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ANGUS COUNCIL
MINUTE of MEETING of the HOUSING COMMITTEE held in the Town and County Hall, Forfar on Tuesday 10 August 1999 at 4.10 pm.
Present: Councillors FRANK ELLIS, ALISTAIR GRAY, IAN ANGUS, BILL CROWE, DAVID LUMGAIR, STEWART McGLYNN, GLENNIS MIDDLETON, JOY MOWATT, ROBERT MYLES, PETER NIELD, GEORGE NORRIE, BILL ROBERTON and SHEENA WELSH.
Councillor ELLIS, Convener, in the Chair.
1. MINUTES
(a) Previous Meeting
The minute of meeting of this Committee of 25 May 1999 was approved as a correct record and signed by the Convener.
(b) Executive Sub-Committee
Having heard Councillor Gray welcome the Council’s investment in its housing stock, there were submitted and noted the minutes of meetings of the Executive Sub-Committee held on 30 June and 23 July 1999 (Appendix I and II).
2. HOUSING DEPARTMENT SERVICE PLAN 1999/2000
There was submitted Report No 716/99 by the Director of Housing advising the Committee of the Housing Department’s Service Plan for the year 1999/2000, and highlighting a number of service development areas which would be actively pursued.
Having heard Councillors Ellis and Gray congratulate the Director of Housing and his staff on the Plan, the Committee agreed:-
(i) to note the contents of the Housing Department’s Service Plan for the period 1999 - 2000; and
(ii) to note the importance that the Service Plan would play in demonstrating the development of Best Value with regard to the Housing Service.
3. 1-7-5 AWARDS FOR INNOVATION AND CREATIVITY - OVERALL WINNER 1999
The Committee was advised that the 1-7-5 Awards, established in 1996, were an annual UK-wide programme intended to encourage and showcase innovations in small to medium sized local authorities which served populations of less than 175,000 people.
The Housing Department had put forward its Kirriemuir Community Energy Efficiency Project for consideration in the "Partnership" category. As one of the short-listed entries, the Department had then been invited to present details of the scheme to a panel of experts at a finals event in the Commonwealth Institute in London on 14 June 1999. In spite of high quality opposition, the Department entry was judged "overall winner for most exciting innovation".
The awards were displayed at the meeting and appreciation was shown to Mr John Morrow, Technical Energy Officer, for his involvement in the project. Congratulations were also extended to all staff involved from both the Housing Department and from Scottish Hydro-Electric for their excellent working relationships and partnership which had made the award possible.
4. BEST VALUE - SERVICE REVIEW REPAIRS RECEPTION - SUPERVISION AND IMPLEMENTATION
With reference to Article 12 of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 26 May 1998, there was submitted Report No 717/99 by the Director of Housing advising that a review of the Department’s Repairs Reception Service had been carried out under the Best Value regime and recommending the implementation of a Service Improvement Plan as a result of the findings of the review.
The Committee agreed:-
(i) to note the contents of the Repairs Reception Service Review, a copy of which had been placed in the Members’ Lounge, and endorse the findings that the current service was of an acceptable standard; and
(ii) to approve the Service Improvement Plan detailed in Appendix A to the Report.
5. BEST VALUE - SERVICE REVIEW - COMMUNITY CARE HOUSING ALLOCATIONS
With reference to Article 12 of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 26 May 1998, there was submitted Report No 718/99 by the Director of Housing advising that a review of the Department’s Community Care Housing Allocations, including sheltered housing allocations, had been carried out under the Best Value regime. The Report set out the scope of the Service Review and recommended the implementation of a Service Improvement Plan as a result of the findings of the review.
The Committee agreed:-
(i) to note the contents of the Report.
(ii) to approve the Best Value Review on Community Care Housing Allocations; and
(iii) to approve the Service Improvement Plan contained within the Service Review as detailed in Appendix A to the Report.
6. HOUSING CAPITAL PROGRAMME - HRA BLOCK 1999/2000
With reference to Article 9 of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 25 May 1999, there was submitted Report No 627/99 by the Director of Finance regarding the Housing Capital Programme - HRA Block - 1999/2000 detailing the latest estimate for the year and the spend figures to the end of June 1999. Expenditure was generally on track to achieve the Programme and performance would continue to be carefully monitored.
The Committee agreed:-
(i) to note the figures presented for the Housing Capital Programme - HRA Block for 1999/2000;and
(ii) to note that the total programme would remain at £6.237M.
7. COUNCIL HOUSE SALES
With reference to Article 8 of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 23 February 1999, there was submitted and noted Report No 739/99 by the Director of Finance detailing Council House sales for the period to 30 June 1999.
8. HOUSING DEVELOPMENT OPTIONS - GLENOGIL STREET, MONTROSE AND PROVOST JOHNSTON ROAD, MONTROSE
With reference to Article 3 of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 12 November 1996 and Article 5 of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 12 January 1999, there was submitted Report No 721/99 by the Director of Housing outlining proposals for (a) the sale of the site at 8-40 Glenogil Street, Montrose and (b) the development of the site at 2-22 Provost Johnston Road, Montrose for very sheltered housing.
Having heard local members, Councillors Norrie and Crowe, on the proposals, and Councillor Glennis Middleton, Convener of the Social Work Committee, welcome the provision of very sheltered housing, the Committee agreed:-
(i) to approve the preparation of a Development Brief by the Housing Department Development Section for housing for sale, at the site of 8-40 Glenogil Street, prior to inviting bids from private sector developers for the purchase of the site;
(ii) to note that the local members had been invited to submit comments on the proposals to the Director of Housing; and
(iii) to instruct the Director of Housing to bring forward a detailed Report that would include costs for developing very sheltered housing on the site at 2-22 Provost Johnston Road, Montrose, linked to an upgrading of facilities at the sheltered housing development at Balmain Court, Montrose.
9. TENANT PARTICIPATION STRATEGY - PROGRESS REPORT
With reference to Article 12 of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 14 April 1998, there was submitted Report No 722/99 by the Director of Housing outlining the progress made to date in developing tenant participation initiatives in Angus since the adoption of the Tenant Participation Strategy Statement.
Having heard various members welcome the initiatives, the Committee agreed to note the contents of the Report.
10. HOUSING DEPARTMENT- CLOSURE OF LOCAL AND HEADQUARTERS HOUSING OFFICES FOR STAFF TRAINING/BRIEFINGS
With reference to Article 14 of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 20 August 1998, there was submitted Report No 724/99 by the Director of Housing proposing the delayed opening of the six local Housing Offices, the Access Office, Monifieth and the two Housing Headquarters locations for one hour, once per week in order to provide training/briefing opportunities for staff.
The Committee agreed:-
(i) to approve the delayed opening, until 10.00 am, on a set day per week of the nine locations detailed in the Report, for staff training/briefing purposes; and
(ii) to instruct the Director of Housing to advertise the alteration to the opening times.
11. ANNUAL HEALTH AND SAFETY REPORT - HOUSING DEPARTMENT
With reference to Article 25 of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 20 May 1997, there was submitted Report No 725/99 by the Director of Housing concerning the second Annual Report on Health and Safety by the Housing Department. The Report referred to developments in health and safety and set out a programme of action for the forthcoming year.
The Committee agreed to note the contents of the Report.
12. HOUSING REVENUE ACCOUNT - WRITE-OFF OF RENT 1998/99
With reference to Article 20 of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 20 August 1998, there was submitted Report No 726/99 by the Director of Housing on the Housing Revenue Account rent arrears which it was proposed be written off in 1998/99.
The Committee noted the cases involved and agreed to write-off the rent amounts associated with the cases as set out in the Appendix to the Report, totalling £41,589 gross (acknowledging that £9,199 of written-off sums had actually been recovered during 1998/99 for previous financial years).
13. EXCAMBION OF GROUND AT STRATHAIRLIE, ARBROATH
There was submitted Report No 727/99 by the Director of Housing relating to the excambion of an area of ground at Strathairlie, Arbroath between the Council and Angus Housing Association Limited and outlining the background to the need to make a minor alteration to the alignment of the boundaries, as shown on a plan attached to the Report.
The Committee agreed to approve that the excambion of two areas of ground at Strathairlie, Arbroath proceed with both parties being responsible for meeting their own legal and other expenses.
14. EMPTY HOMES STRATEGY FOR ANGUS
With reference to Article 1 of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 6 April 1999, there was submitted Report No 735/99 by the Director of Housing detailing the Empty Homes Strategy for Angus. The Report concluded that as the strategic housing authority in the Angus area, Angus Council was responsible for providing realistic solutions to the housing needs which had been identified throughout the area, across all tenures. The Strategy had been developed to contribute to the successful response to local housing problems.
Having heard Councillor Glennis Middleton, Convener of the Social Work Committee, express concern regarding the need to address the problem of empty homes to deal with homelessness in Angus, the Committee agreed:-
(i) to endorse the Empty Homes Strategy document;
(ii) to note the action plan for dealing with the problem of empty homes in Angus; and
(iii) to instruct the Director of Housing to write to the Scottish Executive seeking financial support for Angus Council to address the issue of empty homes.
15. INVESTMENT PROGRAMME - ALTERNATIVE FINANCING ARRANGEMENTS
There was submitted Report No 738/99 by the Director of Housing seeking authority to undertake a feasibility study into enhancing the Council’s Capital Programme, by means of alternative financing sources and, in particular, elemental leasing for windows, doors and heating. The Report recommended that a multi-disciplinary working party be formed to report to a future Housing Committee on the feasibility and method for achieving an enhancement to the investment programme.
Having heard Councillor Ellis on the potential benefit to tenants and the economic well-being of Angus by maximising capital investment in the local authority’s housing stock, the Committee agreed:-
(i) that a multi-disciplinary working party be formed to undertake a feasibility study on alternative financing sources to enhance the Council’s Capital Programme; and
(iii) that the working party report back to this Committee outlining the results and possible tendering arrangements.
16. 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 the disclosure of information which was exempt in terms of paragraphs 1, 4, 6, 8, 9 and 10 of Part 1 of Schedule 7A to the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973.
17. IMPROVEMENT GRANT APPLICATIONS APPROVED UNDER DELEGATED AUTHORITY
With reference to Article 5 of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 25 May 1999, there was submitted Report No 702/99 by the Director of Planning and Transport detailing the applications for Improvement Grants totalling £119,188, which had been approved under delegated authority.
18. REPAIR GRANT APPLICATIONS APPROVED UNDER DELEGATED AUTHORITY
With reference to Article 4 of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 6 April 1999, there was submitted and noted Report No 703/99 by the Director of Planning and Transport detailing the applications for Repair Grants totalling £55,557, which had been approved under delegated authority.
19. PHASE 3 - RE-DEVELOPMENT OPTIONS - BLOCKS 34-56, 58-80 AND 82-96 GALLOWSHADE ROAD AND 5-11 AND 13-35 DUNDEE ROAD, FORFAR
With reference to Article 10 of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 23 February 1999, there was submitted Report No 728/99 by the Director of Housing setting out the re-development options for Phase 3 of the Regeneration Programme for the Glens area of Forfar. The Report outlined proposals for the Gallowshade and Dundee Road areas and set out proposals for consultation with the local community, to enable the Housing Department to determine which option(s) should be pursued.
Having heard Councillor Bill Roberton, local member, welcome the proposals, the Committee agreed:-
(i) to note the options for Phase 3 re-development of Blocks 34-56, 58-80 and 82-96 Gallowshade Road and 5-11 and 13-35 Dundee Road, Forfar;
(ii) to approve the proposals to enter into discussion and consultation with the community about which option should be pursued; and
(iii) to note that a further report would be presented to this Committee in due course giving details of the preferred options and the associated financial implications.
20. DEFAULT DOMESTIC POWER SUPPLIER ARRANGEMENT
With reference to Article 13 of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 29 September 1998, there was submitted Report No 730/99 by the Director of Housing providing an up-date on progress in identifying a default power supplier for the Council’s housing stock and seeking guidance from the Committee as to the preferred option.
The Committee agreed to instruct the Director of Housing to accept the offer for a default domestic power supply arrangement from Scottish Power in terms of option 1 detailed in the Report.
21. 29 NURSERY ROAD, MONTROSE - OPTION APPRAISAL
There was submitted Report No 731/99 by the Director of Housing detailing the current state of the unmodernised property at 29 Nursery Road, Montrose and outlining the options available to deal with the property.
The Committee agreed to approve the action outlined in option 3 of the Report, with the proviso that, should this course of action not be amenable to the present tenant, option 4 be followed.
22. COUNCIL HOUSE SALES - QUARTERLY SCHEDULES
With reference to Article 8 of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 23 February 1999, there was submitted and noted Report No 732/99 by the Director of Finance which detailed individual Council House sales for the first quarter of 1999/2000.
23. DISPOSAL OF GROUND
(a) 13 Kinloch Street, Carnoustie
There was submitted Report No 733/99 by the Director of Housing regarding the disposal of a small area of ground adjacent to 13 Kinloch Street, Carnoustie, as outlined in the plan attached to the Report.
The Committee agreed that the area of ground in question be sold to Mrs Waddell, the owner occupier of 13 Kinloch Street on appropriate terms and conditions, on the basis that the ground be used as a garden ground/vehicular access and that the Council’s reasonable legal and valuation costs be met by Mrs Waddell.
(b) 1 Bloomfield Place, Arbroath
There was submitted Report No 734/99 by the Director of Housing regarding the disposal of a small area of ground adjacent to 1 Bloomfield Place, Arbroath, as outlined in the plan attached to the Report.
The Committee agreed that the area of ground in question be sold to Mr and Mrs McIntosh, the owner occupiers of 1 Bloomfield Place, Arbroath on appropriate terms and conditions, on the basis that the ground be used as garden ground and that the Council’s reasonable and legal valuation costs be met by Mr and Mrs McIntosh.
(c) 15 Guthrie Street, Friockheim
There was submitted Report No 737/99 by the Director of Housing regarding the disposal of an area of ground adjacent to 15 Guthrie Street, Friockheim, as outlined in the plan attached to the Report.
The Committee agreed that the area of ground in question be sold to Mr Still and Ms Longmuir, the owner occupiers of 15 Guthrie Street, Friockheim, on appropriate terms and conditions, on the basis that the ground be used as garden ground only and that the purchasers meet the valuation fee of £105.00 plus VAT and also be responsible for the Council’s disposal costs, up to a maximum of £200.00.
24. SERIOUS ARREARS CASES - HOUSING REVENUE ACCOUNT TENANTS
With reference to Article 12 of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 26 May 1998, there was submitted Report No 736/99 by the Director of Housing regarding serious arrears of rent in respect of five Council house tenants, as detailed in the Appendix to the Report.
The Director of Housing reported on the up to-date situation on each case, following which the Committee agreed:-
(i) to note that arrears had been reduced in case 1 and that regular payments to further reduce the arrears had been promised; that the case would be monitored to ensure that regular payments continued to be made; and to give approval to the Director of Housing to evict should voluntary payments fail to clear the debt;
(ii) to note that no payments had been made to reduce the arrears in cases 2, 3 and 4 and to give approval to the Director of Housing to evict should voluntary payments fail to clear the debt; and
(iii) to note that no payments had been made to reduce the arrears in case 5, but that rent arrears were being paid direct from the Department of Social Security in the form of Rent Direct; and to give the tenant a further 14 days to allow the property (internal and external) to be brought up to a reasonable standard.
25. TENDERS
(a) Security Arrangements at Guthrie Hill, Arbroath
There was submitted Report No 729/99 by the Director of Housing on tenders received for the provision of security arrangements at Guthrie Hill, Arbroath.
The Committee agreed to homologate the decision of the Convener, in consultation with the Director of Housing, to award the contract for security arrangements at Guthrie Hill, Arbroath to Securitay
(b) Warden Call Systems to Sheltered Housing Schemes
There was submitted Report No 743/99 by the Director of Property Services on tenders received for the design and installation of warden call systems in ten sheltered housing schemes in Angus.
The Committee approved the terms of the Report and agreed:-
(i) to authorise the acceptance of the tenders for the design and installation of warden call systems to ten sheltered housing schemes, as submitted by Initial Shorrock Community Care, Blackburn in the amount of £189,025.97;
(ii) to note the estimated total cost of £203,202 at outturn prices;
(iii) to note that allowance for four of the installations had been made in the approved Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Planned Maintenance and Capital Programmes 1999/00 and that provision would be required for the remainder in the Programme for 2000/01 and beyond; and
(iv) to note that the additional revenue expenditure arising from the current year of this project (first full year 2000/2001) was £6,200 per annum in respect of loan charges calculated over 20 years and that an estimated £8,000 additional annual amount would arise for work to be carried out in 2000/2001.
(c) Annual Servicing and Routine Maintenance of Gas Heating Installations (Housing)
There was submitted Joint Report No 774/99 by the Director of Housing and Director of Property Services on tenders received for annual servicing and routine maintenance of gas installations for 2000/2001 to 2002/2003 and completion of the existing 1997/1998 to 1999/2000 contract and recommending acceptance of the lowest tender received.
The Committee approved the terms of the Report and agreed:-
(i) to authorise acceptance of the tender received for the annual servicing and routine maintenance of gas heating installations (Housing), being that submitted by McLean & Nuttall, Cumbernauld, in the amount of £1,004,134.65;
(ii) to note the overall cost implications as detailed in paragraph 4 of Report No 774/99;
(iii) to note that the additional costs in 1999/2000 over and above the level allowed for in the HRA Planned Maintenance Programme Budget would be contained within the overall HRA Budget for 1999/2000; and
(iv) to note that provision would required to be made within future years’ HRA Planned Maintenance Budgets to accommodate the annual expenditure of this project.
The following matter was, on the determination of the Convener, dealt with as a matter of urgency, to allow rationalisation of the staffing establishment to take place without delay.
26. HOUSING DEPARTMENT STRUCTURE - ARBROATH HOUSING OFFICE
There was submitted Report No 749/99 by the Director of Housing proposing a minor enhancement to the Housing Department structure at the Arbroath Housing Office, as a consequence of a resignation, allowing a rationalisation of the current staffing arrangements to take place.
The Committee agreed to approve an increase in the Housing Department establishment of an additional 61/4 hours per week at GS1/2 grade, to enable a full-time post to be created in the Arbroath Housing Office and thus enhance staff availability and service to the public.