Housing, Dundee Contract Services And Environment Services Committee - 21/01/2002

At a MEETING of the HOUSING COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 21st January, 2002.

 

Present:-

 

COUNCILLORS

 

George de GERNIER

Andrew DAWSON

C D P FARQUHAR

Helen WRIGHT

Willie W SAWERS

Fraser MACPHERSON

Betty WARD

Bruce D MACKIE

Jim BARRIE

Jill SHIMI

Roderick A J WALLACE

Julia M STURROCK

Neil I C POWRIE

Kenneth J N GUILD

Neil GLEN

Ian BORTHWICK

Derek J SCOTT

Elizabeth F FORDYCE

Robin PRESSWOOD

John CORRIGAN

Fiona M GRANT

Richard BEATTIE

Dave BEATTIE

David BOWES

 

Councillor SHIMI, Convener, in the Chair.

 

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 17th December, 2001 was held as read.

 

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

 

I HOME ENERGY CONSERVATION ACT (HECA) SECOND PROGRESS REPORT 2001

 

The Director of Housing submitted Report No 36-2002 seeking approval for the HECA Progress Report to be submitted to the Scottish Executive by 31st January, 2002.

 

The Committee approved the Report.

 

II DEMOLITION OF 1-7 & 6-10 CRAIGMOUNT AVENUE, 35 CHARLESTON ROAD, 360 FLATS AT WHITFIELD, QUARRYFIELD, GREENFIELD AND KELLYFIELD COURTS AND ASSOCIATED LOCK-UP

 

The Director of Housing submitted Report No 35-2002 seeking approval for the demolition of the above properties.

 

The Committee in the case of 1-7 and 6-10 Craigmount Avenue and 35 Charleston Road:-

 

(a)approved the demolition of 42 flats at 1-7 and 6-10 Craigmount Avenue and 4 flats at 35 Charleston Road;

 

(b)remitted to the Director of Housing to award priority rehousing status to the remaining tenants as outlined in Appendix 2 of the Report, together with the statutory Home Loss payment of 1,500;

 

(c)approved in principle the repurchase of the three owner-occupied properties, remitted to the Director of Economic Development to enter into negotiations with the owners on a "without prejudice" basis and remitted to the Director of Housing to award the appropriate financial and rehousing package;

 

(d)remitted to the City Engineer to prepare tenders and seek offers for demolition and post-demolition treatment at the appropriate time.

 

In the case of Whitfield, Quarryfield, Greenfield and Kellyfield Courts, the Committee:-

 

(a)agreed to declare surplus and demolish 360 flats at Whitfield, Quarryfield, Greenfield and Kellyfield Courts and the 100 lock-up garages at Whitfield Court (Nos 26-59), Quarryfield Court (Nos 1-25), Greenfield Court (Nos 72-83) and Kellyfield Court (Nos 91-119);

 

(b)remitted to the Director of Housing to award priority rehousing status to the remaining tenants on a phased basis at the Director of Housing's discretion as outlined in 6.3 of the report, together with the statutory Home Loss payment of 1,500;

 

(c)remitted to the City Engineer to prepare tenders and seek offers for demolition and post-demolition treatment at the appropriate time;

 

(d)remitted to the Director of Housing to bring forward proposals for redevelopment at the appropriate time;

 

(e)authorised the Director of Housing to review the Housing Concierge Service in Whitfield in respect of the blocks to be demolished as tenants moved to new properties;

 

(f)authorised the Director of Housing and the Director of Personnel and Management Services to meet with the relevant Trade Unions to discus the staffing implications for the Concierge Staff.

 

III PROPERTY SHOP

 

The Director of Housing submitted Report No 16-2002 providing the Committee with an up-to-date review of the operation of the Housing Department's Property Shop.

 

The Committee:-

 

(a)agreed the continued operation of the Property Shop as part of the housing service at its current location, or if financially prohibitive a similar city centre site, subject to the comprehensive review of the lettings process which was currently underway;

 

(b)remitted to the relevant officers to start negotiations with the management of the Wellgate Centre with regard to extending the lease.

 

IV TENDERS RECEIVED

 

(a)The City Architectural Services Officer submitted Report No 32-2002 giving details of offers received for the undernoted contracts:-

 

(i)LONG LANE, BROUGHTY FERRY - PITCHED ROOF REPLACEMENT

 

The Committee agreed to accept the lowest offer by Ward Building Services Limited to carry out the above works for the sum of 68,900.21, to which required to be added an allowance of 8,298 for Professional Services, making a total expenditure of 77,198.21.

 

(ii) LONG LANE, BROUGHTY FERRY - HEATING INSTALLATION AND ELECTRICAL UPGRADING

 

The Committee agreed to accept the lower offer by Domestic Plumbing and Heating Limited to carry out the above works for the sum of 22,864.05, to which required to be added allowances of 5,000 for Redecoration of elderly tenants' houses, 800 for Decoration Vouchers, 252 for Carpet Vouchers, 1,000 for Decanting of Tenants and 2,910 for Professional Services, making a total expenditure of 32,826.05.

 

The Committee also noted that Domestic Plumbing and Heating Limited had listed Kingsway Electrical Contractors Limited as the Sub-Contractors for electrical work.

 

(iii) CRAIGIE 7TH DEVELOPMENT - HEATING INSTALLATION AND ELECTRICAL UPGRADING

 

The Committee agreed to accept the lower offer by Domestic Plumbing and Heating Limited to carry out the above works for the sum of 16,055.80, to which required to be added allowances of 2,000 for Redecoration of elderly tenants' houses, 400 for Decoration Vouchers, 500 for Decanting of Tenants, 230 for Gas Connection Charges and 2,085 for Professional Services, making a total expenditure of 21,270.80.

 

The Committee also noted that Domestic Plumbing and Heating Limited had listed Kingsway Electrical Contractors Limited as the Sub-Contractors for electrical work.

 

(iv) CLEMENT PARK 1ST DEVELOPMENT - HEATING INSTALLATION

 

The Committee agreed to accept the negotiated offer with Dundee Contract Services amounting to 48,508.00, to which required to be added the undernoted allowances, making a total expenditure of 66,820.00:-

 

Redecoration of elderly tenants' houses

3,600.00

Decoration Vouchers

500.00

Carpet Vouchers

840.00

Decanting of Tenants

2,000.00

Gas Connection Charges

2,166.00

Electric Connection Charges

2,500.00

Professional Services

6,706.00

 

(v) DRYBURGH 1ST DEVELOPMENT (COTTAGES) - HEATING INSTALLATION

 

The Committee agreed to accept the lowest offer by McGill Electrical Limited, amounting to 80,899.43, to which required to be added the undernoted allowances, making a total expenditure of 100,419.43:-

 

Redecoration of elderly tenants' houses

2,000.00

Decoration Vouchers

1,000.00

Carpet Vouchers

1,260.00

Decanting of Tenants

600.00

Gas Connection Charges

3,900.00

Electric Connection Charges

500.00

professional Services

10,260.00

 

(b) The City Engineer submitted Report No 1-2002 giving details of offers received for demolition at 73-96 Carberry Crescent, Whitfield.

 

The Committee agreed to accept the lowest offer by Trojan Metals Limited amounting to 22,266, to which required to be added allowances of 5,000 for Public Utility Diversions, 3,474 for Contingencies, 3,800 for Professional Fees and 500 for Planning Supervisor Function, making a total expenditure of 35,000.

 

V MENZIESHILL 8TH DEVELOPMENT THURSO CRESCENT - TENDER REPAIRS - EXTENSION TO CONTRACT

 

With reference to Article IV(b)(iv) of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 15th October, 2001, the City Architectural Services Officer submitted Report No 4-2002 requesting an extension to the existing contract.

 

The Committee agreed to extend the existing contract and authorised estimated additional expenditure of approximately 45,000.

 

VI FOGGYLEY MSD - CCTV INSTALLATION - EXTENSION TO CONTRACT

 

On a reference to Article VII(g) of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 20th August, 2001, the City Architectural Services Officer submitted Report No 41-2002 requesting approval to extend the existing contract.

 

The Committee agreed to extend the existing contract and authorised estimated additional expenditure of approximately 29,000.

 

VII GROUND AT HIGH STREET, LOCHEE

 

It was reported that the Department of Planning and Transportation were about to commence construction of an improvement project at Loons Road/High Street junction comprising the local realignment of Loons Road and the widening of High Street near the junction involving a small area of ground currently in the ownership of the Housing Department.

 

The Committee agreed that the ground be transferred to the Planning and Transportation Department at nil value.

 

VIII HOUSING (SCOTLAND) ACT 1987 - IMPROVEMENT, REPAIRS AND ENVIRONMENTAL GRANTS, HOME LOANS ETC

 

Reference was made to the minute of meeting of the Housing Committee of 15th November 1999 when grant expenditure under the Housing (Non HRA) Budget was agreed.

 

It was agreed that the grants approved during December 2001 in each of the categories were as follows:-

 

Category

Amount of Grant Approved

No of Dwellings

 

Housing Action Areas

0

0

Repairs Notices and other Statutory Notices

0

0

Improvements/Repairs and Conversions within the City Centre

0

0

BTS Improvement/Repair

0

0

Disabled Adaptations

9,531

4

Care and Repair

0

0

Serious Disrepair

0

0

Mutual Repairs

0

0

Ex Council (Capital Project)

0

0

Windows

0

0

Removal of Lead Plumbing

0

0

Rewiring

634

0

Environmental

0

0

Discretionary Improvements

0

0

Discretionary Repairs

2,200

1

Energy Efficiency

946

1

HMOs (Fire Escapes)

0

0

TOTAL

13,311

7

 

The Committee resolved under Section 50(A)(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 that the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the undernoted item of business on the grounds that it involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 6 and 9 of Part I of Schedule 7(A) of the Act.

 

IX PROPOSED DEMOLITION OF TENEMENTS IN CHARLESTON

 

On a reference to Article II above it was reported that expenditure would be incurred for the repurchase of properties at 3, 7 and 8 Craigmount Avenue from the current owners inclusive of Home Loss and Disturbance payments.

 

The Committee approved accordingly.

 

 

JILL SHIMI, Convener.