Housing, Dundee Contract Services And Environment Services Committee - 14/01/2008

At a MEETING of the HOUSING, DUNDEE CONTRACT SERVICES AND ENVIRONMENT SERVICES COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 14th January, 2008.

Present:-

Lord Provost John R LETFORD

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Bailie George REGAN, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 10th December, 2007 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I REVIEW OF RENTS AND OTHER CHARGES

There was submitted Report No 638-2007 by the Director of Housing detailing the proposed rent and other charges for the financial year 2008/2009.

The Committee agreed that:-

(a) rents be increased by 1.99 per week on average, subject to maximum increase of 2.50 from 7th April, 2008;

(b) the service charge for the Concierge Service be increased by 30p per week from 7th April, 2008;

(c) charges for car parking facilities be increased as follows:-

Garage Lock-Ups by 25p to 8.00 per week,

Underground Parking Bay maintained at 2.00 per week,

Garage Sites maintained at 2.00 per week;

(d) where a house was 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

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

II REVIEW OF CHARGES

There was submitted Report No 642-2007 by the Director of Housing seeking authority to review charges for Special Needs (Homeless) Temporary Accommodation, Furnished Accommodation, Multi-Storey Launderettes, Stair Cleaning Charges, Heating Charges at Brington Place and Baluniefield Sheltered Housing Developments and Status Enquiry Fees, all being effective from 7th April, 2008.

The Committee approved the charges as detailed:-

(a) Special Needs (Homeless) Temporary Accommodation

Where no charge was shown, no facility of the type was available at the time. If required, such facilities would be provided and charged pro rata. The charges for the Lily Walker Centre and Red Admiral Court had recently been reviewed and no increase was proposed.

(b) Furnished Accommodation

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

(c) Heating Charges - Brington Place and Baluniefield Sheltered Housing

It was agreed that the electricity charge for cooking, lighting, heating and hot water provided to the homes of tenants be increased by 25p per week.

(d) Multi-Storey Launderette

It was agreed that the charges for Multi-Storey Launderettes be increased to the following:-

Auto-Wash 1.80 (up 5p)

Tumble Drier 1.00 (up 5p)

Cabinet Drier 1.00 (up 5p)

(e) Stair Cleaning

It was agreed that the stair cleaning charges be maintained at the existing rate.

(f) Status Enquiry Fees

The fee charged to banks, building societies, etc for status enquiries remained at 30.00.

III SHELTERED HOUSING CHARGE 2008/2009

There was submitted Agenda Note AN2-2008 advising that the sheltered housing budget for 2008/2009 showed a breakeven position based on an increase of 50p per week in the service charge from 7th April, 2008.

The Committee agreed that service charge be increased by 50p per week for the financial year 2008/2009.

On a reference to Article I of the minute of meeting of the Housing Committee of 20th March, 2006, it was recommended that the phasing out of sheltered housing abatements be continued in 2008/2009, resulting in an impact to tenants of a further 50p per week.

The Committee approved accordingly.

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

There was submitted Agenda Note AN3-2008 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 1.69 per week was required to ensure continued levels of service.

The Committee agreed that pitch rents be increased by 1.69 per week to 57.87 for the financial year 2008/2009.

V PREFERRED ENERGY SUPPLIER

Councillor Will Dawson declared a non-financial interest by virtue of his employment by the undernoted energy supplier.

There was submitted Agenda Note AN4-2008 requesting approval to extend the Preferred Energy Supplier (PES) arrangement with Scottish & Southern Energy plc (trading locally as Scottish Hydro-Electric) for Dundee City Council tenants for a further two years until 1st January, 2009.

On a reference to Article II of the minute of meeting of the Housing Committee of 19th January, 2004, the Committee agreed to extend the arrangement for a further two years.

VI PURCHASE OF VEHICLES - TWO SCANIA HOOK-LOADERS

There was submitted Report No 27-2008 by the Head of Waste Management seeking authority to purchase two (2) hook-loading vehicles which would be used for a range of services within the Waste Management Department.

The Committee agreed:-

(i) to accept the offer from Scania UK for the supply of two (2) Scania Hook-Loaders amounting to 208,828; and

(ii) to note that the vehicles would be procured via the ABC Heavy Vehicle Framework contract.

VII PURCHASE OF VEHICLES - TWO SCHMIDT SWINGOS

There was submitted Report No 37-2008 by the Head of Waste Management seeking authority to purchase two (2) Compact Sweeping Machines which would be used for a range of services within the Waste Management Department.

The Committee agreed:-

(i) to accept the offer from Schmidt UK for the supply of two (2) Schmidt Swingos amounting to 100,000; and

(ii) to note that the machines would be procured via the ABC Light Vehicle Framework contract.

VIII ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND TRADING STANDARDS DEPARTMENT SERVICE PLAN 2007/2011

There was submitted Report No 633-2007 by the Head of Environmental Health and Trading Standards, seeking approval of the Environmental Health and Trading Standards Service Plan for 2007/2011.

The Committee agreed that the Environmental Health and Trading Standards Service Plan for 2007/2011 be approved.

IX TENDERS RECEIVED

There was submitted Report No 35-2008 by the City Architectural Services Officer giving details of offers received for the undernoted contracts:-

(a) ST MARY'S 13TH FLATS DEVELOPMENT - HEATING REPLACEMENT, KITCHEN AND BATHROOM UPGRADE

The Committee agreed to accept a partnering project with McGill Electrical Ltd amounting to 123,382, together with the undernoted allowances:-

making a total expenditure of 146,104.

(b) BEECHWOOD DEVELOPMENT - HEATING REPLACEMENT, KITCHEN AND BATHROOM UPGRADE

The Committee agreed to accept a partnering project with McGill Electrical Ltd amounting to 96,000, together with the undernoted allowances:-

making a total expenditure of 117,798.

(c) BALMUIR WOODS TRAVELLERS' SITE - FACILITIES IMPROVEMENTS

The Committee agreed to accept a negotiated contract with Dundee Contract Services amounting to 129,250, together with the undernoted allowances:-

making a total expenditure of 158,000.

(d) BALDOVIE PLANT - EXTERNAL LIGHTING UPGRADE

The Committee agreed to accept a negotiated contract with Dundee Contract Services amounting to 12,905, together with the undernoted allowances:-

making a total expenditure of 14,973.

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 3, 6 and 9 of Part I of Schedule 7A of the Act.

X EXTENSION OF AGREEMENT WITH THE SCOTTISH VETERANS' GARDENS CITY ASSOCIATION - 36 HOUSES IN BARNHILL

There was submitted Report No 26-2008 by the Director of Housing relative to the above.

The Committee agreed to the extension of the existing agreement with the Scottish Veterans' Gardens City Association on the terms and conditions detailed in the report.

XI SALE OF LAND IN KIRKTON, CAMPERDOWN AND WHITFIELD

Reference was made to Article XIII of the minute of meeting of this Committee held on 10th December, 2007 relative to the sale of four sites to Housing Associations.

There was submitted Agenda Note AN5-2008 clarifying the purchase prices.

The Committee noted the position.

George REGAN, Convener.