Housing, Dundee Contract Services And Environment Services Committee - 15/01/2007

At a MEETING of the HOUSING COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 15th January, 2007.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Councillor George REGAN, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 18th December, 2006 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I REVIEW OF RENTS AND OTHER HOUSING CHARGES

There was submitted Report No 4-2007 by the Director of Housing detailing the proposed rent and other charges for the financial year 2007/08.

The Committee agreed that:-

(a) rents be increased by 1.93 per week on average subject to maximum increase of 2.50 from 2nd April, 2007.

(b) the Service Charge for the Concierge Service be increased by 30p per week from 2nd April, 2007.

(c) charges for Car Parking facilities be increased as follows from 2nd April, 2007:

7         Garage Lock Ups by 25p to 7.75 per week

7         Underground Parking Bay by 10p to 2.00 per week

7         Garage Sites by 10p to 2.00 per week

(d) 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.

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

II MODIFYING LOCAL CONNECTION PROVISIONS IN HOMELESSNESS LEGISLATION

The Director of Housing submitted Report No 21-2007 preparing the Council's response to the consultation paper issued by the Scottish Executive on modifying and monitoring Local Connection provision in homelessness legislation.

The Committee noted the report and the consultation response attached at Appendix 1 of the report.

III MID CRAIGIE VILLAGE GREEN - TRANSFER OF LAND TO DUNDEE CONTRACT SERVICES (LAND SERVICES)

On a reference to Article II of the minute of meeting of the Policy and Resources Committee of 13th November, 2006 the Director of Housing submitted Report No 18-2007 recommending the transfer of land from the Housing Account to Dundee Contract Services (Land Services).

The Committee approved the transfer of ground in Mid Craigie from the Housing Account to Dundee Contract Services (Land Services).

IV DEMOLITION OF 65 AND 67 SUMMERFIELD GARDENS, WHITFIELD AND 119 LOCK UP GARAGES AT MENZIESHILL MSD ANDCRAIGOWAN ROAD, CHARLESTON

On a reference to Article II of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 23rd August, 2004 and Article I of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 18th April, 2005, the Director of Housing submitted Report No 13-2007 seeking approval for the demolition of the house at 65 Summerfield Gardens, the former sheltered lounge at 67 Summerfield Gardens and 119 lock-up garages listed in Appendix 1 of the report.

The Committee agreed:-

(a) The house at 65 Summerfield Gardens and the former sheltered lounge at 67 Summerfield Gardens be demolished.

(b) The lock-up garages listed in Appendix 1 of the report be demolished.

(c) Limited post demolition treatment works be undertaken, if required, to ensure that the sites be rendered safe and have minimal ongoing maintenance costs. Future use of the sites would be considered as part of regeneration initiatives as appropriate.

(d) To remit to the City Engineer to include the demolition of the properties in an existing demolition contract.

V LINLATHEN 1ST DEVELOPMENT, KITCHEN RENEWAL AND BATHROOM REPAIRS - EXTENSION TO CONTRACT

On a reference to Article V of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 20th August, 2001 the City Architectural Services Officer submitted Report No 42-2007 requesting approval to extend the existing contract.

The Committee agreed to extend the existing contract and incur estimated additional expenditure of approximately 137,000.

VI TENDERS RECEIVED

The City Architectural Services Officer submitted Report No 41-2007 giving details of offers received for the undernoted contracts:-

(a) WESTERN CLEPINGTON 1ST DEVELOPMENT (SMALLS WYND) - 21-27 CAIRD AVENUE - PITCHED ROOF REPLACEMENT

The Committee agreed to accept the negotiated contract with Dundee Contract Services to carry out the above works for the sum of 95,467.65 together with allowances of 933 for planning supervisor and 8,280 for professional services making a total expenditure of 104,680.65.

(b) QUEEN STREET DEVELOPMENT, BROUGHTY FERRY - HEATING INSTALLATION, KITCHEN AND BATHROOM UPGRADE

On a reference to Article II of the minute of meeting of the Policy and Resources Committee of 13th June, 2005, the Committee agreed to accept the partnering project by McGill Electrical Limited to carry out the above works for the sum of 186,200 together with the undernoted allowances:-

(c) GARRY PLACE LOUNGE - ACCESS IMPROVEMENTS

The Committee agreed to accept the lowest offer by Forman Construction Limited amounting to 27,596, together with an allowance of 4,420 for professional services, making a total expenditure of 32,016.

(d) 9, 11 ARKLAY TERRACE and 9, 11 SANDEMAN STREET - ROOF RENEWALS

The Committee agreed to accept the negotiated contract with Raynor Roofing Limited to carry out the above works for the sum of 112,487.58 together with allowances of 300 for cleaning gutters at 12 Clepington Street, 1,082 for planning supervisor and 8,943 for professional services making a total expenditure of 122,812.58.

(e) VARIOUS ADDRESSES - CONTROLLED ENTRY SYSTEMS - ASBO FUNDED

The Committee agreed to accept the negotiated contract with McGill Electrical Limited to carry out the above works for the sum of 5,903.37, together with allowances of 577 for professional services and 28,500 for provision for further addresses to be identified, making a total expenditure of 34,980.37.

(f) BALUNIEFIELD SHELTERED COMPLEX - HEATING INSTALLATION, ELECTRICAL UPGRADE, KITCHENS AND BATHROOMS

The Committee agreed to accept the partnering project with McGill Electrical Limited amounting to 789,900 together with the undernoted acceptances:-

(g) MAINS OF FINTRY 4TH DEVELOPMENT - ROOF RENEWAL PHASE 1

On a reference to Article II of the minute of meeting of the Policy and Resources Committee of 13th June, 2005, the Committee agreed to accept the negotiated contract with Dundee Contract Services to carry out the above works for the sum of 55,676.43, together with allowances of 605 for planning supervisor and 6,492 for professional services, making a total expenditure of 62,773.43.

VII TENANTS' ALLOWANCES REVIEW

On a reference to Article III of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 26th June, 2006, the Director of Housing submitted Report No 707-2006 seeking agreement to upgrade the tenants' allowances in line with inflation and to modernise the system to improve efficiency and customer service.

The Committee agreed that the Tenants' Allowances Scheme be increased in line with inflation as undernoted, together with revised arrangements for tenants' allowances in capital contracts as detailed in paragraph 6 of the report:-

VIII REVIEW OF CHARGES

The Director of Housing submitted Report No 3-2007 seeking authority to review charges for Special Needs (Homeless) Temporary Accommodation, Furnished Accommodation, Multi-Storey Launderettes, Stair Cleaning Charges, Heating Charges at Brington Place Sheltered Housing Development and Status Enquiry Fees, all being effective from 2nd April, 2007.

The Committee approved the charges as detailed:-

(a) Special Needs (Homeless) Temporary Accommodation

Where no charge 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

(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 warden is increased by 20p per week.

(d) Multi-Storey Launderettes

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

(e) Stair Cleaning

It is proposed that the stair cleaning charges are maintained at the existing rate.

(f) Status Enquiry Fees

The fee charged to Banks, Building Societies etc for status enquiries will remain at 30.

IX PITCH RENTS - TRAVELLING PEOPLE'S SITE - BALMUIR WOOD

There was submitted Agenda Note AN20-2007 advising that Dundee City Council required a quality Travelling People's Site to meet the requirements 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 1.64 per week was required to ensure continued levels of service.

The Committee agreed that pitch rents be increased by 1.64 per week to 56.18 for the financial year 2007/08.

X SHELTERED HOUSING CHARGE 2007/08

On a reference to Article I of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 20th March, 2006, there was submitted Agenda Note AN21-2007 recommending the phasing out of sheltered housing abatements in 2007/08, resulting in an impact to tenants of 50p per week.

The Committee approved accordingly.

XI VARIOUS REPAIRS TO CONCRETE FLOORS AND BEAMS

There was submitted Agenda Note AN22-2007 advising that the Director of Housing had instructed the City Engineer to invite tenders for structural repairs to concrete floors and beams at various locations within the housing stock.

The Committee authorised the Depute Chief Executive (Support Services) to accept the most advantageous tender as recommended by the City Engineer, details of which would be reported retrospectively to a future meeting of this Committee.

XII HOUSING ESTATE REGENERATION FUND

Reference was made to Article II of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 20th June, 2005 wherein it was remitted to the Director of Housing to submit a bid to Communities Scotland for funding for 2005/2008 from the Housing Estate Regeneration Fund (HERF). Thereafter, a revised HERF bid was submitted to Communities Scotland in March 2006 which complemented the City Council's Standard Delivery Plan for the delivery of the Scottish Housing Quality Standard.

There was submitted Agenda Note AN23-2007 advising that Communities Scotland had confirmed approval of the HERF bid to support ongoing regeneration of the City through demolition activity and had awarded 3.4 million for housing demolition works and associated expenditure to be spent prior to March 2008.

The Committee noted that the Director of Housing had accepted this offer of funding.

George REGAN, Convener.