Angus CouncilTel: 08452 777 778
Email: accessline@angus.gov.uk
|
ANGUS COUNCIL
MINUTE of MEETING of the HOUSING COMMITTEE held in the Town and County Hall, Forfar on Tuesday 30 September 1997 at 4.00 pm.
Present: Councillors FRANK ELLIS, IAN ANGUS, HELEN ANGUS, WILLIAM CROWE, WILLIAM DOIG, JACK GIBB, Mrs RENATE LAMONT, STEWART McGLYNN, IAN MACKINTOSH, GLENNIS MIDDLETON, STEWART MOWATT and SANDY WEST.
Apology: An apology for absence was intimated on behalf of Councillor IAN HUDGHTON.
Councillor ELLIS, Convener, in the Chair.
1. WELCOME
Prior to commencement of business, the Convener welcomed Mr Ron Ashton, Director of Housing and Councillor Stewart McGlynn both of whom were attending their first meeting of the Housing Committee.
2. EXCLUSION OF PUBLIC AND PRESS
The Committee resolved, in terms of Standing Order 27(2) that the public and press be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following items so as to avoid disclosure of information which was exempt in terms of Paragraphs 2, 6, 8, 9 and 10 of Part 1 of Schedule 7A to the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973.
3. TENDER REPORTS
(a) Demolition of Housing at Strathmore Avenue and Airlie Crescent, Arbroath
There was submitted Report No 994/97 by the Director of Property Services on tenders received for the demolition of housing at Strathmore Avenue and Airlie Crescent, Arbroath.
The Committee approved the terms of the Report and agreed:-
(i) to authorise acceptance of the lowest tender for the several works, being that submitted by Trojan Metals Ltd, Dundee, in the amount of £102,838.25;
(ii) to approve the estimated total cost of £112,094 (at outturn prices); and
(iii) to note that allowance for this expenditure had been made in the approved 1997/98 Capital Estimates.
(b) Heating Installations - The Glens Area, Montrose
There was submitted Report No 995/97 by the Director of Property Services on tenders received for the installation of gas fired central heating systems at Glenclova Place, Glenisla Road, Glenlethnot Place and India Street, Montrose (33 houses).
The Committee approved the terms of the Report and agreed:-
(i) to authorise acceptance of the lowest tender for the several works, being that submitted by James Lammond & Son, Brechin in the amount of £84,555.25;
(ii) to approve the estimated total cost of £93,856 (at outturn prices);
(iii) to note that allowance for this project had been made in the approved 1997/98 Capital Estimates; and
(iv) to note the additional revenue expenditure arising from this project.
(c) Heating Installations - Various Sites, Carnoustie
It was noted that the Report on the above works was not required due to the successful tender being under £50,000.
(d) Heating Installations at Glenlethnot Place and Glenclova Place, Montrose
There was submitted Report No 997/97 by the Director of Property Services on tenders received for the installation of gas fired central heating systems at Glenclova Place and Glenlethnot Place, Montrose (22 properties).
The Committee approved the terms of the Report and agreed:-
(i) to authorise acceptance of the lowest tender for the several works, being that submitted by Skene Blair & Son (Forfar) Ltd, Forfar in the amount of £121,939.08;
(ii) to approve the estimated total cost of £135,352 (at outturn prices);
(iii) to note that allowance for this project had been made in the approved 1997/98 Capital Estimates; and
(iv) to note the additional revenue expenditure arising from this project;
(e) General Improvements to Warddykes Road, Arbroath (Nos. 69 to 80 and 111 to 122)
There was submitted Report No 949/97 by the Director of Property Services on tenders received for the general upgrading of three blocks of properties at 69 to 80 and 111 to 122 Warddykes Road, Arbroath.
The Committee approved the terms of the Report and agreed:-
(i) to authorise acceptance of the lowest tender for the several works, being that submitted by Inwood (Builders) Ltd, Forfar in the amount of £266,322.92;
(ii) to approve the estimated total cost of £298,281 (at outturn prices);
(iii) to note that allowance for this project had been made in the approved 1997/98 Capital Estimates; and
(iv) to note the additional revenue expenditure arising from this project.
(f) General Improvements to Warddykes Road, Arbroath (Nos. 45 to 56 and 81 to 92)
There was submitted Report No 950/97 by the Director of Property Services on tenders received for the general upgrading of the blocks of properties at 45 to 56 and 81 to 92 Warddykes Road, Arbroath.
The Committee approved the terms of the Report and agreed:-
(i) to authorise acceptance of the lowest tender for the several works, being that submitted by Taycon Construction Ltd, Dundee in the amount of £276,879.87;
(ii) to approve the estimated total cost of £310,106 (at outturn prices);
(iii) to note that allowance for this project had been made in the approved 1997/98 Capital Estimates; and
(iv) to note the additional revenue expenditure arising from this project.
(g) Window and Door Replacements at Hillview Crescent, Ferryden, The Mall, Ferry Street and Gibson Place, Montrose
There was submitted Report No 998/97 by the Director of Property Services on tenders received for window and door replacements at Hillview Crescent, Ferryden, The Mall, Ferry Street and Gibson Place, Montrose (34 properties).
The Committee approved the terms of the Report and agreed:-
(i) to authorise acceptance of the lowest tender for the several works, being that submitted by Muirfield (Contracts) Ltd, Dundee in the amount of £95,400.36;
(ii) to approve the estimated total cost of £106,848 (at outturn prices);
(iii) to note that allowance for this project had been made in the approved 1997/98 Capital Estimates; and
(iv) to note the additional revenue expenditure arising from this project
(h) Window Replacements at Bloomfield Crescent, Newton Avenue, Newton Crescent and Newton Place, Arbroath
There was submitted Report No 1000/97 by the Director of Property Services on tenders received for window and door replacements at Bloomfield Crescent, Newton Avenue, Newton Crescent and Newton Place, Arbroath (55 properties).
The Committee approved the terms of the Report and agreed:-
(i) to authorise acceptance of the lowest tender for the several works, being that submitted by Derek McNulty, Joiners, Arbroath in the amount of £91,835.36;
(ii) to approve the estimated total cost of £102,855 (at outturn prices);
(iii) to note that allowance for this project had been made in the approved 1997/98 Capital Estimates; and
(iv) to note the additional revenue expenditure arising from this project.
4. CONTRACTORS UNDERTAKING UNPLANNED MAINTENANCE REPAIRS
There was submitted Report No 964/97 by the Director of Housing advising the Committee of the need to regularise the situation in regard to the use of two contractors for unplanned maintenance repairs.
The Committee approved the terms of the Report and agreed:-
(i) that Neil Clark, Fencing Contractor should be admitted to the list of contractors held within the General Section of the Property Maintenance system, given the specialised nature of the work that he undertook; and
(ii) that Buchan and Coull should only be considered for use for unplanned maintenance work in the circumstances outlined in the Report.
5. SERIOUS ARREARS CASES - HOUSING REVENUE ACCOUNT TENANTS
There was submitted Report No 974/97 by the Director of Housing on serious arrears of rent in respect of six Council house tenants, as detailed in the appendix to the Report.
The Director of Housing gave up to date information on each case, following which the Committee agreed:-
(i) to note that no payments had been made to reduce the arrears in cases 1, 2 and 4 and that approval be given to evict; and
(ii) to note that the arrears had been reduced in cases 3, 5 and 6 and regular payments to further reduce the arrears had been promised; to monitor these cases to ensure that regular payments were made; and that approval be given to evict should these payments not be received.
6. MINUTE OF PREVIOUS MEETING
The minute of meeting of this Committee of 12 August 1997 was approved as a correct record and signed by the Convener.
7. HOUSING (SCOTLAND) ACT 1973
(a) Improvement Grants
The Committee noted a list of applications for Improvement Grants totalling £15,048, approved under delegated authority by the Director of Planning, Transport and Economic Development as detailed in Report No 952/97;
(b) Repairs Grants
The Committee noted a list of applications for Repairs Grants totalling £4,790, approved under delegated authority by the Director of Planning, Transport and Economic Development as detailed in Report No 953/97.
8. IMPROVEMENT/REPAIR GRANT FUNDING SHORTFALL
With reference to Article 16 of the minute of meeting of the Housing Committee held on 12 August 1997, there was submitted Report No 985/97 by the Director of Planning, Transport and Economic Development advising the Committee of the various steps which had been taken to address the problem of the anticipated shortfall in funding to meet this year’s Improvement and Repairs Grants commitment.
The Report advised that the likely shortfall of funding could be in the region of £225,000 to £350,000.
Councillor Mackintosh suggested that perhaps the small number of applicants who might currently be eligible for both Improvement and Repairs Grants should only receive the higher of the two grants and it was agreed that this should be reviewed during the preparation of the 1998/99 budget.
The Committee also agreed:-
(i) to meet the anticipated shortfall of funding for Improvement and Repair Grants from the Planning overall budget, specifically a combination of increased application fee income and capital allocation for environmental improvements at Arbroath and Montrose which was unlikely to be utilised in 1997/98;
(ii) to issue approval letters for live applications (received prior to 12 August) and now processed to completion;
(iii) to recommence processing applications received after 12 August with a view to issuing approval letters in December (Improvement Grants) and end of January (Repair Grants);
(iv) to a policy of reduced levels of grants, ie by lowering the percentage of eligible costs, or to a level compatible with the availability of resources determined in the context of the 1998/99 budgetary process;
(v) to remit the Report for information and approval to the Policy and Resources Committee; and
(vi) to note that the ongoing situation would be monitored on a regular basis.
9. CLOSING ORDERS
There was submitted Report No 982/97 by the Director of Environmental and Consumer Protection on four properties which failed to meet the "tolerable standard" as described in the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987.
The Committee agreed to recommend that Closing Orders be placed on No 1 Cottage, Newton of Affleck, by Monikie (3-apt semi-detached cottage); Little Gagie Farmhouse, 8 Gagie Holding, Gagie Road, Wellbank (5-apt stone built detached house); No 2 Fauldiehill Farm Cottage, Balmirmer, by Arbroath (3-apt semi-detached cottage); and 41 Hill Street, Arbroath (ground floor right, 2-apt flat).
10. REVOCATION OF CLOSING ORDERS
There was submitted Report No 983/97 by the Director of Environmental and Consumer Protection on Closing Orders which required to be revoked, following works having been undertaken to bring the houses up to the "tolerable standard" as described in the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987.
The Committee agreed to recommend that the Closing Orders placed on the undernoted properties be revoked:-
(i) attic flat, namely 86 Montrose Road, Brechin on the representation of Mr A Vettese;
(ii) buildings converted into ground floor flat, namely 4 and 5 Oswald Buildings, Brechin on the representation of Mr and Mrs J Oddie;
(iii) ground floor flat, namely 39 Park Road, Brechin on the representation of Mrs C Anderson, 39 Park Road, Brechin;
(iv) attic flat, namely 13A Damacre Road, Brechin on the representation of Mr J Grant;
(v) two attic flats converted into one attic flat, namely 37A Union Street, Brechin and now known as 37B Union Street, Brechin on the representation of Mr A Mearns;
(vi) first floor flat, namely 37A Union Street, Brechin on the representation of Mr A Mearns;
(vii) attic flat, namely 152 Montrose Street, Brechin on the representation of Mr T Lambert;
(viii) two attic flats converted into one attic flat, namely 24 River Street, Brechin on the representation of Mr and Mrs Andrew Donald;
(ix) ground floor flat, namely 157A Montrose Street, Brechin on the representation of Mrs S Norrie;
(x) first floor and attic flat, namely 63 Montrose Street, Brechin, now known as 63C Montrose Street, Brechin on the representation of North Tayside and Strathaven Co-operative Society Ltd;
(xi) first floor and attic flat, namely 63 Montrose Street, Brechin, now known as 63A Montrose Street, Brechin on the representation of North Tayside and Strathaven Co-operative Society Ltd;
(xii) ground floor flat, namely 171 Montrose Street, Brechin, formerly 173 Montrose Street, Brechin on the representation of Annie F Allison;
(xiii) ground floor flat, namely 7 Park Road, Brechin, on the representation of Mr W Cook;
(xiv) ground floor flat, namely 39 Union Street, Brechin, on the representation of Mr A Mearns and Catherine Sullivan;
(xv) ground floor flat, namely 4 Wilsons Park, Brechin, on the representation of Mr and Mrs Allan; and
(xvi) first floor flat, namely 5 Park Road, Brechin, on the representation of Mr Derek Wood.
11. ALTERATIONS TO COUNCIL HOUSES - COUNCIL TAX VALUATION LIST
There was submitted Report No 965/97 by the Director of Housing advising members that a letter had been received from the Tayside Valuation Joint Board requesting details of all alterations and improvements made to local authority houses in the Angus Council area since 1 January 1989.
The Report advised that, to date, no programme of review had existed for properties in Angus which were sold under the Right to Buy legislation. This now required urgent redress, as the alterations, whether as part of a comprehensive modernisation or as a cumulative series of improvements, would have resulted in many properties whose bandings should be reviewed.
The Committee noted that an exercise would be carried out to provide the Tayside Valuation Joint Board with information in regard to alterations and improvements made to local authority houses.
12. DISPOSAL OF GROUND
(a) School Road/Mattocks Road, Wellbank
There was submitted Report No 966/97 by the Director of Housing regarding the disposal of an area of ground adjacent to 1 School Road, Wellbank.
The Committee agreed to dispose of the area adjacent to 1 School Road, Wellbank to Mr and Mrs Linn on the usual terms and conditions, including that the ground be used as garden ground only and that Mr and Mrs Linn meet all of the Council’s legal costs.
(b) 1 Tarry Road, Arbroath
There was submitted Report No 969/97 by the Director of Housing regarding the disposal of an area of ground adjacent to 1 Tarry Road, Arbroath.
The Committee agreed that the request be deferred to the next meeting to enable further information to be supplied.
(c) 72 Caledonian Place, Montrose
There was submitted Report No 967/97 by the Director of Housing regarding the disposal of an area of ground adjacent to the property at 72 Caledonian Place, Montrose.
The Committee agreed to dispose of the area of ground adjacent to 72 Caledonian Place, Montrose to Mr Melrose, the owner/occupier of 72 Caledonian Place, Montrose on appropriate terms and conditions, including that the ground should be retained as garden ground only, with no building thereon and that Mr Melrose should meet the Council’s legal costs.
(d) 44 Sheriff Park Gardens, Forfar
There was submitted Report No 968/97 by the Director of Housing regarding the disposal of an area of ground adjacent to the property at 44 Sheriff Park Gardens, Forfar.
The Committee agreed that the area of ground be sold to Mr Downie, the owner of 44 Sheriff Park Gardens, Forfar on appropriate terms and conditions, including that the ground should be used as garden ground only; that Mr Downie meet all of the Council’s legal costs; and that the footpath and access to the other properties remain in the ownership of the Council.
13. PROPOSED BOUNDARY WALL, 12 RUTLAND CRESCENT, MONTROSE
There was submitted Report No 971/97 by the Director of Housing regarding a request from the residents of 12 Rutland Crescent, Montrose to remove an existing wooden fence and replace it with a concrete block wall. The Report concluded that there was no technical reason to refuse Superiors’ approval.
The Committee agreed to grant Superiors’ approval for this request, subject to the usual conditions.
14. ANNUAL COUNCIL HOUSE GARDEN COMPETITION
There was submitted Report No 972/97 by the Director of Housing on the result of the Annual Council House Garden Competition for 1997.
The Committee noted the list of prizewinners given in Appendix 1 to the Report and that an awards ceremony had already taken place.
15. HOUSING DEPARTMENT - DEVELOPMENT PLAN 1997/98
There was submitted Report No 970/97 by the Director of Housing seeking the Committee’s views on and approval of the Housing Department’s Development Plan for 1997/98.
The Committee agreed:-
(i) to approve the Housing Department’s Development Plan for the 1997/98 financial year;
(ii) to note that the Development Plan for 1998/99 would be submitted to the Committee for approval in March/April 1998; and
(iii) to note the importance that the Development Plan would play in demonstrating the concept of Best Value.
16. HOUSING CAPITAL PROGRAMME - HRA BLOCK
There was submitted Report No 973/97 by the Director of Finance on the Housing Capital Programme - HRA Block for 1997/98 as at 31 August 1997, which detailed the latest estimate for the year and spend figures to the end of August 1997.
The Committee noted the figures and agreed that the total programme remain at £8.023 million.