Housing, Dundee Contract Services And Environment Services Committee - 26/01/2009

At a MEETING of the HOUSING, DUNDEE CONTRACT SERVICES AND ENVIRONMENT SERVICES COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 26th January, 2009.

 

Present:-

 

Lord Provost John R LETFORD

 

 

 

Depute Lord Provost Ian BORTHWICK

 

 

 

BAILIES

 

George REGAN

Willie SAWERS

Roderick A J WALLACE

Helen WRIGHT

 

Derek J SCOTT

 

COUNCILLORS

 

Kevin KEENAN

Fraser MACPHERSON

Bob DUNCAN

Mohammed ASIF

Helen DICK

Elizabeth F FORDYCE

Laurie BIDWELL

Ken GUILD

Stewart HUNTER

Tom FERGUSON

Jim BARRIE

Ken LYNN

Brian GORDON

Jimmy BLACK

Christina ROBERTS

Richard McCREADY

David BOWES

Alan G ROSS

Joe MORROW

Andrew DAWSON

Donald HAY

 

Will DAWSON

 

 

Bailie George REGAN, Convener, in the Chair.

 

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 24th November, 2008 was held as read.

 

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

 

I REVIEW OF RENTS AND OTHER CHARGES

 

There was submitted Report No 564-2008 by the Director of Housing detailing the proposed rent and other charges for the financial year 2009/2010.

 

The Committee agreed that:-

 

(a) rents be increased by 3.09 per week on average subject to a maximum increase of 3.75 from 6th April, 2009;

 

(b) the Service Charge for the Concierge Service be increased by 30p per week from 6th April, 2009;

 

(c) charges for Car Parking facilities be increased as follows from 6th April, 2009:-

 

(i) Garage Lock-Ups by 50p to 8.50 per week

(ii) Underground Parking Bay by 25p to 2.25 per week

(iii) Garage Sites by 25p to 2.25 per week; and

 

(d) the levels of rents held on the Housing Revenue Account be similarly applied to miscellaneous houses and garage sites, subject to categorisation where appropriate.

 

II REVIEW OF CHARGES

 

There was submitted Report No 570-2008 by the Director of Housing, seeking authority to review charges for Special Needs (Homeless) Temporary Accommodation, Furnished Accommodation, Multi‑Storey Launderettes, Stair Cleaning Charges, Heating Charges at Brington Place and Baluniefield Sheltered Housing Developments and Status Enquiry Fees, all being effective from 6th April, 2009.

 

The Committee approved the charges as detailed:-

 

(a) SPECIAL NEEDS (HOMELESS) TEMPORARY ACCOMMODATION

 

 

Lily Walker Centre

Supported

Complex

Network and Registered Social Landlord Flats

Red Admiral Court

 

 

 

 

 

1-apartment

176.15

 

77.30

 

2-apartment

 

204.28

194.11

293.08

3-apartment

 

 

288.90

 

4-apartment

 

 

391.71

487.18

5-apartment

 

 

493.08

 

 

Where no charge was shown, no facility of the type was available at the time. If required, such facilities would be provided and charged pro rata.

 

(b) FURNISHED ACCOMMODATION

 

Mainstream Furnished Lets

 

 

Fully Furnished

 

 

1-apartment

41.20 (up 2.30)

2-apartment

46.45 (up 2.59)

3-apartment

56.22 (up 3.13)

 

Charges for part-furnished houses rose by 5.9%.

 

(c) HEATING CHARGES - BRINGTON PLACE AND BALUNIEFIELD SHELTERED HOUSING

 

It was agreed that the electricity charge for cooking, lighting, heating and hot water provided to the homes of tenants be increased by 25p per week.

 

(d) MULTI-STOREY LAUNDERETTES

 

It was agreed that the charges for Multi-Storey Launderettes be increased to the following:-

 

Auto-Wash

1.85 (up 5p)

Tumble Drier

1.05 (up 5p)

Cabinet Drier

1.05 (up 5p)

 

(e) STAIR CLEANING

 

It was agreed that stair cleaning charges be maintained at the existing rate.

 

(f) STATUS ENQUIRY FEES

 

It was agreed that the fee charged to Banks, Building Societies, etc for status enquiries remain at 30.

 

III SHELTERED HOUSING CHARGE 2008/2010

 

There was submitted Agenda Note AN22-2009 advising that the sheltered housing budget for 2009/2010 showed a breakeven position based on an increase of 50p per week in the service charge from 6th April, 2009.

 

The Committee agreed that the sheltered housing service charge be increased by 50p to 26 per week for the financial year 2009/2010.

 

On a reference to Article I of the minute of meeting of the Housing Committee of 20th March, 2006, it was recommended that the phasing out of sheltered housing abatements be continued in 2009/2010 resulting in an impact to tenants of a further 50p per week.

 

The Committee approved accordingly.

 

IV PITCH RENTS - TRAVELLING PEOPLES SITE - BALMUIR WOOD

 

There was submitted Agenda Note AN23-2009 advising that Dundee City Council required a quality Travelling People's Site to meet the requirement for the provision of sites and the consequent control of casual camps within the City Council boundary.

 

Estimates of operating costs showed that a pitch rent increase of 1.74 was required to ensure continued levels of service.

 

The Committee agreed that pitch rents be increased by 1.74 per week to 59.61 for the financial year 2009/2010.

 

V STRATEGIC HOUSING INVESTMENT PLAN 2009/2014

 

This item was withdrawn.

 

VI TAYSIDE AFFORDABLE HOUSING PARTNERSHIP

 

There was submitted Report No 504-2008 by the Director of Housing asking the Committee to consider the formation of an affordable housing procurement vehicle involving neighbouring Councils, local Housing Associations and Housing Developers to be known as the Tayside Affordable Housing Partnership (TAHP).

 

The Committee:-

 

(i) remitted the Director of Housing to enter discussions with interested parties with a view to forming the Tayside Affordable Housing Partnership (TAHP);

 

(ii) remitted the Director of Housing to consult local Housing Associations and private developers with a view to identifying preferred partner(s) for procurement of the affordable housing programme;

 

(iii) remitted the Director of Housing to identify early opportunities for co-operation among potential partners in procuring affordable housing as a first step in establishing TAHP; and

 

(iv) remitted the Director of Housing to report progress to Committee on a regular basis.

 

VII PREFERRED ENERGY SUPPLIER

 

Councillor Will Dawson declared a non-financial interest in this item of business by virtue of his employment by the undernoted energy supplier.

 

There was submitted Agenda Note AN24-2009 requesting approval to extend the Preferred Energy Supplier (PES) arrangement with Scottish and Southern Energy plc (trading locally as Scottish Hydro Electric) for Dundee City Council tenants for a further three years until 31st December, 2011.

 

On a reference to Article II of the Housing Committee of 19th January, 2004, the Committee agreed to extend the arrangement for a further three years until 31st December, 2011.

 

VIII SUPPLY OF NEW CONSTRUCTION PLANT AND VEHICLES 2008/2009

 

There was submitted Report No 59-2009 by the Director of Contract Services seeking authorisation to purchase new construction plant and vehicles required by the Contract Services Department.

 

The Committee agreed to accept the undernoted offers:-

 

Item

No

Supplier

Cost

 

4 tonne Counterbalance Fork Lift Truck

1

Barloworld, Cumbernauld

28,406

 

 

 

 

3.5T GVW End Tipper

8

A M Phillip, Muiryfaulds

123,320

 

IX THE HOME REPORT - THE NEW WAY OF BUYING AND SELLING HOMES IN SCOTLAND

 

There was submitted Report No 2-2009 by the Head of Environmental Health and Trading Standards seeking to make provision for enforcement of Part 3 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 in relation to the provision of prescribed information in respect of the sale of houses in Scotland.

 

The Committee authorised Environmental Health and Trading Standards Department's Trading Standard Officers to require the production of prescribed documents, serve Penalty Charge Notices and generally have power to enforce the provisions of Regulations made under the Act.

 

X ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ACT 1990 - RECURRING CHOKED DRAIN AT 7 TO 23 BANK STREET, DUNDEE

 

There was submitted Agenda Note AN17-2009 advising that for several years complaints had been received by the Environmental Health and Trading Standards (EHTS) Department regarding a choked drain in the basement of the abovementioned properties. The waste water and soil waste pipes from the retail and domestic properties above fed into this common drain. The affected drain was approximately 50 metres in length.

 

An Abatement Notice under Section 80 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, had been served on all the owners notifying them of the recurring problem. The Notice required that an investigation be undertaken in order to identify the cause of the blockages and the remedial measures which required to be implemented. The measures would be difficult to co-ordinate given the complex nature of the problem and the number of owners involved. In circumstances where there was non-compliance with an Abatement Notice, the Environmental Protection Act 1990, allowed for works to be carried out in default and the cost of such works to be recovered from the owners.

 

In this situation, the EHTS Department intended to carry out an initial inspection to establish the remedial action required to rectify the problem. Tenders had been received for this initial stage as follows:-

 

 

Cost

 

Drain Doctor

2880

DCS Group

1300

Enviro-Clean (Scotland) Ltd

3280

Harte Utilities

4750

 

In addition, costs of 300 for the procurement of the above quotes were payable to the Planning and Transport's Engineers Section.

 

The Committee agreed to the foregoing and accepted the lowest offer from DCS Group.

 

XI SCAMBUSTERS UPDATE

 

There was submitted Report No 58-2009 by the Head of Environmental Health and Trading Standards updating elected members on the progress of the Scotland wide "Scambuster" team and recommending authorisation of officers employed within the team.

 

The Committee noted the contents of the report and agreed that the Head of Environmental Health and Trading Standards could use delegated powers to authorise, as appropriate, named officers of the "Scambuster" project team employed by North Lanarkshire Council to undertake enforcement duties within Dundee.

 

XII APPOINTMENT OF CONSULTANTS - LOCAL AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT REGIME

 

There was submitted Agenda Note AN18-2009 by the Head of Environmental Health and Trading Standards advising that in accordance with the Local Air Quality Management Regime, Dundee City Council was required to undertake an Updating and Screening Assessment (USA) for the fourth round of the air quality review and assessment process.

 

Due to the specialist nature of the work involved and in common with other local authorities, it was intended to use a specialist consultant to assist with undertaking the USA. Bureau Veritas and AEA Technology plc were approached and provided quotations:-

 

Bureau Veritas

2,500

AEA Technology plc

3,800

 

The Committee agreed to accept the lowest offer from Bureau Veritas having noted that this expenditure could be met from the Environmental Health and Trading Standards Department's 2008/2009 Revenue Budget and planned 2009/2010 Revenue Budget.

 

XIII TENDERS RECEIVED

 

There was submitted Report No 70-2009 by the City Architectural Services Officer giving details of offers received for the undernoted contracts:-

 

(a) ANCRUM PLACE/MORVEN TERRACE - WALKWAY RESURFACING

 

The Committee agreed to accept a negotiated contract with Raynor Roofing Ltd, Dundee, amounting to 58,755, together with allowances of 870 for CDM Co-ordinator and 5,112 for professional services, giving a total expenditure of 64,737.

(b) CITY WIDE ROOF SURVEYS 2008/2009 - ACCESS AND ATTENDANCE WORKS

 

The Committee agreed to accept a negotiated contract with Raynor Roofing Ltd, Dundee amounting to 56,330, together with allowances of 6,567 for professional services, giving a total expenditure of 62,897.

 

The Committee also noted that Raynor Roofing Ltd had listed the undernoted sub-contractor:-

 

Tay Scaffolding, Dundee

 

XIV UNIT CONTRACT RATE FOR LOW RISE HOUSING DEMOLITION NOVEMBER 2008 - NOVEMBER 2010

 

There was submitted Agenda Note AN19-2009, wherein reference was made to Article II of the meeting of this Committee of 27th October, 2008, where authority was given to the Depute Chief Executive (Support Services) to accept the most favourable tender for each contract as recommended by the City Engineer.

 

The following contracts had been awarded as outlined above:-

 

2-24 Whorterbank/45-53 Burnside Street - Unit Rate Contract for Demolition

 

Valid tenders were returned by seven contractors, ranging from 40,017 to 100,957. The tender was awarded to the lowest tenderer, Gowrie Contracts Ltd in the amount of 40,017. Allowances were added for non-contract works, professional fees and contingencies, giving a total expenditure of 55,300.

 

26-43 Carnegie Square - Unit Rate Contract for Demolition

 

Valid tenders were returned by seven contractors, ranging from 37,500 to 93,687. The tender was awarded to the lowest tenderer, Dundee Plant Co Ltd in the amount of 37,500. Allowances were added for non-contract works, professional fees and contingencies, giving a total expenditure of 59,464.00.

 

1-16 Wellington Square - Unit Rate Contract for Demolition

 

Valid tenders were returned by seven contractors, ranging from 38,380.52 to 90,713.00. The tender was awarded to the lowest tenderer, D Geddes (Contractors) Ltd in the amount of 38,380.52. Allowances were added for non-contract works, professional fees and contingencies, giving a total expenditure of 57,851.00.

 

The Committee noted the position.

 

XV REVOCATION OF CLOSING ORDER - FLAT 4, ST HELENS, 474 PERTH ROAD

 

This item was withdrawn.

 

XVI CONFERENCE - SUN CITY 2009 : RENEWABLE COMMUNITIES - SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIES

 

There was submitted Agenda Note AN25-2009 reporting that the annual conference organised by Solar Cities Scotland would be held on Friday, 6th February, 2009 at Dundee College, Kingsway Campus.

 

The cost of attendance would be approximately 60 excluding travel and subsistence allowances.

 

The Committee agreed that any elected member interested be authorised to attend.

 

 

George REGAN, Convener.