Housing, Dundee Contract Services And Environment Services Committee - 16/01/2006

At a MEETING of the HOUSING COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 16th January 2006.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Councillor REGAN, Convener, in the Chair.

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

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I REVIEW OF CHARGES

There was submitted Report No 1-2006 by Director of Housing seeking authority to review charges for Special Needs (Homeless) Temporary Accommodation, Furnished Accommodation, Multi-Storey Laundrettes, Stair Cleaning Charges, Heating Charges at Brington Place Sheltered Housing Development and Status Enquiry Fees, all being effective from 3rd April 2006.

The Committee approved the charges as detailed:-

(a) Special Needs (Homeless) Temporary Accommodation

Where no change is shown no facility of the type is available at this time. If required such facilities will be provided and charged pro rata.

(b) Furnished Accommodation

Mainstream Furnished Lets

Charges for part-furnished houses rise by the rate of inflation (3%).

(c) Heating Charges - Brington Place Sheltered Housing

It is proposed that the electricity charge for cooking, lighting, heating and hot water provided to the homes of tenants and a warden is increased by 20p per week.

(d) Stair Cleaning Charges

It is proposed that Stair Cleaning charges are increased by 10p per week.

(e) Multi-Storey Launderettes

It is proposed that the charges for Multi-Storey Launderettes be increased to the following:

Auto Wash 1.70 (up 5p)

Tumble Drier 0.90 (up 5p)

Cabinet Drier 0.90 (up 5p)

(f) Status enquiry Fees

The fee charged to Banks, Building Societies, etc for status enquiries will remain at 30.00.

II REVIEW OF RENTS AND OTHER HOUSING CHARGES

There was submitted Report No 2-2006 by the Director of Housing detailing the proposed rent and other charges for the financial year 2006/2007.

The Committee agreed that:-

(i) rents be increased by 1.86 per week on average subject to maximum increase of 2.25 from 3rd April 2006;

(ii) the Service Charge for the Concierge Service be increased by 35p per week from 3rd April 2006;

(iii) charges for Car Parking facilities be increased as follows from 3rd April 2006:

7         Garage Lock Ups by 25p to 7.50 per week.

7         Underground Parking Bay by 10p to 1.90 per week.

7         Garage Sites by 10p to 1.90 per week;

(iv) where a house is improved during the year the rent be increased in line with the average increase in Gross Annual Value of all affected properties, subject to a maximum of 2.00; and

(v) the levels of rents held on the Housing Revenue Account be similarly applied to miscellaneous houses and garage sites, subject to categorisation where appropriate.

III PITCH RENTS - TRAVELLING PEOPLE'S SITE, BALMUIR WOODS

There was submitted Agenda Note AN21-2006 advising that Dundee City Council required a quality Travelling People's Site to meet the requirement for the provision of sites and the consequent control of casual camps within the City Council boundary.

Estimates of operating costs showed that a pitch rent increase of 1.59 per week would be required to ensure continued levels of service, and meet increasing costs.

The Committee agreed that pitch rents be increased by 1.59 per week to 54.54 for the financial year 2006/07.

IV VOLUNTARY PRIVATE LANDLORD ACCREDITATION SCHEME

There was submitted Report No 3-2006 by Director of Housing seeking approval for the launch of Dundee Landlord Accreditation, the associated Dundee Code of Standards and the management arrangements.

The Committee approved:-

(i) the official launch of Dundee Landlord Accreditation;

(ii) the Code of Standards for Private Renting in Dundee; and

(iii) the proposed Management Structure of the Scheme with reference to the Appendix 'Management Arrangements'.

V TENDERS RECEIVED

There was submitted Report No 43-2006 by the City Architectural Services Officer detailing an offer received from Dundee Contract Services for conversion to single person units, at the Lily Walker Centre.

The Committee approved acceptance of the offer, in the sum of 623,500, to which required to be added 50,000 for Furniture, 3,045 for Building Warrant, 3,142 for Planning Supervisor and 105,313 for Professional Services amounting to 161,500, giving a total expenditure of 785,000.

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.

VI SITES AT MIDMILL ROAD, DUNDEE

There was submitted Report No 34-2006 by the Director of Economic Development seeking approval for the sale of sites at Midmill Road, Dundee.

The Committee approved the proposed sale to Angus Housing Association on the terms and conditions detailed in the report.

VII SITE AT KIRK STREET/YEAMAN'S LANE, DUNDEE

There was submitted Report No 33-2006 by the Director of Economic Development seeking approval for the sale of a site at Kirk Street/Yeaman's Lane, Dundee.

The Committee approved the proposed sale to Hillcrest Housing Association, on the terms and conditions detailed in the report.

VIII SITE AT HONEYGREEN ROAD, DUNDEE

There was submitted Report No 32-2006 by the Director of Economic Development seeking approval for the sale of sites at Honeygreen Road.

The Committee approved the sale to Home in Scotland Housing Association on the terms and conditions detailed in the report.

IX SITES AT BALUNIE AVENUE, DUNDEE

There was submitted Report No 31-2006, seeking approval for the sale of sites at Balunie Avenue, Dundee.

The Committee approved the sale to Home in Scotland Housing Association on the terms and conditions detailed in the report.

X SITE AT DUNHOLM ROAD, DUNDEE

There was submitted Report No 30-2006 to the Director of Economic Development seeking approval for the sale of a site at Dunholm Road, Dundee.

The Committee approved the sale to Abertay Housing Association, on the terms and conditions detailed in the report.

XI SITES AT CRAIGMOUNT AVENUE/CRAIGMOUNT ROAD, DUNDEE

Councillor Beattie declared a financial interest in this item by virtue of the proximity of the sites to his residence.

There was submitted Report No 29-2006 by the Director of Economic Development seeking approval for the sale of sites at Craigmount Avenue/Craigmount Road.

The Committee approved the sale to Margaret Blackwood Housing Association on the terms and conditions detailed in the report.

XII 111 KINGSWAY EAST

There was submitted Agenda Note AN19-2006 relative to the proposed lease of properties at 111 Kingsway East.

The Committee approved the leasing arrangements as detailed in the agenda note.

George REGAN, Convener