Housing, Dundee Contract Services And Environment Services Committee - 26/04/2010

At a MEETING of the HOUSING, DUNDEE CONTRACT SERVICES AND ENVIRONMENT SERVICES COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 26th April, 2010.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Councillor Jimmy BLACK, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 22nd March, 2010 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I HOUSING DEPARTMENT IMPROVEMENT PLAN PROGRESS REPORT

There was submitted Report No 231-2010 by the Director of Housing reporting on progress on the Improvement Plan agreed with the Scottish Housing Regulator.

The Committee:-

(i) noted the progress on the implementation of the Improvement Plan up to March 2010; and

(ii) agreed that, as part of the commitment to Public Performance Reporting, the report be added to the plans and performance section of the Council's website.

II SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT £25M FUNDING TO KICK START COUNCIL HOUSING BUILDING 3RD ROUND 2010/2011- DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL BID

There was submitted Report No 228-2010 by the Director of Housing seeking Committee approval of the Council's bid for a share of the 25m funding from the Scottish Government to kick start Council housing for the third tranche of money to be made available for 2010/2011 - 2011/2012.

The Committee agreed the bid, detailed in the report, for 240,000 from the Scottish Government fund of 25m to kick start Council housing.

III MEMBERSHIP OF SHON

There was submitted Agenda Note AN47-2010 requesting authority for the Director of Housing to renew membership of the Scottish HECA Officers Network (SHON) at a cost of 300 per annum.

The Committee approved accordingly.

IV ENERGY ACTION SCOTLAND - ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP

There was submitted Agenda Note AN48-2010 requesting authority for the Director of Housing to renew annual membership of Energy Action Scotland (EAS) at a cost of 165 to be funded from the Housing Revenue Account.

The Committee approved accordingly.

V SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT HOME INSULATION SCHEME (HIS)

There was submitted Agenda Note AN49-2010 advising that the Strathmartine Ward had been chosen by the Scottish Government as one of the areas to be included in the second phase of its area-based Home Insulation Scheme (HIS). Strathmartine had been chosen on account of its broad mix of property types and tenures.

Under HIS, the Government would provide 15 million funding across Scotland in the year 2010/2011. This funding would permit continuity of staffing locally for staff involved in the first phase of the HIS. They would be working under the Government appointed managing agent for the Scheme (the Energy Saving Trust) and would visit every home in the Ward to identify improvements and give advice on how fuel and carbon savings would be made. Where the properties could be improved through loft or cavity wall insulation, this would be offered at a subsidised cost and EST staff would co-ordinate this effort. Any householder in the Strathmartine Ward on a low income or on benefits would have insulation work carried out free of charge.

The Committee noted the above.

VI REGISTERED TENANT ORGANISATIONS - ADMINISTRATION GRANTS

There was submitted Agenda Note AN61-2010 advising that a request for grant assistance towards administration costs for 2010/2011 had been received from Magdalene Tenants' and Residents' Association.

The Committee agreed to grant assistance of 350 for 2010/2011.

VII TENANTS INFORMATION SERVICES ANNUAL CONFERENCE - BEARDMORE HOTEL, CLYDEBANK - 12TH AND13TH JUNE, 2010

There was submitted Agenda Note AN62-2010 recommending that the Housing Department send up to six Council tenant delegates to the above conference.

The Committee approved accordingly.

VIII TENDERS RECEIVED

There was submitted Report No 230-2010 by the City Architectural Services Officer giving details of offers received for the undernoted contracts:-

(a) CRAIGIE DRIVE 4TH DEVELOPMENT - ROOF REPLACEMENT

The Committee agreed to a negotiated contract with Dundee Contract Services amounting to 21,977.49, together with allowances of 2,616 for professional services, making a total expenditure of 24,593.49.

(b) MENZIESHILL 6TH DEVELOPMENT

The Committee agreed to a partnering project with Dundee Contract Services amounting to 577,300, together with the undernoted allowances:-

making a total expenditure of 664,249.

(c) VARIOUS ADDRESSES - CONTROLLED ENTRIES 2010/2011

The Committee agreed to a partnering project with McGill Electrical Ltd, Dundee, amounting to 80,187.09, together with the undernoted allowances:-

making a total expenditure of 87,490.09.

(d) ST MARY'S 8TH DEVELOPMENT - HEATING REPLACEMENT

The Committee agreed to a partnering project with McGill Electrical Ltd, Dundee, amounting to 156,300, together with the undernoted allowances:-

making a total expenditure of 176,147.

(e) CRAIGIE 2ND DEVELOPMENT - HEATING, KITCHENS, BATHROOMS AND SHOWERS

The Committee agreed to a partnering project with Dundee Contract Services, amounting to 989,000, together with the undernoted allowances:-

making a total expenditure of 1,064,219.

IX RIGHT TO REPAIR - EXTENSION OF CONTRACT

Reference was made to Article VIII of the minute of meeting of this Committee held on 23rd March, 2009.

There was submitted Report No 229-2010 by the City Architectural Services Officer reporting that under the Right to Repair - Housing (Scotland) Act 2001, the City Council was required to maintain a list of contractors prepared to carry out qualifying repairs, this list included the usual Contractor, which, in the City Council's case, was Dundee Contract Services.

The report sought approval for the extension of the existing contracts with the undernoted three firms for a further year until 31st March, 2011:-

All Glass and Glazing, Dundee

Logie Glazing and Building Services, Dundee

Wardah Electrics, Dundee

The Committee further agreed that authority be delegated to the Director of Housing for the addition or deletion of firms from the list in consultation with the City Architectural Services Officer and/or the Director of Finance, as may be appropriate.

X PURCHASE OF VEHICLES

There was submitted Report No 226-2010 by the Head of Waste Management seeking authorisation for the purchase of nine vehicles for use in various operations within Waste Management.

The Committee agreed to accept the undernoted offers:-

The Committee further noted that the vehicles were being procured via the Scotland Excel framework.

XI SCCORS COMMENTARY ON THE SCOTTISH GOVERNMENTS HIGHER ACTIVITY RADIOACTIVE WASTECONSULTATION

There was submitted Report No 225-2010 by the Head of Environmental Health and Trading Standards seeking to confirm the views of the Council in response to the Scottish Government's consultation document on "Scotland's Higher Activity Radioactive Waste Policy".

The Committee:-

(i) welcomed the Scottish Government's paper and the opportunity to contribute the Council's views;

(ii) noted and approved the SCCORS submission as detailed in the Appendix to the report, including the answers to specific questions asked within the consultation document; and

(iii) authorised the Head of Environmental Health and Trading Standards to issue the formal response to the Scottish Government by 30th April, 2010.

XII TRADING STANDARDS INSTITUTE NATIONAL CONFERENCE

There was submitted Agenda Note AN50-2010 reporting that the Trading Standards Institute's Annual National Conference would be held in Edinburgh from 15th to 17th June, 2010. The cost of attendance of a day delegate would be 145.

The Committee authorised the attendance of the Depute Convener as a day delegate and further noted the cost would be met from within the EHTS training budget.

Jimmy BLACK, Convener.