Housing, Dundee Contract Services And Environment Services Committee - 15/05/2006

At a MEETING of the HOUSING COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 15th May, 2006.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Councillor REGAN, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 17th April, 2006 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I QUALITY OF LIFE - HOUSING FOOTPATH REPAIRS

On a reference to Article I of the minute of meeting of the Planning and Transportation Committee of 12th September, 2005 and Article III of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 19th September, 2005, the Director of Planning and Transportation and the Director of Housing submitted joint Report No 222-2006 updating the Committee on progress with the city wide repair programme to housing footpaths and seeking authority to commence a programme of footpath repairs for 2006/2008.

The Committee approved the report including the prioritisation of footpath repairs in accordance with Appendix 1 of the report and authorised the City Engineer to have this work undertaken under the Partnership Agreement with Tayside Contracts.

II DUNDEE'S HOMELESSNESS STRATEGY PROGRESS UPDATE REPORT 2005/2006

The Director of Housing submitted Report No 326-2006 advising the Committee of the progress and the format to reporting back to the Scottish Executive the objectives achieved for the period 2005 - 2006 as part of Dundee's Corporate Homeless Strategy.

The Committee agreed the contents of the progress report and remitted to the Director of Housing to submit the report to the Scottish Executive detailing the objectives achieved as part of the homelessness strategy for the period 2005 - 2006.

III USE OF HOMELESSNESS FUNDING 2006/2007

The Director of Housing submitted Report No 327-2006 seeking approval to spend special grant allocations for 2006/2007 to meet the requirements of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 and the Homelessness etc (Scotland) Act 2003.

The Committee approved the prioritisation of Task Force funding for 2006/2007 and agreed that:

(a) projects that require continuation funding as detailed in Appendix 1A of the report be approved;

(b) new projects detailed in Appendix 1A of the report be approved; and

(c) Rough Sleepers Initiative Funding of 262,000 continues to be utilised as detailed in Appendix 1 of the report.

IV TENDERS RECEIVED

There was submitted Report No 307-2006 by the City Architectural Services Officer giving details of the negotiated offer by Dundee Contract Services to carry out window replacement at Linlathen First development for the sum of 2,038,445 together with allowances of 6,497 for planning supervisor and 61,153 for professional services making a total expenditure of 2,106,095.

V CHARGING FOR HOUSING SUPPORT SERVICES

Reference was made to Article I of the minute of meeting of this Committee and Article III of the minute of meeting of the Social Work Committee of 18th November, 2002 which set out the charging policy. There was submitted Agenda Note AN183-2006 advising that COSLA in January 2006 had produced revised guidance on charging for non residential services including a recommendation that local authorities remove the exemption for people in receipt of housing benefit and receiving housing support services.

The Committee noted that the removal of this exemption would apply to new service users only and existing service users who currently enjoyed this exemption would continue to do so until they ceased receiving housing benefit.

Thereafter the Committee approved the removal of the exemption with effect from 22nd May, 2006.

VI REGISTERED TENANT ASSOCIATIONS - ADMINISTRATIVE GRANTS

There was submitted Agenda Note AN184-2006 requesting grant assistance towards administration costs for 2006/2007 from the following groups:-

The Committee agreed to grant assistance as requested.

VII HOUSING DEPARTMENT - ESTABLISHMENT OF LETTINGS AND RENT RECOVERY CONTACT CENTRES AND REVIEW OF AREA HOUSING OFFICESTRUCTURE

The Director of Housing and Assistant Chief Executive (Management) submitted joint Report No 172-2006 setting out proposals for establishing Contact Centres for Lettings and Rent Recovery and the result of restructuring of the Area Housing Offices at the Housing Services Unit.

The Committee approved the undernoted recommendations:-

(a) the establishment of a Lettings Contract Centre in the new East District Housing Office.

(b) the establishment of a Rent Recovery Contact Centre in the new West District Housing Office.

(c) the Lettings and Rent Recovery Contact Centres to become operational in October 2006 and to be located in the new District Housing Offices as soon as building work is complete.

(d) the Contact Centres to operate as detailed in Section 7 of this report.

(e) from October 2006 when the Contact Centres will be operation, the Housing Department will concentrate the delivery of local services from the East and West District Housing Offices.

(f) the closure of the Housing Offices in Crichton Street and Kirkton in October 2006. Services will continue to be delivered via the new East and West District Housing Offices. The cash collection service will no longer be available when the Crichton Street Office closes. However, a city centre cash collection facility will continue to be available from the Finance Department Offices in City Square.

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 likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 6 and 9 of Part 1 of Schedule 7A of the Act.

VIII ORLEANS PLACE SHOPPING CENTRE

There was submitted Agenda Note AN185-2006 giving details of the ground lease and rent for the above Centre and the provisional agreement negotiated by the Director of Economic Development.

The Committee approved the terms and details of the negotiations.

IX LEASE OF THOMSON PARK, LIFF ROAD/NAPIER DRIVE

There was submitted Agenda Note AN186-2006 giving details of the lease and renewal of tenancy of the above park.

The Committee approved the terms and conditions of the new lease agreement as detailed.

X REPURCHASE OF PROPERTIES FOR DEMOLITION - MILL O' MAINS

Reference was made to Article V of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 18th October, 2004. There was submitted Agenda Note AN187-2006 advising that the Director of Economic Development had reached provisional agreement with the owner of one property on the terms and conditions detailed.

The Committee approved the repurchase of the property and instructed the Depute Chief Executive (Support Services) to conclude the necessary legal formalities.

GEORGE REGAN, Convener.