Neighbourhood Services Committee - 26/09/2022

At a MEETING of the NEIGHBOURHOOD SERVICES COMMITTEE held remotely on 26th September, 2022.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Councillor Heather ANDERSON, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 22nd August, 2022 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I DECLARATION OF INTEREST

There were no declarations of interest.

II LAND AND BUILDINGS TRANSACTION TAX

This Item had been placed on the agenda at the request of Bailie Keenan who requested that the Committee instructed the Chief Executive to write to the First Minister and the Cabinet Secretary for Finance requesting that Local Government/Dundee City Council be exempt from Land and Buildings Transaction Tax and Additional Dwelling Supplement (ADS).

This Tax would prevent the purchase of homes our city requests if we are to address our housing crisis and growing waiting list.

Thereafter, the Committee agreed:-

(i) to recognise that local government was best placed to assist in the delivery of key local and national priorities, not least in delivering infrastructure within our communities;

(ii) to note that Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT) was one small example of a much wider range of potential tax levers and powers which could be utilised by local government for the benefit of citizens in Dundee;

(iii) that focussing solely on LBTT failed to recognise a wider opportunity for the city and agreed that this should be part of a much more comprehensive examination of levers which could help Dundee City Council to invest more in our city;

(iv) that the joint work between the Scottish Government and COSLA on the Local Governance Review offered the city an opportunity to assist in the development of new opportunities. These included the development of pilot projects which would develop potential fiscal levers, such as an infrastructure levy and vacant land tax;

(v) to support the Leader of the Council, in his role as Chair of the Scottish Cities Alliance, in his efforts to pursue a co-ordinated, comprehensive and robust dialogue on this agenda with COSLA and the Scottish Government; and

(vi) that officers provide a summary of the work already identified across these strategic areas and ask that the Chief Executive, jointly with the Council Leader, make further representations through COSLA and the Scottish Government on these matters.

III REGULATION OF SOCIAL HOUSING IN SCOTLAND - ANNUAL ASSURANCE STATEMENT

There was submitted Report No 244-2022 by the Executive Director of Neighbourhood Services seeking Committee approval of the Annual Assurance Statement for submission to the Scottish Housing Regulator.

Having noted in relation to Section 4.3 of the report that people had been displaced due to the War in Ukraine, the Committee agreed:-

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

(ii) to 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;

(iii) to approve the Annual Assurance Statement which was attached to the report as an Appendix; and

(iv) to authorise its submission to the Scottish Housing Regulator and publication on the Council's website.

IV DUNDEE STRATEGIC HOUSING INVESTMENT PLAN

There was submitted Report No 245-2022 by the Executive Director of Neighbourhood Services seeking approval of the Strategic Housing Investment Plan (SHIP) 2023-2028, as detailed at Appendix 1 to the report.

The Committee agreed to approve:-

(i) the content of the Strategic Housing Investment Plan 2023/2028; and

(ii) the submission of the Plan to the Scottish Government.

V RAPID REHOUSING TRANSITION PLAN (RRTP) - REVIEW OF YEAR 3

On a reference to Article V of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 7th January, 2019, wherein the Councils Rapid Rehousing Transition Plan was approved, there was submitted Report No 249-2022 by the Executive Director of Neighbourhood Services providing an update on Year 3 of the implementation of the Rapid Rehousing Transition Plan.

The Committee noted the content of the report and the Year 3 update on the Rapid Rehousing Transition Plan submitted to the Scottish Government on 30th August, 2022, which was attached to the report as an Appendix.

VI ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENTS 2022

There was submitted Report No 252-2022 by the Executive Director of Neighbourhood Services seeking approval for further Environmental Improvements as part of the 2022/2023 programme.

The Committee agreed to approve the projects detailed below:-

VII TENDERS RECEIVED BY HEAD OF DESIGN AND PROPERTY

There was submitted Report No 254-2022 by the Executive Director of City Development detailing tenders received and requesting a decision thereon:-

(a) TULLIDEPH PLACE SHELTERED COMPLEX - EXTERNAL WORKS

The Committee agreed to accept the negotiated offer from Construction Services in the sum of 9,945.26, together with allowances of 1,000, giving a total expenditure of 10,945.26.

(b) WATSON STREET SHELTERED HOUSING COMPLEX - REPLACEMENT DECKING

The Committee agreed to accept the negotiated offer from Construction Services in the sum of 11,133.82, together with allowances of 1,000, giving a total expenditure of 12,133.82.

(c) VARIOUS MSD COMMUNAL SERVICES NON-COMBUSTIBLE FIXING

The Committee agreed to accept the negotiated offer from Construction Services in the sum of 95,447.55, together with allowances of 9,500, giving a total expenditure of 104,947.55.

(d) ST COLUMBA GARDENS (32) - FIRE DAMAGE

The Committee agreed to accept the negotiated offer from Construction Services in the sum of 139,156.69, together with allowances of 21,000, giving a total expenditure of 160,156.69.

Heather ANDERSON, Convener.