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ANGUS COUNCIL

MINUTE of MEETING of the HOUSING COMMITTEE held in the Town and County Hall, Forfar on Tuesday, 9 April 1996 at 4.00 pm.

Present: Councillors FRANK ELLIS, IAN ANGUS, HELEN ANGUS, BILL CROWE, WILLIAM DOIG, IAN HUDGHTON, Mrs RENATE LAMONT, GLENNIS MIDDLETON, STEWART MOWATT, ROB MURRAY and SANDY WEST.

Apologies: Apologies for absence were intimated on behalf of Councillors JOHN GIBB and IAN MACKINTOSH.

Councillor ELLIS, Convener, in the Chair.

1. MINUTE OF PREVIOUS MEETING

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 13 March 1996 was approved as a correct record and signed by the Convener.

2. HOUSING (SCOTLAND) ACT 1973

(a) Improvement Grants

The Committee noted the list of applications for Improvement Grants approved under delegated authority by the Director of Planning, Transport and Economic Development as detailed in Report No 169/96, totalling £50,700.

(b) Repairs Grants

The Committee noted the list of applications for Repair Grants approved under delegated authority by the Director of Planning, Transport and Economic Development as detailed in Report No 170/96, totalling £9,534.

3. REVOCATION OF CLOSING ORDER

The Committee agreed that the Closing Order on 17 Baltic Street, Montrose (northmost first floor flat) be revoked as the property had now been brought up to the tolerable standard.

4. HOUSING BENEFIT REVIEW BOARD - APPOINTMENT OF MEMBERS

There was submitted Report No 191/96 by the Director of Law and Administration advising that, under the Housing Benefit Regulations, the Council was required to establish a Housing Benefit Review Board to hear representations made by any person whose rights, duties or obligations were affected by a determination or decision on Housing Benefit. A "Good Practice Guide" on Review Boards had been issued by the Department of Social Security which suggested (a) that at least one member should be of the same sex as the claimant, and (b) that none of the members should either have been previously involved in the case or have any close connection with the claimant.

The Committee agreed that Councillors Ellis, I Angus, Doig, G Middleton and West be appointed to serve on the Board and that, when necessary, any member of the Committee could act as a substitute.