ETC

There was submitted Agenda Note AN472-2005, making reference to the minute of the meeting of this Committee of 15th November, 1999 wherein grant expenditure now under Private Sector Housing Grant was agreed.

It was reported that the grants approved under the new grant scheme HOUSING (SCOTLAND) ACT 2001 during November 2005 in each of the categories were as follows:

* may contain commercial premises

The Committee noted accordingly.

III REGISTERED TENANT ORGANISATIONS - ADMINISTRATION GRANTS

There was submitted Agenda Note AN473-2005 requesting grant assistance towards administration costs for 2005-2006 from the undernoted group:-

The Committee agreed to grant assistance as requested.

IV TENDERS RECEIVED

There was submitted Report No 739-2005 by the City Architectural Services officer detailing tenders received in respect of the undernoted projects:-

(a) MENZIESHILL MSD - BALGAY & GOWRIE COURTS FABRIC REPAIRS

The Committee agreed to accept the lowest offer from Castle Contracting Ltd, in the sum of 277,886.90, to which required to be added allowances amounting to 19,116.66, giving a total expenditure of 297,002.90.

(b) MAXWELLTOWN MSD & WHORTERBANK MSD - FABRIC INSPECTIONS

The Committee agreed to accept the lowest offer from Castle Contracting Ltd, in the sum of 28,147, to which required to be added allowances amounting to 3,344, giving a total expenditure of 31,491.00.

(c) LINLATHEN 1ST DEVELOPMENT - PITCHED ROOF REPLACEMENT - PHASE I

The Committee agreed to accept a negotiated offer from Dundee Contract Services, not exceeding 337,000, to which required to be added allowances amounting to 38,000, giving a total expenditure of 375,000.

(d) MAGDALEN KIRKTON 3RD DEVELOPMENT - SOLAR INSTALLATION, PHASE 2

The Committee agreed to accept a negotiated offer from Dundee Contract Services in the sum of 328,585.34, to which required to be added allowances amounting to 22,909.00, giving a total expenditure of 351,494.34.

(e) BALUNIEFIELD SHELTERED COMPLEX - REPLACEMENT FIRE ALARM, WARDEN CALL AND CONTROLLED ENTRY SYSTEMS

The Committee agreed to accept an offer from McGill Electrical Ltd in the sum of 71,622, to which required to be added allowances amounting to 23,529, giving a total expenditure of 95,151.

(f) 12 & 19 CLEPINGTON ROAD - HEATING INSTALLATION AND REFURBISHMENT OF KITCHENS AND BATHROOMS

The Committee agreed to accept an offer from McGill Electrical Ltd, in the sum of 198.500, to which required to be added allowances amounting to 48,357, giving a total expenditure of 246,857.

V REVIEW OF RENTS AND OTHER CHARGES

There was submitted Agenda Note AN477-2005 advising that the Director of Housing and Depute Chief Executive (Finance) would submit a report to the Housing Committee on 16th January 2006 which was proposed may recommend a rent rise of 1.86 per week on average subject to a maximum increase of 2.25 and the following increases on other Housing charges as calculated by the Depute Chief Executive (Finance) and the Director of Housing:-

● Concierge Service be increased by 35p per week.

● Garage Lock Ups be increased by 25p to 7.50 per week

● Underground Parking Bays be increased by 10p to 1.90 per week.

● Garage Sites be increased by 10p to 1.90 per week.

These increases were proposed to be applied from 3rd April 2006.

The Housing Department proposed to consult tenants on the proposals by posting the details as to how and when to comment as follows:-

● Information would be provided on public information boards in Housing Offices.

● Information would be displayed on the Council's website.

● Information would be included in a public notice to be advertised in a local newspaper.

Following the consultation period and having regard to the proposals and the views expressed during the consultation there would be a report to the Housing Committee on 16th January 2006.

The Committee noted accordingly.

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 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 7(A) of the Act.

VI GROUND AT 289 BALUNIE DRIVE

There was submitted Report No 712-2005 relative to the disposal of an area of ground at the above address.

The Committee approved the sale on the terms and conditions detailed in the report.

VII REPURCHASE OF PROPERTIES FOR DEMOLITION

There was submitted Agenda Note AN476-2005 making reference to Article X of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 19th September, 2005 wherein the Committee authorised the Director of Economic Development to request that the Depute Chief Executive (Support Services) conclude the necessary legal formalities in respect of the repurchase of a number of properties for demolition.

It was reported that the repurchase price stated in respect of one of the properties had been incorrect. The Committee therefore approved the repurchase of the property for the sum stated in this note and authorised the Depute Chief Executive (Support Services) to conclude legal formalities on this basis.

GEORGE REGAN, Convener