Neighbourhood Services Committee - 28/09/2020

At a MEETING of the NEIGHBOURHOOD SERVICES COMMITTEE held remotely at Dundee on 28th September, 2020.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Councillor Anne RENDALL, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 24th August, 2020 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Bailie Roberts declared a non-financial interest in Article IV by virtue of being resident in one of the areas where works were being undertaken.

II CEMETERY HEADSTONE SAFETY

There was submitted Agenda Note AN40-2020, whereby reference was made to Article VII of the minute of meeting of the Environment Committee of 29th October, 2012, whereby the cemetery headstone inspection and testing programme was introduced. Significant progress had been made in the last few years in both the recording and making safe headstones within cemeteries throughout Dundee.

Headstones were regularly inspected by the staff from Neighbourhood Services. Any stones which required attention and were below 1.5 metres in height were made safe. However, for headstones over 1.5 metres, a specialist contractor was required to make dangerous headstones safe and carry out restoration works as required.

Reference was also made to Article II of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 13th November, 2017, where it was agreed to accept a tender through the Councils Procurement Team and appoint Vermicom Ltd to carry out this specialist work. The tender was for a two-year period with an optional two years. It was proposed to award Vermicom Ltd a further tranche of work to the maximum value of 50,000 for 2020/2021. It was expected the works would be completed by 31st March, 2021.

The Committee agreed to approve these works, noting that the Executive Director of Corporate Services had confirmed that the total capital improvements of 50,000 could be met from allowances for Cemeteries in 2020/2021 within the Service Provision section of the General Services Capital Plan 2020-2025.

III REGULATION OF SOCIAL HOUSING IN SCOTLAND - ANNUAL ASSURANCE STATEMENT

There was submitted Report No 215-2020 by the Executive Director of Neighbourhood Services seeking approval of the Annual Assurance Statement for submission to the Scottish Housing Regulator.

The Committee agreed to:-

(i) note the requirements of the Scottish Housing Regulators Framework for the Regulation of Social Housing in Scotland;

(ii) note the range of existing opportunities for tenants and elected members to scrutinise the operation and performance of the Council in relation to its duties as a social landlord; and

(iii) approve the Annual Assurance Statement at Appendix 1 to the report, authorise its submission to the Scottish Housing Regulator and publication on the Councils website.

IV EXTERNAL WALL INSULATION - HOME ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROGRAMME FOR SCOTLAND - 2020/2021 PROGRAMME

There was submitted Report No 227-2020 by the Executive Director of Neighbourhood Services seeking approval for the next phase of energy efficiency projects as part of the 2020/2021 Capital programme.

The Committee agreed that approval be given for the projects detailed below:-

V RAPID REHOUSING TRANSITION PLAN (RRTP) - REVIEW OF YEAR 1 AND COVID-19 IMPACT

There was submitted Report No 228-2020 by the Executive Director of Neighbourhood Services, whereby reference was made to Article V of this Committee of 7th January, 2019 which gave approval for the implementation of the Rapid Rehousing Transition Plan. The report provided an update on Year 1 of the Plan and highlighted the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Plan.

The Committee agreed to note the content of the report and the attached Year 1 update on the Rapid Rehousing Transition Plan which had been submitted to the Scottish Government on 30th June, 2020.

The Committee further agreed to note the impact of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic on the Rapid Rehousing Transition Plan.

VI TENDERS RECEIVED

There was submitted Report No 238-2020 by the Head of Design and Property detailing tenders received and requesting a decision thereon:-

(a) GYPSY TRAVELLER SITE, BALMUIR WOOD - NEW ELECTRIC SUPPLIES

The Committee agreed to accept a negotiated offer from Construction Services in the sum of 44,609.35, together with allowances of 5,000, giving a total expenditure of 49,609.35.

(b) GYPSY TRAVELLER SITE, BALMUIR WOOD, FIRE SAFETY COMPLIANCE WORKS - NEW BAY MARKINGS

The Committee agreed to accept a negotiated offer from Tayside Contracts in the sum of 2,114.

(c) HOSPITAL PARK 1ST DEVELOPMENT, PHASE 2 - ROOF REPLACEMENT

The Committee agreed to accept a negotiated offer from Construction Services in the sum of 393,889.51, together with allowances of 37,000, giving a total expenditure of 430,889.51.

(d) 2020/2021 HOUSING CONCRETE REPAIR WORKS

The Committee agreed to accept the lowest offer from Concrete Repair Ltd Works in the sum of 152,893.54, together with allowances of 34,463.35, giving a total expenditure of 187,356.89.

Anne RENDALL, Convener.