Housing, Dundee Contract Services And Environment Services Committee - 25/01/2010

At a MEETING of the HOUSING, DUNDEE CONTRACT SERVICES AND ENVIRONMENT SERVICES COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 25th January, 2010.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Councillor Jimmy BLACK, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 11th January, 2010 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I REVIEW OF RENTS AND OTHER HOUSING CHARGES

There was submitted Report No 53-2010 by the Director of Housing detailing the proposed rent and other charges for the financial year 2010/2011.

The Committee agreed that:-

(a) rents be increased by 2.22 per week on average, subject to maximum increase of 3.00 from 5th April, 2010;

(b) the Service Charge for the Concierge Service be increased by 30 pence per week from 5th April, 2010;

(c) charges for Car Parking facilities be increased as follows from 5th April, 2010 -

- Garage Lock Ups by 50 pence to 9.00 per week

- Underground Parking Bay by 25 pence to 2.50 per week

- Garage Sites by 25 pence to 2.50 per week.

(d) the levels of rents held on the Housing Revenue Account be similarly applied to miscellaneous houses ie properties leased to the Richmond Fellowship and garage sites, subject to categorisation where appropriate.

Councillor Fraser Macpherson made reference to Article I of the minute of meeting of the Policy and Resources Committee held on 25th January, 2010, wherein it was noted that the amendment he had proposed had not been carried by the Committee and as such, asked that his dissent to Decision (a) be recorded.

II REVIEW OF CHARGES

There was submitted Report No 52-2010 by the Director of Housing, seeking authority to review charges for (Homeless) Temporary 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 5th April, 2010.

The Committee approved the charges as detailed.

(a) (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.

(b) 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 25 pence per week.

(c) MULTI-STOREY LAUNDERETTES

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

(d) STAIR CLEANING

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

(e) STATUS ENQUIRY FEES

It was agreed that the fee charged to Banks, Building Societies, etc for status enquiries remain at 30.00.

III SHELTERED HOUSING CHARGE 2010/2011

There was submitted Agenda Note AN18-2010 advising that the sheltered housing budget for 2010/2011 showed a breakeven position based on an increase of 44 pence per week in the service charge from 5th April, 2010.

The Committee agreed that the sheltered housing service charge be increased by 44 pence to 26.44 per week for the financial year 2010/2011.

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 2010/2011, resulting in an impact to tenants of a further 50 pence per week.

The Committee approved accordingly.

IV PITCH RENTS - TRAVELLING PEOPLES SITE - BALMUIR WOOD

There was submitted Agenda Note AN19-2010 advising that Dundee City Council required a quality Travelling People's Site to meet the requirement 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 1.79 was required to ensure continued levels of service.

The Committee agreed that pitch rents be increased by 1.79 per week to 61.40 for the financial year 2010/2011.

V AMENDMENTS TO THE COUNCILS LETTING POLICY

There was submitted Report No 18-2010 by the Director of Housing recommending a number of changes which should be made to the Council's Letting Policy as a result of comments from the Scottish Housing Regulator and from improvements which had been highlighted through best practice.

The Committee agreed the following changes to the Council's Letting Policy:

(a) A change to the policy on sex separation to allow sharing a bedroom for children of different sexes up to the age of eight years.

(b) Applicants who were re-housed by another landlord would be asked if they would like their application to be reviewed or to be cancelled.

(c) Personnel serving in Her Majesty's Armed Forces would be considered for housing up to nine months prior to discharge.

(d) Prisoners serving custodial sentences may be considered for Housing up to six months prior to release.

(e) The award of points for overcrowding was changed to 40 points where one additional bedroom was required and 70 points where two or more additional bedrooms were required.

(f) Applicants with social needs would receive a single award of 40 points where there was an assessed need and that this category would be reviewed one year after the Letting IT system was commissioned to see if further changes require to be made.

(g) Where appropriate, social need points would also be awarded where child protection was an issue.

VI ABOLITION OF THE PRIORITY NEEDS TEST - APPROACH TO 2012

There was submitted Report No 24-2010 by the Director of Housing, proposing the way forward for achieving the abolition of the Priority Needs Test, in accordance with legislation in the Homelessness etc (Scotland) Act 2003. This places a duty on local authorities to provide permanent accommodation to all people assessed as being unintentionally homeless.

The Committee agreed to:-

(a) note the contents of the report;

(b) remit the Director of Housing to implement measures to Abolish the Priority Needs Test for homeless applicants in Dundee, with an implementation date of April 2010; now that a specialist Homeless Prevention Team had been introduced and was fully functional; and

(c) remit the Director of Housing to update the Homeless Policy and the Homeless Strategy Action Plan to reflect the changes.

VII INDIVIDUAL HOUSES 2009/2010 - HEATING INSTALLATION, ELECTRICAL UPGRADE, KITCHENS AND BATHROOMS - EXTENSION TO CONTRACT

On a reference to Article V of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 11th May, 2009, the City Architectural Services Officer submitted Report No 60-2010 requesting approval to extend the existing contract with McGill Electrical Ltd, Dundee relative to the above.

The Committee agreed to extend the existing contract and incur estimated additional expenditure of 250,000, including allowances.

VIII TENDERS RECEIVED

There was submitted Report No 61-2010 by the City Architectural Services Officer, giving details of offers received for the undernoted contracts:-

Tullideph Road Sheltered Housing - Alterations

The Committee agreed to accept a negotiated contract with Dundee Contract Services amounting to 29,985, together with the undernoted allowances:-

making a total expenditure of 35,789.

Craigie Drive 2nd Development Flats and Montgomerie Drive Cottages

Heating, Kitchens, Bathrooms and Showers

The Committee agreed to accept a partnering contract with Dundee Contract Services amounting to 324,000, together with the undernoted allowances:-

making a total expenditure of 389,470.

Jimmy BLACK, Convener.