Scrutiny Committee - 24/03/2022

At a MEETING of the SCRUTINY COMMITTEE held remotely on 24th March, 2022.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Bailie Kevin KEENAN, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 9th February, 2022 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I DECLARATION OF INTEREST

There were no declarations of interest.

II ROOF TILE FIXINGS TO DOMESTIC PROPERTIES

On a reference to Article XV of the minute of meeting of the Policy and Resources Committee held on 22nd November, 2021, there was submitted Joint Report No 335-2021 by the Executive Directors of City Development and Neighbourhood Services informing the Committee of a review of working practices on roofs installed by Construction Services (CS) and inspected by the Council Clerk of Works (CoW) in the period 2015 to 2019. The report also provided recommendations for corrective action and future compliance monitoring measures.

The Committee, for their interest, noted that following consideration of the report, the Policy and Resources Committee had:-

(i) noted the findings of the review, and that officers had concluded that the roof installations during this period did not meet best practice as set out in the British Standards;

(ii) approved works to be undertaken to bring the affected roofs up to the standard recommended in British Standards at an estimated cost of 4.4m, inclusive of an allowance for Housing staff resourcing and professional fees;

(iii) noted the corrective action and compliance monitoring measures set in place to ensure specification, execution and managing of construction works were undertaken to appropriate industry standards;

(iv) noted that, as part of the corporate Legislative and Regulatory Updates assignment being carried out by Internal Audit, current arrangements in place, within the Design and Property Division, Construction Services and Housing, would be reviewed to ensure that relevant new or changed legislative and regulatory requirements were identified and, where appropriate, addressed timeously;

(v) required officers to obtain an independent and external view, in addition to the internal audit process, to provide assurance that any and all failures identified within the report and any subsequent findings that stemmed from the internal audit investigations, were fully and unquestionably addressed. Such work should reinforce accountability, transparency and confidence in service delivery. This work to be completed as soon as possible with an update on progress by the end of February, 2022;

(vi) instructed officers to provide a detailed overview of how the corrective actions detailed in section 5.3 of the report differed from those undertaken during the roofing work carried out between 2015 and 2019; and

(vii) noted that the report would be referred to a future Scrutiny Committee.

III ROOF TILE FIXINGS TO DOMESTIC PROPERTIES - BACKGROUND INFORMATION

On a reference to Article II above there was submitted Report No 103-2022 by the Head of Democratic and Legal Services providing background information regarding Roof Tile Fixings to Domestic Properties to aid scrutiny.

The Committee:-

(i) noted the background information provided at Appendices 1 to 4 of the report; and

(ii) noted that the matter would be further considered by the Scrutiny Committee, if required.

IV OLYMPIA MAINTENANCE PROGRAMME

The Committee acceded to a request for a deputation to address the Committee relative to both this item of business and the item of business at Article V below. After the deputation had stated their case and answered questions from members of the Committee, they were thanked for their attendance and withdrew.

On a reference to Article VII of the minute of meeting of the City Development Committee of 6th December, 2021 there was submitted Report No 336-2021 by the Executive Director of City Development providing an update regarding the current closure at Olympia, likely timetable for re‑opening and planned maintenance works programme for the facility.

The Committee, for their interest, noted that the City Development Committee had:-

(i) noted the works undertaken to date to carry out reactive maintenance as detailed within the report;

(ii) noted that a planned major refurbishment for the leisure pool was currently being finalised which would necessitate a longer-term closure of the pool facilities at Olympia;

(iii) remitted the Executive Director of City Development to submit a tender report to City Development Committee for approval at the earliest possible date; and

(iv) instructed the Chief Executive to undertake a review of the design and construction of the Olympia building and to report back to City Development on the outcome. Such a review would include an assessment of liability in respect of contractual works.

The Committee further noted that it had subsequently been agreed that this matter should also be considered by the Scrutiny Committee.

V OLYMPIA MAINTENANCE PROGRAMME - BACKGROUND INFORMATION

On a reference to Article IV above there was submitted Report No 104-2022 by the Head of Democratic and Legal Services providing background information regarding the Olympia Maintenance Programme to aid scrutiny.

The Committee:-

(i) noted the background information provided at Appendices 1 to 10 to the report; and

(ii) noted that the matter would be further considered by the Scrutiny Committee, if required.

Kevin KEENAN, Convener.