Housing, Dundee Contract Services And Environment Services Committee - 15/09/2003

At a MEETING of the HOUSING COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 15th September, 2003.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Councillor HIND, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 18th August, 2003 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I REGISTRATION OF TENANTS' ORGANISATIONS - HOUSING (SCOTLAND) ACT 2001 (THE ACT)

There was submitted Agenda Note AN416-2003 advising that Hindmarsh Tenants and Residents Association had applied to be registered as a Tenants' Organisation.

As the Director of Housing considered that the application fulfilled the criteria set out in the Act, the Committee approved the application.

II TENDERS RECEIVED

(a)TENDERS RECEIVED BY CITY ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES OFFICER

The City Architectural Services Officer submitted Report No 601-2003 giving details of offers received for the undernoted contracts:-

(1)Dallfield MSD, Bonnethill and Tulloch Courts - Fabric Repairs

The Committee agreed to accept the lowest offer by Castle Contracting Limited, Auchterarder, amounting to 129,840 to which required to be added allowances of 649 for planning supervisor and 9,868 for professional services, making a total expenditure of 140,357.

(2)Lansdowne MSD, Pitalpin Court - Fabric Repairs

The Committee agreed to accept the lowest offer by Castle Contracting Limited, Auchterarder, amounting to 122,691 to which required to be added allowances of 613 for planning supervisor and 9,324 for professional services, making a total expenditure of 132,628.

(3) Lawton First Development - Pitched Roof Repairs Phase 2

The Committee agreed to accept the lowest offer by Raynor Roofing Limited amounting to 161,720.43 to which required to be added allowances of 1,352 for planning supervisor, 11,644 for professional services and 30,200 for addition of two further blocks at the request of the Director of Housing, making a total expenditure of 204,916.43.

(b) TENDERS RECEIVED BY CITY ENGINEER

The City Engineer submitted Report No 631-2003 giving details of a negotiated tender by Dundee Contract Services to carry out height reduction at 62 Craigmount Road for the sum of 192,194.62 to which required to be added allowances of 1,950 for public utility provision and meter removals, 15,000 for Engineer's fee and 1,050 for Planning Supervisor fee, making a total expenditure of 210,194.62.

The Committee agreed to accept this offer.

III RIGHT TO REPAIR 2003 - 2004

The City Architectural Services Officer submitted Report No 602-2003 seeking approval for the inclusion of the undernoted list of contractors provided they were on the Council's select list and had submitted reasonable jobbing rates.

The Committee approved the inclusion of the undernoted contractors:-

W H Brown Construction (Dundee) Limited

Mansell, Dundee

D H Morrison Limited, Dundee

Muirfield (Contracts) Limited, Dundee

Wardah Electrics Limited, Dundee

and noted that the tenders received from the above firms would be valid until 30th September, 2004.

The Committee also authorised the addition or deletion of firms from the list to be delegated to the Director of Housing in consultation with the City Architectural Services Officer and/or the Depute Chief Executive (Finance) as may be appropriate.

IV HOUSING (SCOTLAND) ACT 1987 - IMPROVEMENTS, REPAIRS AND ENVIRONMENTAL GRANTS, HOMELOANS ETC

There was submitted Agenda Note AN417-2003. 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 July and August 2003 in each of the categories were as follows:-

* May include commercial premises.

V HOUSING (SCOTLAND) ACT 2001 - NEW IMPROVEMENTS AND REPAIRS GRANT SYSTEM

There was submitted Agenda Note AN421-2003 requesting that the Committee noted the changes made by Part 6 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 to the Improvement and Repairs Grant system which was due to come into force on 1st October, 2003.

The Committee noted the changes as detailed and that a full report on the implications of this legislation would follow prior to the next financial year.

VI ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR TEAM - OUT OF HOURS SERVICE

The Director of Housing submitted Report No 622-2003 proposing an out of hours addition to the service currently provided by the Housing Department's Anti-Social Behaviour Team.

The Committee agreed to the recommendation that a pilot Out of Hours Service be introduced, as outlined in the report, during the period 1st October, 2003 to 31st March, 2004.

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 items of business on the grounds that they involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 6 and 9 of Part I of Schedule 7(A) of the Act.

VII REPURCHASE OF A RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY

There was submitted Agenda Note AN418-2003. Reference was made to Article XII of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 17th February, 2003 when it was agreed that the residential properties at 161 Carnegie Square, be demolished and it be remitted to the Director of Economic Development to enter repurchasing negotiations with the owners of the privately owned properties in Carnegie Square.

The Committee agreed to the repurchase of the property in question on the terms and conditions detailed.

VIII COMMUNITY ASSOCIATIONS AND GROUPS - ADMINISTRATION GRANTS

Councillor Duncan declared a non-financial interest by virtue of his former position as the Secretary of the Residents' Association referred to.

There was submitted Agenda Note AN419-2003 advising that the Director of Housing had received an application requesting grant assistance towards administration costs for 2003/2004 from the Residents' Association involved.

The Committee noted the circumstances relating to the application and approved a grant for 2003-2004 as detailed in the report.

CHRISTOPHER HIND, Convener.