Housing Committee - 20/08/2012

At a MEETING of the HOUSING COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 20th August, 2012.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Councillor Jimmy BLACK, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 25th June, 2012 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I DECLARATION OF INTEREST

No declarations of interest were made.

II SHQS PROGRESS REPORT ON COMPLIANCE

There was submitted Report No 264-2012 by the Director of Housing appraising the Committee on Scottish Housing Quality Standard (SHQS) progress to the end of March 2012 and advising on risk management measures in place to mitigate risks to compliance.

The Committee noted progress at the end of 2011/2012 towards achieving SHQS by 2015 and the actions being implemented to manage risks to delivery.

III CONSULTATION ON HOUSING ADAPTATIONS: OPTIONS FOR CHANGE AND IMPROVEMENT

There was submitted Joint Report No 280-2012 by the Director of Housing and the Director of Social Work containing the Council's response to the Scottish Government's consultation on Housing Adaptations: Options for Change and Improvement.

The Committee noted the response to the consultation, appended to the report, which had been submitted to the Scottish Government, the closing date for the consultation having been 27th July, 2012.

IV CONSULTATION ON THE RIGHT TO BUY IN SCOTLAND

There was submitted Report No 281-2012 by the Director of Housing containing the Council's response to the Scottish Government's consultation on the Future of the Right to Buy in Scotland.

The Committee approved the response to the consultation, appended to the report, for submission to the Scottish Government.

V CONSULTATION ON SCOTTISH SOCIAL HOUSING CHARTER INDICATORS

There was submitted Report No 282-2012 by the Director of Housing containing the Council's response to the Scottish Housing Regulator's consultation on the Scottish Social Housing Charter Indicators.

The Committee approved the response to the consultation, appended to the report, for submission to the Scottish Housing Regulator.

VI HOUSING REPAIRS PARTNERSHIP BOARD

There was submitted Agenda Note AN118-2012 proposing that the Housing Repairs Partnership Board, comprising officers from the Housing Department, Environment Department, Corporate Services Department and Dundee Federation of Tenants' Associations (DFTA), and chaired by the Convener of Housing, transfer its responsibility for determining whether aims and objectives of the Housing Repairs Partnership Agreement were being met to the Housing Best Value Review Group with immediate effect.

The Housing Best Value Review Group, meeting quarterly, had a remit to consider Housing Services and it was felt that this Group would provide a wider forum for discussion while reducing duplication of meetings.

DFTA had been consulted and were in agreement with this proposal.

The Committee approved the proposal and remitted the Director of Housing to review the Housing Repairs Partnership Agreement 2009/2014 to reflect the change in governance arrangements.

VII REGISTERED TENANT ORGANISATIONS - ADMINISTRATION GRANTS

There was submitted Agenda Note AN119-2012 advising that a request for grant assistance towards administration costs for 2012/2013 had been received from Forthill Tenants' Association.

The Committee agreed to grant assistance of 255, as requested.

VIII WHORTERBANK & LANSDOWNE/PITALPIN MULTI-STOREY DEVELOPMENTS - KITCHEN AND BATHROOMS - EXTENSION TO CONTRACT

On a reference to Article III of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 12th March, 2012, the City Architect submitted Report No 314-2012 requesting approval to extend the existing contract, through the existing Partnership Contract, with McGill Electrical Ltd, Dundee. The additional works comprised renewal of external lighting to the four MSD blocks, upgrading of intercom, concierge and door entry infrastructure works to the four MSD blocks and rewiring to a proportion of houses at Ancrum and Burnside Courts only.

The Committee agreed to extend the existing contract and incur estimated additional expenditure of approximately 225,000, including allowances.

Jimmy BLACK, Convener.