Housing, Dundee Contract Services And Environment Services Committee - 09/05/2011

At a MEETING of the HOUSING, DUNDEE CONTRACT SERVICES AND ENVIRONMENT SERVICES COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 9th May, 2011.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Councillor Jimmy BLACK, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 25th April, 2011 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I LETTING POLICY - THE THREE OFFER RULE

On a reference to Article V of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 25th January, 2010, there was submitted Report No 218-2011 by the Director of Housing evaluating and reviewing the three offer rule after six months operation of the current letting policy.

The Committee agreed:-

(i) that the three offer rule be removed since the number of applicants whose application for housing was suspended under the rule was small and there was little evidence of its effectiveness; and

(ii) that the effects of removal of the Three Offer Rule be evaluated after 12 months.

II ORMISTON CRESCENT, WHITFIELD

There was submitted Report No 232-2011 by the Director of Housing requesting Committee approval to declare surplus and demolish the block 37-52 Ormiston Crescent and seeking approval for the Director of Housing to develop proposals in partnership with Angus Housing Association for further consultation with tenants on transferring properties at 53-64 Ormiston Crescent and 65-76 Ormiston Crescent to Angus Housing Association.

The Committee:-

(i) approved no further lets be made within the blocks, vacant properties be held pending redevelopment and agreed to declare surplus and demolish 16 flats in the block 37‑52 Ormiston Crescent;

(ii) remitted the Director of Housing to award priority re-housing status to tenants in the block 37-52 Ormiston Crescent, together with the statutory Home Loss payment of 1,500, and facilitate the re-housing process outlined at paragraph 4.4 in the report;

(iii) remitted the Director of City Development to prepare a tender for demolition and post demolition treatment at the appropriate time; and

(iv) remitted the Director of Housing to develop proposals for further consultation with tenants on transferring properties at 53-64 Ormiston Crescent and 65-76 Ormiston Crescent to Angus Housing Association.

III DECORATION CARD SCHEME

There was submitted Agenda Note AN72-2011 advising that the Housing Department spent approximately 360K per year on tenant allowances for capital contracts and approximately 500K per year on decoration allowances following relets. The Housing Investment Unit issued cheques directly to tenants for capital contract allowances and the Relet Team issued orders that tenants could use in DIY stores.

As cheques were to be phased out from 2013, alternatives had been considered to cheques, as well as looking at getting better value for money, and a Decoration Card Scheme was proposed which would be tendered through the Public Scotland Portal. Such a scheme would potentially achieve savings of up to 14% through discounts offered by the major stores, and would also allow the Council to reclaim the VAT element of any allowance paid. A Framework Agreement would be developed for the supply of decorating materials to Council tenants through the scheme. The supplier would provide decoration cards which the tenants could exchange for their choice of decorating materials. This would also introduce additional security minimising opportunities for misuse.

Tenants' views would be sought on added value, that could be stipulated in the framework, such as free delivery or the ability to order by phone or on‑line.

As the Tenant Allowance for capital contracts also included an allowance for floorcoverings, it was proposed that flooring (carpet and vinyl) would also be included in the list of materials eligible for purchase under the scheme. As not all interested suppliers sold flooring materials, alternatives for this and other items not covered by the Decoration Card Scheme would be developed.

The Committee noted that the tender for the scheme would be prepared and issued by Corporate Procurement and the result reported to Committee.

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

There was submitted Agenda Note AN73-2011 reporting a request for registration as a Registered Tenants' Organisation had been received from Happyhillock/Midmill Tenants' and Residents' Association.

The Committee approved the application.

V TENDERS RECEIVED

There was submitted Report No 236-2011 by the City Architectural Services Officer detailing tenders received and requesting a decision thereon:-

(a) DALLFIELD MULTI-STOREY DEVELOPMENT (MSD) - KITCHENS AND BATHROOMS

The Committee agreed to a negotiated project with McGill Electrical Ltd, Dundee, amounting to 1,243,800, together with the undernoted allowances:-

making a total expenditure of 1,652,764.

VI FOOD WASTE COLLECTION PILOT SCHEME

There was submitted Report No 229-2011 by the Head of Waste Management advising the Committee of the proposal to introduce a pilot scheme for the separate collection of food waste from domestic properties in Dundee, and seeking approval for this proposal.

The Committee approved the pilot scheme as detailed in the report.

VII PURCHASE OF END OF LEASE VEHICLES AND PLANT

There was submitted Report No 235-2011 by the Head of Waste Management seeking authority for the purchase of a number of end-of-life vehicles and items of plant for extended use in operations within Waste Management.

The Committee approved the purchase of the undernoted three vehicles and six items of plant and workshop equipment at a total cost of 54,356:-

Jimmy BLACK, Convener.