Housing, Dundee Contract Services And Environment Services Committee - 24/11/2008

At a MEETING of the HOUSING, DUNDEE CONTRACT SERVICES AND ENVIRONMENT SERVICES COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 24th November, 2008.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Bailie George REGAN, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 27th October, 2008 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I ANNUAL GAS SAFETY CHECKS

There was submitted Report No 509-2008 by the Director of Housing seeking approval for changes to the annual gas safety checks programme.

After discussion, the Convener, seconded by Councillor Brian Gordon, moved that the Committee:-

(i) noted the content of the report;

(ii) approved the policy changes proposed in the report; and

(iii) noted the importance of firm action by the Housing Department in relation to those who failed to give access for annual gas safety checks of appliances in Council housing.

As an amendment, Councillor Jimmy Black, seconded by Councillor Andy Dawson, moved that the report be approved subject to the Committee:-

(i) noting that the Council had a statutory obligation to carry out gas safety checks on all its Council houses each year;

(ii) noting that when the report was prepared, 8% of Dundee's Council houses with gas installations had not been issued with gas safety certificates; and

(iii) calling on the Convener to apologise for exposing the Council and its tenants to significant risk.

On a division, there voted for the motion - the Convener, Lord Provost John R Letford, Councillor Kevin Keenan, Councillor Mohammed Asif, Councillor Laurie Bidwell, Councillor Tom Ferguson, Councillor Brian Gordon, Councillor Richard McCready, Bailie Helen Wright, Councillor Fraser Macpherson, Bailie Roderick A J Wallace, Councillor Donald Hay, Bailie Derek Scott and Depute Lord Provost Ian Borthwick (14); and for the amendment - Councillor Ken Guild, Councillor Jim Barrie, Councillor David Bowes, Councillor Andy Dawson, Councillor Bob Duncan, Councillor Elizabeth Fordyce, Councillor Stewart Hunter, Councillor Ken Lynn, Councillor Christina Roberts and Councillor Alan Ross (11) - whereupon the motion was declared carried and the report was agreed on those terms as outlined.

II EX-COUNCIL HOUSE OWNERS CHARTER

On a reference to Article IV of the Housing Committee of 18th April, 2005, there was submitted Agenda Note AN213-2008 advising members of the first formal revision of the ex-Council House Owners' Charter. The review simplified the previous Charter and reflected the spirit of mutual understanding and trust which had developed between the Dundee City Council (DCC) and Dundee Association of Council House Owners (DACHO) over the intervening period.

The Home Owners' Charter between DCC and Owners' Association, DACHO, set out mutually agreed standards for service delivery and input into the direction of the Council's housing service as it related to owners of ex-Council houses. It also set out some individual owners' responsibilities to be good neighbours. A copy of the Owners' Charter had been issued to each local Elected Member. It would be available on the Council's internet site and would be issued to first-time owners through Right to Buy Scheme. Copies would be available in District Housing Offices and other community points throughout the City.

The Committee noted the foregoing.

III REVIEW OF RENTS AND OTHER CHARGES

There was submitted Agenda Note AN217-2008 advising that the Director of Housing and Head of Finance would submit a report to this Committee on 26th January, 2009 which it was proposed might recommend a rent rise of inflation plus 1% which was 3.66 per week on average, subject to a maximum increase of 4.50 (subject to consultation) and the following increases on other Housing charges, as calculated by the Head of Finance and the Director of Housing:-

- concierge services be increased by 30p per week

- garage lock-ups be increased by 50p to 8.50 per week

- underground parking bays be increased by 25p to 2.25 per week

- garage sites be increased by 25p to 2.25 per week

- sheltered housing service charge be increased by 50p to 26.00 per week

- travelling people's site rents be increased by 1.74 to 59.61 per week

- heating charges be increased by 25p to 6.25 per week

These increases proposed to be applied from 6th April, 2009.

As part of the rent increase consultation exercise, the following options had been put to the Tenants' Forums in October 2008 and Dundee Federation of Tenants' Association General Meeting on 18th November, 2008:-

Inflation had been calculated using a basket of indices comprising the retail price index, the producer prices index and pay awards. The largest increase being in respect of the producers index which reflected the increased inflation of the capital programme and the lowest increase of 2.5% being in respect of pay awards. This produced an inflation rate of 6%.

The Committee noted that it was proposed to further consult tenants on the proposals by posting the details as to how and when to comment on public information boards in Housing Offices, the Council's website, by public notice to be advertised in a local newspaper and in the Housing Bulletin and feedback form issued to all tenants in December.

The Committee further noted that following the consultation period and having regard to the proposals and the views expressed during the consultation, a report would be submitted to this Committee on 26th January, 2009.

IV TENDERS RECEIVED

There was submitted Report No 597-2008 by the City Architectural Services Officer giving details of offers received for the undernoted contract:-

(a) CAMPERDOWN 7TH DEVELOPMENT - HEATING REPLACEMENT, KITCHENS AND BATHROOMS

The Committee agreed to accept a partnering contract with Dundee Contract Services amounting to 672,222, together with the undernoted allowances:-

making a total expenditure of 768,306.

V CONTRACT SERVICES OPERATING STATEMENT AND OPERATIONAL PERFORMANCE FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED 30TH SEPTEMBER, 2008

There was submitted Report No 593-2008 by the Head of Finance and Director of Contract Services appraising the Committee on the financial position and operational performance of Contract Services for the six months ending 30th September, 2008.

The Committee agreed to:-

(a) note the current financial position and operational performance of Contract Services; and

(b) note that Contract Services should exceed the statutory requirement of break even for the third year of the current three year rolling period, which commenced at the start of financial year 2006/2007.

VI SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK - ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT

There was submitted Report No 577-2008 by the Head of Waste Management informing the Committee of the work undertaken over the last six months to implement the Council's sustainable Development Framework.

The Committee agreed to note the contents of the report.

VII PURCHASE OF MECHANICAL SWEEPING MACHINES

There was submitted Report No 571-2008 by the Head of Waste Management seeking authority for the purchase of two compact suction sweeping machines which would be used for street/precinct cleaning operations by the Waste Management Department.

The Committee agreed to accept the offer from Schmidt UK, Peterborough for the supply of two Schmidt Swingo 250 machines at a total cost of 114,666.

VIII PLAY AREA IMPROVEMENTS AND PUBLIC OPEN SPACE IMPROVEMENTS 2008/2009

There was submitted Report No 595-2008 by the Director of Contract Services seeking approval to carry out improvements to play areas and public open spaces for 2008/2009.

The Committee approved the improvements to the Fintryside and Sandeman Street Playgrounds and improvements to public open spaces at Lawside Avenue, Forthill Park (Broughty Ferry), Kirk Street and Sandeman Street/Tannadice Street as detailed in Appendix 1 of the report.

The Committee further agreed that the work be carried out by Dundee Contract Services at an estimated cost of 99,100.

George REGAN, Convener.