Housing Committee - 22/04/2013

At a MEETING of the HOUSING COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 22nd April, 2013.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Councillor John ALEXANDER, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 11th March, 2013 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I DECLARATION OF INTEREST

No declarations of interest were made.

II MILL OMAINS REGENERATION PHASE 3 HOUSING

On a reference to Article I of the minute of meeting of the City Development Committee of 1st July, 2009 when the Mill OMains Masterplan was approved as supplementary planning guidance to the Dundee Local Plan Review 2005 to direct the future development of Mill OMains, there was submitted Report No 152-2013 by the Chief Executive seeking approval for demolitions, rehousing and buy-backs required to implement the regeneration Masterplan for Mill OMains.

The Committee agreed to:-

(i) the demolition of 68 flats (street address numbers 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 Hebrides Drive) in order to facilitate the allocation of new build houses in Phase 2 Construction of the Mill OMains Masterplan by Home Scotland Housing Association;

(ii) the demolition of 27 lock-up garages at 1-20 and 21-27 Hebrides Drive;

(iii) remit the Director of Housing to stop letting the flats listed in paragraph (i) with immediate effect;

(iv) remit the Director of Housing to award redevelopment priority status for rehousing, together with the statutory Home Loss payment to remaining tenants; and

(v) remit the Director of City Development to enter into negotiations to repurchase 11 flats on a without prejudice basis, together with the repurchase of any ownership rights in bin store areas, and remitted the Director of Housing to award the appropriate financial and rehousing package to the owners.

III NATIONAL HOUSING TRUST INITIATIVE

There was submitted Agenda Note AN50-2013 advising that the National Housing Trust (NHT) was an innovative approach to increase the number of affordable houses for rent and boost the construction sector. The scheme involved the Scottish Futures Trust, the Council and private developers working together under a limited liability partnership to provide properties for intermediate rent. The Council provided prudential borrowing from the General Fund of up to 70% to finance the developments on completion, this prudential borrowing was covered by a Scottish Government guarantee.

Dundee City Council had participated in previous rounds of NHT resulting in approval for 15 units at East Links Place and 99 units at Wallace Craigie Works at a total cost of 15.6M backed by 11.3M prudential borrowing by Dundee City Council.

The Scottish Futures Trust was seeking interest from Councils in promoting a further round of NHT with procurement under the OJEU process commencing from May, 2013 and the Director of Corporate Services had agreed that schemes providing up to 40 units requiring General Fund prudential borrowing of up to 2.8M might be considered in this round.

The Committee endorsed the Councils continuing participation in the NHT.

IV TENDERS RECEIVED

There was submitted Report No 190-2013 detailing tenders received and requesting decisions thereon:-

(a) 8 QUEEN STREET - ROOF ENHANCEMENT

The Committee agreed to a negotiated project with the Environment Department (Construction Services), amounting to 53,522.28, together with an allowance of 4,549 for professional services, making a total expenditure of 58,071.67.

(b) VARIOUS PROPERTIES - PHASE 1 - CONTROLLED ENTRIES 2013/2014

The Committee agreed to a partnering project with McGill Electrical Ltd, Dundee, amounting to 429,665, together with allowances of 10,000 for utility charges and 36,521.53 for professional services, making a total expenditure of 476,186.53.

(c) VARIOUS PROPERTIES - PHASE 2 - CONTROLLED ENTRIES 2013/2014

The Committee agreed to a partnering project with McGill Electrical Ltd, Dundee, amounting to 445,230, together with allowances of 10,000 for utility charges and 37,844.55 for professional services, making a total expenditure of 493,074.55.

John ALEXANDER, Convener.