Housing, Dundee Contract Services And Environment Services Committee - 23/06/2008

At a MEETING of the HOUSING, DUNDEE CONTRACT SERVICES AND ENVIRONMENT SERVICES COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 23rd June, 2008.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Bailie George REGAN, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 9th June, 2008 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I DUNDEE HOMELESSNESS STRATEGY PROGRESS UPDATE REPORT 2007/2008

There was submitted Report No 275-2008 by the Director of Housing informing the Committee of progress in relation to the Dundee Homelessness Strategy and seeking approval to report to the Scottish Government the objectives achieved for the period 2007/2008.

The Committee agreed to:-

(i) note the contents of the Progress Report; and

(ii) remit the Director of Housing to submit the report to the Scottish Government detailing the objectives achieved as part of the Homelessness Strategy for 2007/2008.

II DUNDEE HOMELESSNESS STRATEGY 2008/2012

There was submitted Report No 276-2008 by the Director of Housing seeking approval of the Housing Department Homelessness Strategy 2008/2012.

The Committee:-

(i) approved the Homelessness Strategy 2008/2012; and

(ii) remitted the Director of Housing to update the Homelessness Policy to reflect any changes required arising from Dundee's Homelessness Strategy 2008/2012.

III SURPLUS LOCK-UP GARAGES AND GARAGE SITES

There was submitted Report No 290-2008 by the Director of Housing seeking approval to declare 95 lock-up garages and 48 garage sites to be surplus to requirements.

The Committee agreed:-

(i) that the lock-up garages and the garage sites listed in paragraph 4.2 be declared surplus to requirements;

(ii) that the Director of Housing would maintain a review of other locations and determine whether to re-let or declare surplus;

(iii) to remit the City Engineer to bring forward proposals for the demolition of the lock-up garages and reinstatement of the sites; and

(iv) to remit the Director of Housing to bring forward options for redevelopment where appropriate.

IV HOUSING (SCOTLAND) ACT 2006 - RESPONSE TO CONSULTATION ON DRAFT GUIDANCE ANDREGULATIONS

There was submitted Report No 325-2008 by the Director of Housing informing the Committee of consultation on draft guidance and regulations which would support new local authority powers and duties in the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 and seeking Committee approval to the response which was attached to the report.

The Committee approved the draft response as attached to the report and agreed to its submission as Dundee City Council's response to the Scottish Government's Consultation Paper.

V INSPECTION OF THE HOUSING SERVICE BY THE SCOTTISH HOUSING REGULATOR

There was submitted Agenda Note AN113-2008 reporting that the Director of Housing had received notification from the Scottish Housing Regulator that inspection of the Council's Housing Service had commenced. An inspection submission document had been completed and lodged with the Regulator on 30th May, 2008.

The Regulator's Inspection Team would commence a detailed inspection of the service by interviewing Council officers, elected members, tenant and partner organisations. They would also observe Housing staff on site and review records. The Inspection Team would visit Dundee on 18th August, 2008 and were expected to remain for three weeks.

Briefings on the process for inspection for elected members and tenants' representatives would be organised in the near future. Arrangements had been made for the Inspection Team to brief the Housing Working Group on 20th August, 2008.

The Committee noted the position.

VI DEMOLITION OF 1-16 JAMAICA SQUARE

There was submitted Agenda Note AN114-2008 reporting that the Director of Housing had instructed the City Engineer to invite tenders for the demolition of the above properties. These blocks had become vacant sooner than anticipated and were potential targets for vandalism. In order to carry out the works as soon as possible by reducing the timescales required for approvals, authority was requested for the Depute Chief Executive (Support Services) to accept the most favourable tender as recommended by the City Engineer within the allowances noted under:-

The Committee agreed:-

(i) to delegate authority to the Depute Chief Executive (Support Services) to accept the most favourable tender as recommended by the City Engineer within the allowances indicated; and

(ii) to note that tender details would be reported retrospectively to a future meeting of the Committee.

VII SITE CLEARANCE - LAND AT TRANENT GROVE

There was submitted Agenda Note AN115-2008 reporting that the Director of Housing had instructed the City Engineer to invite tenders for clearing the arisings which had been left on site from a former demolition and to complete the foundation removal. It was desirable that this work be carried out during the school summer holidays due to the proximity of the nursery school adjacent to the north boundary and because this was the only feasible route for construction traffic. In order to achieve this by reducing the timescales required for approvals, authority was requested for the Depute Chief Executive (Support Services) to accept the most favourable tender as recommended by the City Engineer within the allowances noted under.

The Committee agreed:-

(i) to delegate authority to the Depute Chief Executive (Support Services) to accept the most favourable tender as recommended by the City Engineer within the allowances indicated; and

(ii) to note that tender details would be reported retrospectively to a future meeting of the Committee.

VIII REGISTRATION OF TENANTS' ORGANISATIONS - HOUSING (SCOTLAND) ACT 2001 (THE ACT)

There was submitted Agenda Note AN116-2008 reporting that a request for registration as a Tenant Organisation had been received from Forthill Tenants' Association.

The Committee agreed that the application be approved.

IX REGISTERED TENANT ORGANISATION - ADMINISTRATION GRANTS

There was submitted Agenda Note AN117-2008 requesting grant assistance towards administration costs for 2008/2009 from Whitfield Avenue Semis Tenants' Association.

The Committee agreed to grant assistance of 340 for 2008/2009.

X CONTAMINATED LAND STRATEGY - SITE INVESTIGATION CONTRACTS

There was submitted Report No 346-2008 by the Head of Environmental Health and Trading Standards informing the Committee of the projects undertaken in 2007/2008 and making recommendations for the continuing implementation of the Contaminated Land Regime, in particular letting of contracts for site investigation works.

The Committee:-

(i) noted the projects that were undertaken in 2007/2008 as detailed in Appendix 1 of the

report;

(ii) approved that Environmental Health and Trading Standards (EHTS) continued to use the City Engineers in a consulting role, utilising their expertise in tender preparation and project management;

(iii) agreed that the City Engineer be authorised to accept the most favourable tender for each work package. All such tenders would be reported retrospectively to Committee for information and on completion of works programme; and

(iv) approved the spending of up to 113k in financial year 2008/2009 for the purposes of progressing the Contaminated Land Strategy.

XI CO-ORDINATION AND INTEGRATION OF LITTER MANAGEMENT

There was submitted Report No 328-2008 by the Head of Waste Management seeking approval of a set of proposals to enhance local environmental quality within the City through improved inter-departmental working.

The Committee agreed to:-

(i) the establishment of a Rapid Response Team to monitor selected shrub beds and other litter traps, eg road junctions and clean as required;

(ii) a review of all street sweeping routes to include shrub beds other than those monitored by the Rapid Response Team;

(iii) a review of the present planting policy to ensure that shrub beds were easily accessible and not liable to trap litter;

(iv) a review of the current procedures for removing litter from Council owned land to ensure that the requirements of the 1990 Environmental Protection Act Litter Code of Practice were being met; and

(v) the development of a Litter Action Plan for the City.

XII TENDERS RECEIVED

There was submitted Report No 295-2008 by the City Architectural Services Officer giving details of offers received for the undernoted contracts:-

(a) MSD FABRIC INSPECTIONS 2008/2009 - BUTTERBURN COURT, DUDHOPE COURT, LANSDOWNE COURT AND MAXWELLTOWN TOWER

The Committee agreed to accept the lowest offer by Castle Group Scotland Ltd (formerly known as CCL Group Ltd), Auchterarder amounting to 26,170, together with the undernoted allowances:-

Making a total expenditure of 33,758.

The Committee also noted that the undernoted sub-contractor had been listed by CCL Group Ltd:-

Giraffe Access Company Ltd, Worcestershire - Cradles.

(b) DOUGLAS AND ANGUS 10TH DEVELOPMENT - HEATING REPLACEMENT, KITCHEN AND BATHROOM REFURBISHMENT

The Committee agreed to accept a partnering project with Dundee Contract Services amounting to 228,000, together with the undernoted allowances:-

Making a total expenditure of 274,990.

(c) CAMPERDOWN 10TH DEVELOPMENT - ROOF REPLACEMENT - PHASE 4

The Committee agreed to accept a negotiated contract with Dundee Contract Services amounting to 284,760.98, together with allowances of 1,839 for CDM Co-ordinator and 15,833 for professional services, making a total expenditure of 302,432.98.

(d) CAMPERDOWN 12TH DEVELOPMENT - ROOF REPLACEMENT - PHASE 2

The Committee agreed to accept a negotiated contract with Dundee Contract Services amounting to 176,388.86, together with allowances of 1,382 for CDM Co-ordinator and 11,432 for professional services, making a total expenditure of 189,202.86.

(e) CAMPERDOWN 14TH DEVELOPMENT - ROOF REPLACEMENT - PHASES 1 AND 2

The Committee agreed to accept a negotiated contract with Dundee Contract Services amounting to 191,053.57, together with allowances of 1,455 for CDM Co-ordinator and 12,028 for professional services, making a total expenditure of 204,536.57.

(f) DOUGLAS AND ANGUS 6TH DEVELOPMENT

The Committee agreed to accept a partnering contract with McGill Electrical Ltd, Dundee amounting to 333,100, together with the undernoted allowances:-

Making a total expenditure of 383,325.

(g) WATSON STREET - FLAT ROOF RENEWALS

The Committee agreed to accept a negotiated contract with Raynor Roofing Ltd, Dundee amounting to 26,163.90, together with allowances of 355 for CDM Co-ordinator and 2,196 for professional services, making a total expenditure of 28,714.90.

(h) DOUGLAS AND ANGUS 5TH DEVELOPMENT - NEW KITCHENS AND BATHROOMS

The Committee agreed to accept a partnering contract with Andrew Shepherd Construction Ltd, Forfar amounting to 196,400, together with the undernoted allowances:-

Making a total expenditure of 227,038.

(i) ST MARY'S 7TH, 8TH AND 10TH DEVELOPMENTS - NEW KITCHENS AND BATHROOMS

The Committee agreed to accept a partnering contract with MASCO Onestep Installation Services, West Yorkshire, amounting to 403,000, together with the undernoted allowances:-

Making a total expenditure of 470,803.

(j) ST MARY'S 6TH DEVELOPMENT - NEW KITCHENS AND BATHROOMS

The Committee agreed to accept a partnering contract with McGill Electrical Ltd, Dundee amounting to 228,600, together with the undernoted allowances:-

Making a total expenditure of 264,121.

(k) CLYDE PLACE - WARDENS' CALL REPLACEMENT

The Committee agreed to accept a partnering contract with McGill Electrical Ltd, Dundee amounting to 95,000, together with allowances of 970 for CDM Co-ordinator and 10,228 for professional services, making a total expenditure of 106,198.

XIII OFFICER APPROVAL - TENDER RECEIVED - ST MARY'S 7TH DEVELOPMENT - ROOF REPLACEMENT

It was reported for information of the Committee that, in view of the timescales involved, the City Architectural Services Officer and the Director of Housing, after consultation with the Convener and spokespersons of the other groups, had agreed to accept a negotiated contract with Dundee Contract Services for St Mary's 7th Development - Roof Replacement works amounting to 231,548.32, together with allowances for 1,646.00 for CDM Co-ordinator and 13,672.00 for professional services, making a total expenditure of 246,866.32.

George REGAN, Convener.