Housing, Dundee Contract Services And Environment Services Committee - 18/12/2006

At a MEETING of the HOUSING COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 18th December, 2006.

 

Present:-

 

Lord Provost John R LETFORD

 

 

 

BAILIES

 

C D P FARQUHAR

Neil I C POWRIE

Bruce D MACKIE

Helen WRIGHT

 

Ian BORTHWICK

 

COUNCILLORS

 

Jill SHIMI

Joe MORROW

Christina ROBERTS

Kevin KEENAN

Fraser MACPHERSON

Jim BARRIE

George REGAN

Nigel DON

Will DAWSON

Julia M STURROCK

Bob DUNCAN

Elizabeth F FORDYCE

Fiona M GRANT

Richard BEATTIE

Roderick A J WALLACE

Christopher HIND

Andrew DAWSON

Derek J SCOTT

 

Willie W SAWERS

 

 

Councillor George REGAN, Convener, in the Chair.

 

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 20th November, 2006 was held as read.

 

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

 

I STOCK CONDITION SURVEY AND THE PURCHASE OF A SCOTTISH HOUSING QUALITY DATABASE

 

Reference was made to Article II of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 23rd October, 2006. There was submitted Agenda Note AN412-2006 requesting that the Committee approve a partnering agreement with John Martin Partnership amounting to 130,000 for the undertaking of a 30% survey of the Council's housing stock and 50,000 for the provision of a Scottish Housing Quality Standard database and report.

 

The Committee agreed to enter into a partnering agreement with John Martin Partnership.

 

II REDEVELOPMENT OF CLEARED SITES

 

Reference was made to Article V of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 18th October, 2004 which remitted to the Director of Housing to bring forward proposals for development of cleared sites in Charleston and Mill O'Mains. There was submitted Agenda Note AN413-2006 advising that discussions had taken place in principle with Communities Scotland about the potential redevelopment of the undernoted sites:-

 

South Road/Dunholm Area, Charleston

Craigmore/Dunmore Street, Kirkton

Various Small Sites in Mill O'Mains

Sites in Whitfield

 

The Committee noted the sites and the intention that these be developed principally for social rented housing with an estimated 150 units including the provision of adapted housing to meet the needs of wheelchair users. Some of the sites in Mill O'Mains might be developed for owner occupation through a partnership initiative between a private developer and a social rent provider.

 

The Committee also noted that the Director of Economic Development would in due course report back to this Committee on the outcome of negotiations on the above sites.

III TENDERS RECEIVED

 

The City Architectural Services Officer submitted Report No 716-2006 giving details of offers received for the undernoted contracts:-

 

(a) FLEMING GARDENS DEVELOPMENT (110-112 ARKLAY STREET) - HEATING, KITCHEN AND BATHROOM REPLACEMENT

 

On a reference to Article II of the minute of meeting of the Policy and Resources Committee of 13th June, 2005, the Committee agreed to accept the partnering project by Dundee Contract Services to carry out the above works for the sum of 82,470 together with the undernoted allowances:-

 

Redecoration of elderly tenants' houses

7,500.00

Decoration Vouchers

2,000.00

Carpet Vouchers

2,000.00

Decanting of Tenants

1,000.00

Removals Costs

1,000.00

Gas Connection charges

500.00

Planning Supervisor

858.00

Professional Services

7,870.00

Total:

22,728.00

 

 

Making a total expenditure of 105,198.

 

 

(b) MENZIESHILL 1ST DEVELOPMENT - FLATS AND MAISONETTES - HEATING, KITCHEN AND BATHROOM REPLACEMENT

 

On a reference to Article II of the minute of meeting of the Policy and Resources Committee of 13th June, 2005, the Committee agreed to accept the partnering project by Dundee Contract Services to carry out the above works for the sum of 1,116,882 together with the undernoted allowances:-

 

Contingencies

 

Redecoration of elderly tenants' houses

30,000.00

Decoration Vouchers

35,000.00

Carpet Vouchers

20,000.00

Decanting of Tenants

10,000.00

Gas Connection Charges

163,000.00

Non-slip Flooring

5,000.00

Planning Supervisor

4,980.00

Professional Services

54,394.00

Total:

322,374.00

 

Making a total expenditure of 1,217,000.

 

(c) LANGSHAW ROAD - SECURITY LIGHTING

 

On a reference to Article II of the minute of meeting of the Policy and Resources Committee of 13th June, 2005, the Committee agreed to accept the negotiated offer with Dundee Contract Services to carry out the above works for the sum of 26,176 together with an allowance of 1,808 for professional services making a total expenditure of 27,984.

 

IV REGISTRATION OF TENANT ORGANISATIONS - HOUSING (SCOTLAND) ACT 2001 (THE ACT)

 

There was submitted Agenda Note AN414-2006 reporting that requests for registration as Tenant Organisations had been received from Lansdowne Area Tenants and Residents Association and St Mary's Association of Residents and Tenants (SMART).

 

The Committee agreed that the applications be approved.

V REGISTERED TENANT ORGANISATIONS - ADMINISTRATION GRANTS

 

There was submitted Agenda Note AN415-2006 requesting grant assistance towards administration costs for 2006 to 2007 from the Lansdowne Area Tenants and Residents Association (New Group) amounting to 235.

 

The Committee agreed to grant assistance as requested.

 

VI CHARTERED INSTITUTE OF HOUSING IN SCOTLAND - ANNUAL CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION - 12TH-15TH MARCH, 2007 - ABERDEEN

 

There was submitted Agenda Note AN417-2006 advising that delegates had been invited to attend the above Conference and Exhibition at a cost of 565 per full member delegate.

 

The Committee authorised the attendance of the Convener or nominee excluding travel and subsistence allowances.

 

VII HOUSING (SCOTLAND) ACT 2001 - IMPROVEMENT, REPAIR AND ENVIRONMENTAL GRANTS, HOME LOANS ETC

 

There was submitted Agenda Note AN416-2006. Reference was made to the minute of meeting of this Committee of 15th November, 1999 when grant expenditure now under Private Sector Housing Grant was agreed.

 

It was agreed that the grants approved during November 2006 in each of the categories were as follows:-

 

Category

Amount of

Grants Approved

No of

Dwellings

Housing Action Areas

0

0

 

 

 

Repair Notices and other Statutory Notices

0

0

 

 

 

Improvements/Repairs and Conversions within the City Centre

0

0

 

 

 

BTS Improvement/Repair

0

0

 

 

 

Disabled Adaptations

25,773

7

 

 

 

Disabled Extension

0

0

 

 

 

Care and Repair (IG)

0

0

 

 

 

Care and Repair (RG)

3,197

1

 

 

 

Serious Disrepair

5,036

2

 

 

 

Mutual Repairs

0

0

 

 

 

Ex-Council (Capital Project)

40,556

9

 

 

 

Windows

0

0

 

 

 

Removal of Lead Plumbing

0

0

 

 

 

Rewiring

3,119

2

 

 

 

Environmental

0

0

 

 

 

Discretionary Improvements

0

0

 

Discretionary Repairs

63,656

9

 

 

 

Energy Efficiency

0

0

 

 

 

HMOs (Fire Escapes)

1,650

3

 

 

 

Security

295

1

 

 

 

Roofs

188,433

30

 

 

 

 

Total

331,715

64

 

It was reported that the Convener had agreed that the undernoted item be considered as a matter of urgency in terms of Standing Order 17(b) in view of the timescales involved.

 

VIII REVIEW OF RENTS AND OTHER CHARGES

 

There was submitted Agenda Note AN429-2006 advising that the Director of Housing and Depute Chief Executive (Finance) would submit a report to this Committee on 15th January, 2007 which it was proposed might recommend a rent rise of 1.93 per week on average subject to a maximum increase of 2.50 and the following increases on other housing charges as calculated by the Depute Chief Executive (Finance) and the Director of Housing:-

 

7                                             concierge service be increased by 30p per week

7                                             garage lock-ups be increased by 25p to 7.75 per week

7                                             underground parking bays be increased by 10p to 2.00 per week

7                                             garage sites be increased by 10p to 2.00 per week

 

These increases proposed to be applied from 2nd April, 2007.

 

The Committee noted that it was proposed to consult tenants on these proposals by posting the details as to how and when to comment on public information boards in Housing Offices, the Council's website and a public notice to be advertised in a local newspaper. The Committee further noted that following the consultation period and having regard to the proposals and the views expressed during the consultation, a report would be submitted to this Committee on 15th January, 2007.

 

 

 

 

George REGAN, Convener.