Housing, Dundee Contract Services And Environment Services Committee - 15/11/2004

At a MEETING of the HOUSING COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 15th November 2004.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Bailie WRIGHT, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 18th October 2004 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I UK HOUSING AWARDS 2004

The Convener advised the Committee that the Council's Housing Repair Service had received an award at the London National Reception acknowledging the efforts of the Council's staff over the last two years.

II HOUSING DEPARTMENT EQUALITIES POLICY

The Director of Housing submitted Report No 720-2004 seeking approval for the equalities policy appended to the report which would help inform and drive the provision of housing services in Dundee and ensure that these were accessible to all of Dundee's citizens.

The Committee approved and adopted the Housing Department Equalities Policy and instructed that monitoring statistics be reported in the Housing Services Plan.

III TENDERS RECEIVED

(a) The City Architectural Services Officer submitted Report No 741-2004 giving details of offers received for the undernoted contracts:-

(i) TAYBANK 1ST AND 2ND DEVELOPMENTS - ROOF REPAIRS - PHASE 2

The Committee agreed to accept the lowest offer by Rayner Roofing Limited amounting to 85,253.76 to which required to be added allowances of 872 for planning supervisor and 7,883 for professional services making a total expenditure of 94,008.76.

(ii) 62B WATSON STREET - NEW RESIDENTS' LOUNGE

The Committee agreed to accept the offer under the Schedule of Rates from Dundee Contract Services amounting to 23,500 to which required to be allowances of 350 for planning supervisor and 3,962 for professional services making a total expenditure of 27,812.

(iii) CITY ROAD 1ST DEVELOPMENT - ROOF REPAIRS PHASE 2

The Committee agreed to accept the lowest offer from Dundee Contract Services amounting to 73,458.38 to which required to be added allowances of 754 for planning supervisor and 7,424 for professional services making a total expenditure of 81,636.38.

The Committee also noted that Dundee Contract Services had listed Independent Access Scaffold as the sub-contractor for scaffolding.

(iv) VARIOUS ADDRESSES - CONTROLLED ENTRIES 2004/2005 PHASE 2

The Committee agreed to accept the lowest offer from McGill Electrical Limited amounting to 48,210.85 to which required to be added allowances of 546 for planning supervisor and 4,048 for professional services making a total expenditure of 52,804.85.

(b) The City Engineer submitted Report No 680-2004 giving details of offers received to carry out demolition at 1 - 56 Kilwinning Place and 37 - 65 Fenwick Place.

The Committee agreed to accept the lowest offer from Dundee Plant Company Limited amounting to 220,789 to which required to be added the undernoted allowances:-

making a total expenditure of 355,118.

IV CRITERIA FOR PROVISION OF EQUIPMENT AND ADAPTATIONS

The Director of Social Work and the Director of Housing submitted Joint Report No 652-2004 outlining the developing issues regarding the assessment for and provision of equipment and adaptations and recommending changes to ensure equity and consistency of provision.

The Committee approved the revision to the assessment and provision arrangements as detailed in the report.

V 80 HAPPYHILLOCK ROAD

Councillor Roberts declared a financial interest as the sitting tenant and left the meeting.

There was submitted Agenda Note AN420-2004 advising that on 30th September 2004 the council house at 80 Happyhillock Road was irreparably damaged after a bus operated by Travel Dundee Limited left the carriageway and collided with the structure which had been demolished on the recommendation of the City Engineer on the grounds of safety on 12th October 2004.

The Council's Officers were negotiating with the relative Insurers to recover associated costs and the sitting tenant had been rehoused.

The Committee noted the demolition decision and approved payment of the Standard Home Loss Payment.

VI "MAINTAINING HOUSES - PRESERVING HOMES" CONSULTATION RESPONSE

There was submitted Agenda Note AN421-2004 advising that due to the timescales allowed for consultation, the Officers had been unable to report to this Committee prior to the deadline for submissions and a copy of the submission had been lodged in the Members' Lounge and with the Group Secretaries.

The Committee noted the submission.

VIIURBAN WOODLAND AND DERELICT LANDS - WHITFIELD AND TROTTICK VILLAGE GREEN

Reference was made to Article III(c) of the minute of meeting of the Planning & Transportation Committee of 25th October 2004 when the negotiated partnership contract with Dundee Contract Services was approved. There was submitted Agenda Note AN423-2004 requesting that the Committee noted that the funding of these works included a contribution of 80,000 to be met from the 2004-2005 Housing Capital Estimates.

The Committee noted accordingly.,

VIII SCOTLAND'S HEALTH AT WORK - BRONZE AWARD

There was submitted Agenda Note AN434-2004 reporting that the Housing Department had been successful in achieving the bronze category of the award made by Scotland's Health at Work (SHAW) and that work would now continue towards achieving the silver category of the award.

The Committee agreed to recognise this achievement and noted the work undertaken by the department in progressing the principles of SHAW towards encouraging and enabling a healthier workforce.

IXHOUSING (SCOTLAND) ACT 2001 - IMPROVEMENT, REPAIRS AND ENVIRONMENTAL GRANTS, HOME LOANS ETC

There was submitted Agenda Note AN422-2004. 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 October 2004 in each of the categories were as follows:-

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.

X REPURCHASE OF PROPERTIES FOR DEMOLITION

Reference was made to Article II of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 20th September 2004. There was submitted Agenda Note AN424-2004 advising that the Director of Economic Development had reached provisional agreement with an owner on the terms and details reported.

The Committee approved the action taken and authorised the Director of Economic Development to request the Depute Chief Executive (Support Services) to conclude the necessary legal formalities.

XI RIGHT OF ACCESS - HILLSIDE COURT

There was submitted Agenda Note AN425-2004 advising that an access agreement for emergency vehicles only had expired earlier in the year.

The Committee approved the provisional new agreement reached in consultation with the Director of Housing on the terms and details stated.

HELEN WRIGHT, Convener.