Housing, Dundee Contract Services And Environment Services Committee - 18/10/2004

At a MEETING of the HOUSING COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 18th October 2004.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Bailie WRIGHT, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 20th September 2004 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I DEPUTATION - DEFEND DUNDEE COUNCIL HOUSING

The Committee heard Mr Iain Russell and Mr Harvey Duke with regard to Dundee Council Housing. After questions had been asked and answered, the deputation was thanked for its attendance and withdrew.

II HOUSING DEPARTMENT - FUTURE OF HAPPYHILLOCK AND WHITFIELD HOUSING OFFICES AND REPLACEMENT OFFICEACCOMMODATION

The Director of Housing and the Assistant Chief Executive (Management) submitted Joint Report No 510-2004 which proposed the merging of Happyhillock and Whitfield Housing Offices, decentralising additional Housing Department services into one centre and relocating all to new accommodation in Mid Craigie.

The Committee:-

(a) agreed to the merger of Happyhillock and Whitfield Housing Offices and remitted to the Director of Housing to identify the other appropriate services which could be decentralised with a further report on the latter being presented to this Committee for approval;

(b) agreed to the establishment of new office accommodation on the site identified in Appendix I of the report;

(c) authorised the Director of Housing to instruct the City Architectural Services Officer to obtain tenders for the provision of new office accommodation and to incur appropriate fees; and

(d) authorised the Director of Economic Development to enter into discussions regarding leasing accommodation in the Whitfield Community Services Complex to alternative potential users.

The Committee also agreed that following the merger of the two offices, a drop-in surgery for Whitfield tenants be established which could deal with frontline housing service enquiries, except cash collection.

The service would be established initially for two half days per week and be reviewed after six months of operation.

III FINANCIAL VIABILITY STUDY WORKING GROUP - UPDATE

The Director of Housing submitted Report No 553-2004 updating the Committee on the work of the Financial Viability Study Working Group and the outcome of the Dundee Federation of Tenants Associations' consultation.

The Committee:-

(a) agreed that Dundee City Council thank the Financial Viability Study Working Group for their work to date and ask them to continue to meet to examine the work of the Housing Department in respect of achieving the Scottish Housing Quality Standard, additional Prudential borrowing and potential Partial Stock transfers with the Working Group being renamed "Housing Investment Working Group" and all decisions of the Group requiring to be approved by the Housing Committee;

(b) agreed that representation of members on the Housing Investment Working Group be in the ratio of three members from the Administration Group, two members from the SNP Group and one member from the Conservative Group: the Committee also noted that the Administration representatives would be the Housing Convener, Councillor Shimi and Councillor Macpherson; and

(c) agreed that Dundee City Council thank the Dundee Federation of Tenants Associations and the Tenants Information Service for their work done to date.

IV USE OF FURNISHED TENANCIES GRANT 2004-05

Councillor Sturrock declared a non-financial interest by virtue of her position as Chair of Dundee Furniture Project.

The Director of Housing submitted Report No 719-2004 seeking approval to develop a contract with the Furniture Project Tayside (FPT) which would, in due course, be transferred to the new Dundee Furniture Project Company.

The Committee agreed to develop a contract with Furniture Project Tayside to utilised the Furnished Tenancies Grant for 2204 to 2005.

V BUILDING STRONGER COMMUNITIES - PHYSICAL REGENERATION IN THE COUNCIL SECTOR - SURPLUS HOUSING ATHILLTOWN, MILL O' MAINS AND CHARLESTON

The Director of Housing submitted Report No 665-2004 informing the Committee of the tenants' responses to the demolition proposals for the "At Risk" properties at Hilltown, Mill O' Mains and Charleston (Dunholm) and seeking approval for the demolition of these properties.

The Committee:-

(a) agreed that the 1,139 "At Risk" properties in Hilltown, Mill O' Mains and Charleston be declared surplus for demolition (Appendix I of report);

(b) remitted to the Director of Housing to award redevelopment priority for rehousing together with the statutory Home Loss payment of 1,500 (Appendix II of report);

(c) approved, in principle, the repurchase of the 17 owner occupied properties, remitted to the Director of Economic Development to enter negotiations with the owners on a "without prejudice" basis and remitted to the Director of Housing to award the appropriate financial and rehousing packages (Appendix III of report);

(d) remitted to the Director of Planning and Transportation to prepare tenders and seek offers for demolition at the appropriate time;

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

(f) agreed for Charleston (Dunholm) only, that Sheltered Housing Warden posts, currently located at Charleston (Dunholm), would become surplus should this report be approved; the Director of Social Work would consult with the trade unions and employees regarding suitable redeployment;

(g) remitted to the Director of Housing to revert the sheltered housing lounge at 70 Dunholm Road (G/R) back to mainstream housing and carry out any associated works;

(h) agreed for Hilltown only, to remit to the Director of Housing to phase the rehousing process as detailed in Appendix IV of the report;

(i) remitted to the Director of Housing to make suitable arrangements for the continuation of the CCTV monitoring cover provided at these locations;

(j) remitted to the Director of Housing, in consultation with the Assistant Chief Executive (Management), to consult trade unions regarding the future of the 44 employees currently in concierge posts; and

(k) remitted to the Director of Social Work to review the Sheltered Housing Wardens complement at Russell Place consequent to a reduction in overall numbers of sheltered housing in the development and to consult with trade unions and employees regarding suitable redeployment where appropriate.

VI PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE CURRENT TENANT PARTICIPATION POLICY

On a reference to Article IV of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 20th January 2003 the Director of Housing submitted Report No 678-2004 recommending proposed changes to the current Tenant Participation Policy (TPP) in light of a review conducted by a Tenant/Officer Working Group.

The Committee approved the proposed changes to the current TPP as set out in the revised Draft Tenant Participation Strategy, a copy of which had been made available in the Members' Lounges.

VII TENDERS RECEIVED

The City Architectural Services Officer submitted Report No 708-2004 giving details of offers received for the undernoted contracts.

(a) VARIOUS ADDRESSES - CONTROLLED ENTRIES 2004/2005 PHASE 1

The Committee agreed to accept the lowest offer by McGill Electrical Limited amounting to 118,748.46 to which required to be added allowances of 1,114 for Planning Supervisor and 9,292 for professional services, making a total expenditure of 129,154.46.

(b) MAGDALENES KIRKTON 3RD DEVELOPMENT - ROOF REPAIRS AND SOLAR ENERGY INSTALLATION

The Committee agreed to accept the negotiated offer with Dundee Contract Services amounting to 428,357.71 to which required to be added allowances of 2,419 for Planning Supervisor and 27,408 for professional services, making a total expenditure of 458,184.71.

The Committee also noted that Dundee Contract Services had listed the undernoted sub-contractors:-

(c) HOUSING (VARIOUS) - STAIR LIGHTING UPGRADES

The Committee agreed to accept the lowest offer by Dundee Contract Services amounting to 22,308.42 to which required to be added allowances of 241 for Planning Supervisor and 2,728 for professional services, making a total expenditure of 25,277.42.

(d) CAMPERDOWN - SECURITY LIGHTING PROGRAMME

The Committee agreed to accept the lowest offer by McGill Electrical Limited amounting to 17,630.48 to which required to be added allowances of 3,000 for repairs identified by tests, 300 for Planning Supervisor and 1,447 for professional services, making a total expenditure of 22,377.48.

(e) LANSDOWNE MSD - LANSDOWNE COURT - FABRIC REPAIRS

The Committee agreed to accept the lowest offer by Forman Construction Ltd amounting to 174,761.32 to which required to be added allowances of 1,394 for Planning Supervisor and 11,800 for professional services, making a total expenditure of 174,755.32 after savings of 13,200 agreed with the contractor.

The Committee also noted that Forman Construction Ltd had listed Caledonian Sealants, Glasgow, as the sub-contractor for sealants.

(f) KIRK STREET MSD - ADAMSON COURT - FABRIC REPAIRS

The Committee agreed to accept the lowest offer by Forman Construction Ltd amounting to 104,542.35 to which required to be added allowances of 1,043 for Planning Supervisor and 8,231 for professional services, making a total expenditure of 92,116.35 after savings of 21,700 agreed with the contractor.

The Committee also noted that Forman Construction Ltd had listed Caledonian Sealants, Glasgow, as the sub-contractor for sealants.

VIII VOLUNTARY LOCAL PRIVATE LANDLORD ACCREDITATION - DUNDEE PILOT

There was submitted Agenda Note AN383-2004 advising that in June 2004 Community Scotland had launched their "National Core Standards and Good Practice Guidance for Private Landlords and for Local Accreditation Schemes". Dundee City Council had been awarded a grant of up to 45,000 per year for two years to establish the scheme in partnership with private landlords and a report would be brought forward to a future Committee meeting with proposals for launching the Accreditation Scheme.

The Committee approved accordingly.

IX HOUSING (SCOTLAND) ACT 2001 - IMPROVEMENT, REPAIRS AND ENVIRONMENTAL GRANTS, HOMES LOANS ETC

There was submitted Agenda Note AN384-2004. Reference was made to the minute of meeting of the Housing Committee of 15th November 1999 when grant expenditure now under Private Sector Housing Grant was agreed.

It was agreed that the grants approved during September 2004 in each of the categories were as follows:-

* may contain commercial premises.

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 7A of the Act.

X KINNAIRD GARDEN ALLOTMENT ASSOCIATION, 2.251 HA KINGHORNE ROAD, DUNDEE

There was submitted Agenda Note AN385-2004 advising that the above Association's lease had expired.

The Committee agreed to enter into a new lease on the terms and conditions detailed.

XI 0.33 HA (0.82 ACRE) SITE, ARBROATH ROAD, DUNDEE

There was submitted Agenda Note AN386-2004 advising that an interested company had applied to purchase an area of ground to the rear of the above site adjacent to their proposed development.

The Committee agreed to the sale of the site to the interested company on the terms and conditions detailed and authorised the Depute Chief Executive (Support Services) to conclude the sale.

HELEN WRIGHT, Convener.