Housing Committee - 11/03/2013

At a MEETING of the HOUSING COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 11th March, 2013.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Councillor Jimmy BLACK, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 11th February, 2013 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I DECLARATION OF INTEREST

No declarations of interest were made.

II LOCAL HOUSING STRATEGY 2013/2018

There was submitted Report No 89-2013 seeking approval of the Local Housing Strategy 2013/2018 which was the strategy for the provision of housing and associated services to meet the needs of the citizens within Dundee. The Strategy set out the Councils aims and objectives to address the housing issues which had been identified.

The Committee:-

(i) approved the Local Housing Strategy; and

(ii) noted the Strategy would be submitted to the Scottish Government following Committee approval.

III REGISTERED TENANT ORGANISATIONS - ADMINISTRATION GRANTS

There was submitted Agenda Note AN25-2013 requesting grant assistance towards administration costs for 2013/2014 from the undernoted organisations at the levels outlined:-

The Committee agreed to grant assistance as requested.

IV TENDERS RECEIVED

There was submitted Report No 111-2013 by the City Architect detailing tenders received and requesting decisions thereon:-

(a) WATSON STREET AND WELLGATE DEVELOPMENTS - HEATING, KITCHENS AND BATHROOMS

The Committee agreed to a negotiated project with the Environment Department (Construction Services) amounting to 1,145,468, together with the undernoted allowances:-

giving a total expenditure of 1,286,354.78.

(b) DOUGLAS AND ANGUS 11TH DEVELOPMENT - HEATING, KITCHENS AND BATHROOMS

The Committee agreed to a negotiated project with the Environment Department (Construction Services) amounting to 619,813, together with the undernoted allowances:-

giving a total expenditure of 714,097.11.

(c) WESTER CLEPINGTON DEVELOPMENT - HEATING, KITCHENS AND BATHROOMS

The Committee agreed to a negotiated project with the Environment Department (Construction Services) amounting to 528,262, together with the undernoted allowances:-

giving a total expenditure of 593,464.27.

(d) WHITFIELD 2ND, 3RD AND 5TH DEVELOPMENTS - HEATING, KITCHENS AND BATHROOMS

The Committee agreed to a negotiated project with the Environment Department (Construction Services) amounting to 1,006,077, together with the undernoted allowances:-

giving a total expenditure of 1,123,393.55.

(e) ST MARYS 11TH, 12TH AND 15TH DEVELOPMENTS - HEATING, KITCHENS AND BATHROOMS

The Committee agreed to a partnering project with McGill Electrical Ltd, Dundee amounting to 288,497, together with the undernoted allowances:-

giving a total expenditure of 343,119.25.

(f) GARRY PLACE - KITCHENS AND BATHROOMS

The Committee agreed to a partnering project with McGill Electrical Ltd, Dundee amounting to 278,174, together with the undernoted allowances:-

giving a total expenditure of 309,318.79.

(g) KIRK STREET MSD - KITCHENS AND BATHROOMS

The Committee agreed to a partnering project with McGill Electrical Ltd, Dundee amounting to 1,178,310, together with the undernoted allowances:-

giving a total expenditure of 1,617,310.

(h) KIRK STREET 1ST AND 2ND DEVELOPMENTS - HEATING, KITCHENS AND BATHROOMS

The Committee agreed to a partnering project with McGill Electrical Ltd, Dundee amounting to 1,042,364, together with the undernoted allowances:-

giving a total expenditure of 1,399,564.94.

(i) WELLGROVE - KITCHENS AND BATHROOMS

The Committee agreed to a partnering project with McGill Electrical Ltd, Dundee amounting to 61,916, together with the undernoted allowances:-

giving a total expenditure of 69,778.86.

(j) HAREFIELD ROAD DEVELOPMENT - HEATING, KITCHENS AND BATHROOMS

The Committee agreed to a partnering project with McGill Electrical Ltd, amounting to 139,609, together with the undernoted allowances:-

giving a total expenditure of 160,575.77.

(k) ST FILLANS DISABLED - HEATING, KITCHENS AND BATHROOMS

The Committee agreed to a partnering project with McGill Electrical Ltd, amounting to 27,493, together with the undernoted allowances:-

giving a total expenditure of 30,879.91.

(l) 24-43 THURSO CRESCENT - ROUGHCAST RENEWAL

The Committee agreed to a negotiated project with the Environment Department (Construction Services) amounting to 24,424.85, together with the undernoted allowance:-

giving a total expenditure of 26,500.96.

V TENANTS ALLOWANCES UPDATE

On a reference to Article IV of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 12th March, 2012, there was submitted Report No 117-2013 by the Director of Housing seeking agreement to upgrade tenants allowances in line with previous increases.

The Committee agreed that the Tenants Allowances Scheme be increased in line with inflation (Retail Price Index), as detailed in the report, with effect from 1st April, 2013.

VI CHARTERED INSTITUTE OF HOUSING - ANNUAL CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION

There was submitted Agenda Note AN14-2013 reporting that the Chartered Institute of Housing Annual Conference and Exhibition would be held at the SECC in Glasgow on 12th to 14th March, 2013. The estimated cost of attendance, excluding travel and subsistence allowance, would be 699 per delegate.

Bailie Scott, seconded by Councillor Macpherson, moved that no elected member be authorised to attend.

As an amendment, the Convener, seconded by Bailie Sawers, moved that one member of the Administration attend.

On a division, there voted for the motion - Councillors Keenan, Asif, Bidwell, Brennan, Cruickshank, Ferguson, Gordon, McCready, McGovern, Macpherson, Bailies Wright, Borthwick and Scott (13); and for the amendment - the Convener, Councillors Guild, Alexander, Bowes, Campbell, Cordell, Dawson, Hunter, Lynn, McDonald, Melville, Murray, Ross, Bailie Sawers, Lord Provost Duncan and Depute Lord Provost Roberts (16) - whereupon the amendment was declared carried.

VII BEDROOM TAX

It was reported that this item had been placed on the agenda at the request of Councillor Brennan.

The Committee agreed to hear a deputation from the Dundee Ban The Bedroom Tax Campaign.

After the deputation had stated its case and answered questions from members of the Committee, it was thanked for its attendance and withdrew.

Councillor Brennan, seconded by Councillor Gordon, moved to:-

(i) ask the Committee to agree to request the Westminster Government to re-examine the measures it has put in place to cut Housing Benefit from some of Dundees most vulnerable residents on the grounds that their social housing has a spare bedroom;

(ii) ask the Committee to acknowledge that this policy does not meet the Westminster Governments stated policy objective of reducing the welfare bill given that if people moved house it would not save any money and is more likely that expenditure in this area may rise if households move into smaller but more expensive private rented sector properties;

(iii) ask the Committee to acknowledge that according to the Westminster Governments own impact assessment, two thirds of the households affected have a disabled person;

(iv) ask the Committee to call on the Westminster Government to withdraw this policy and think again; and

(v) ask the Committee to agree to write to the Scottish Government requesting them to amend Section 16 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 preventing potential Bedroom Tax rent arrears, being used to justify eviction proceedings and requesting them to find funding mechanisms to fully support this.

As an amendment, the Convener, seconded by Councillor Cordell, moved:-

Dundee City Council notes with concern and regret that the Tory/Lib Dem Governments Bedroom Tax will affect 3,333 of the poorest and most vulnerable households in the City and further notes that this action will cut the incomes of these households by 2,095,000. The City Council is alarmed that no exemption exists for the estimated 79% of those affected by the under occupancy charge in Scotland with a recognised disability.

Dundee City Council considers this policy to be regressive, retrograde and inhumane.

Dundee City Council recognises and applauds the actions of the Scottish Government to protect people from the worst excesses of the Westminster Government. The City Council considers that the UK Government has a responsibility to make a substantial increase in the funds available for Discretionary Housing Payments, and supports the efforts of Scottish Ministers to persuade the UK Government that the under occupancy policy is unworkable and will cause extreme hardship to people already living in poverty.

Dundee City Council reiterates its call for the control of the welfare system to be devolved from Westminster to Scotland; and in the interim, calls on the Westminster Government not to introduce the under occupancy charge, known as the Bedroom Tax.

Dundee City Council is concerned that the Bedroom Tax will lead to increased rent arrears, and considers that this represents a significant financial risk to the Housing Revenue Account.

Dundee City Council has already given extra priority for housing transfers to tenants who are under occupying, and has introduced a scheme to help tenants with the costs associated with moving house. The City Council already provides practical help, support and guidance to tenants in arrears and reaffirms its current practice that eviction is the very last resort in all rent arrears cases.

In addition, the City Council resolves that for a transitional period of one year, where the Director of Housing is satisfied that tenants who are subject to the under occupancy charge are doing all they reasonably can to avoid falling into arrears, it will use all legitimate means to collect rent due, except eviction.

On a division, there voted for the motion - Councillors Keenan, Asif, Bidwell, Brennan, Cruickshank, Ferguson, Gordon, McCready, McGovern, Bailies Wright and Borthwick (11); and for the amendment - the Convener, Councillors Guild, Alexander, Bowes, Campbell, Cordell, Dawson, Hunter, Lynn, McDonald, Melville, Murray, Ross, Bailie Sawers, Lord Provost Duncan and Depute Lord Provost Roberts (16) - Councillor Macpherson and Bailie Scott declining to vote - whereupon the amendment was declared carried.

Jimmy BLACK, Convener.