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ANGUS COUNCIL
MINUTE of MEETING of the HOUSING COMMITTEE held in the Town and County Hall, Forfar on Tuesday 6 April 1999 at 4.00 pm.
Present: Councillors FRANK ELLIS, IAN ANGUS, HELEN ANGUS, WILLIAM CROWE, WILLIAM DOIG, Mrs RENATE LAMONT, STEWART McGLYNN, GLENNIS MIDDLETON and STEWART MOWATT.
Apologies: Apologies for absence were intimated on behalf of Councillors JACK GIBB, IAN HUDGHTON, IAN MACKINTOSH and SANDY WEST.
Councillor ELLIS, Convener, in the Chair.
1. EMPTY HOMES INITIATIVE
The Convener advised the Committee that as part of the Scottish Homes Empty Homes Initiative, Angus Council had been awarded £344,000 to refill some of its empty homes within Angus.
The Director of Housing advised that the money, which would be released through Scottish Homes, would be allocated over three years and that the first year’s allowance would be used to convert unpopular bed-sit flats at Russell Square, Arbroath into sheltered housing.
The Committee noted the position.
2. MINUTE OF PREVIOUS MEETING
The minute of meeting of this Committee of 23 February 1999 was approved as a correct record and signed by the Convener.
3. IMPROVEMENT GRANT APPLICATIONS
The Committee noted a list of applications for Improvement Grants totalling £73,887, approved under delegated authority by the Director of Planning and Transport, as detailed in Report No 371/99.
4. REPAIR GRANT APPLICATIONS
The Committee noted a list of applications for Repair Grants totalling £18,223, approved under delegated authority by the Director of Planning and Transport, as detailed in Report No 372/99.
5. HOUSING CAPITAL PROGRAMME - HRA BLOCK 1998/1999
There was submitted Report No 319/99 by the Director of Finance on the Housing Capital Programme - HRA Block - 1998/99 detailing the latest estimate for the year and the spend figures to the end of February 1999.
The Committee noted the figures presented and that the Programme had been adjusted to a new total of £6.370 million, to take account of the contractor employed on various contracts who was in receivership.
6. TEALING VILLAGE HALL
There was submitted Report No 378/99 by the Director of Housing which advised members of proposals by the Tealing Village Hall Committee to improve the condition of the Village Hall at Tealing.
The Committee commended the Tealing Village Hall Management Committee on their wish to improve this facility and noted the contents of the Report.
7. COUNCIL HOUSE GARDEN COMPETITION
With reference to Article 7 of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 14 April 1998, there was submitted Report No 379/99 by the Director of Housing outlining the format for the 1999 Council House garden competition, including arrangements for the prize giving ceremony. It was proposed that, as last year, the competition be judged on a geographical basis, ie seven burgh areas and three landward areas, each with a first, second and third prize winner with an additional prize for the overall winner.
The Report indicated that it had also been proposed that a further section for disabled tenants be re-introduced. This would bring the total number of prizes to 34, (as detailed in Appendix I of the Report), the cost of which would be 50% sponsored by the Silverwells Garden Centre, Arbroath.
The Committee agreed:-
(i) to note the partnership arrangements between the Council and the private sector, to provide funding for the prizes in the 1999 garden competition; and
(ii) to hold the prize giving ceremony immediately prior to the Housing Committee meeting scheduled for 28 September 1999, in the Town and County Hall, Forfar.
8. SCOTTISH OFFICE CONSULTATION PAPER "TOWARDS A JUST CONCLUSION - VULNERABLE AND INTIMIDATED WITNESSES IN SCOTTISH CRIMINAL AND CIVIL CASES"
There was submitted Report No 380/99 by the Director of Law and Administration which advised upon the terms of the Scottish Office Consultation Paper "Towards a Just Conclusion - Vulnerable and Intimidated Witnesses in Scottish Criminal and Civil Cases" and sought approval for the terms of the response made on behalf of the Council to that Consultation Paper.
The Report concluded that although the Consultation Paper did not directly relate to any of the Council’s core statutory functions, the legal process in one form or another underpinned or interacted with everything that the Council did. Further, given the Council’s key theme of improving the environment and the quality of life in Angus, the Council clearly had a major stake in any measures which might improve the administration of and access to justice for the benefit of the citizens of Angus.
The Committee agreed to note the contents of the Report and approved the terms of the response given on behalf of the Council.
9. 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.
10. SERIOUS ARREARS CASES
There was submitted Report No 376/99 by the Director of Housing regarding serious arrears of rent in respect of two 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 regular payments to reduce the arrears further had been promised; and
(ii) to give approval to evict should these payments not be received.
11. INWOOD LIMITED (IN RECEIVERSHIP) - COMPENSATION TO TENANTS
There was submitted Report No 381/99 by the Director of Housing which updated the Committee on the implications for certain tenants of the above receivership and proposed that compensation be pursued for those affected.
The Committee agreed:-
(i) to note the contents of the Report; and
(ii) to support the proposal to seek compensation for additional disturbance to tenants as a result of Inwood Ltd, being in receivership.
12. INWOOD LIMITED (IN RECEIVERSHIP) - CURRENT POSITION
With reference to Article 12 of the minute of meeting of the Personnel and Property Services Committee of 16 March 1999, there was submitted Report No 382/99 by the Director of Property Services regarding the situation in relation to Inwood Ltd who were currently In receivership, the effect on current Council building projects and the action being taken by the Property Services Department.
The Committee, for its interest, agreed:-
(i) to note that Inwood Ltd, Forfar had ceased work on all Council projects on Monday, 22 February 1999 and that Joint Receivers had been appointed on Friday, 26 February 1999;
(ii) to note the Council properties which were affected and the responsive action taken by the Property Services Department; and
(iii) to note the current situation.
13. CCTV SURVEILLANCE SYSTEMS, HOMELESS PERSONS UNITS, VARIOUS SITES, ANGUS - EXTENSION OF CONTRACT TO INCLUDE ADDITIONAL PROPERTIES IN FORFAR
There was submitted Report No 392/99 by the Director of Property Services regarding the installation of a CCTV surveillance system and replacement door entry systems to properties at Glenclova Terrace, Forfar as an addition to the contract currently being executed for similar installations in Arbroath and Montrose.
The Committee approved the terms of the Report and agreed:-
(i) to approve the addition of a CCTV surveillance system and a replacement door entry system to the contract currently being executed by McGill Electrical Ltd, Dundee;
(ii) to approve the estimated revised total cost of £91,498 (at outturn prices);
(iii) to approve the estimated revised contract sum of £86,803 which represented an overspend in excess of 5% of the original contract sum, reported to the Director of Finance in accordance with clause 6.5 of Financial Regulations;
(iv) to note that an allowance of £20,000 for this additional work had been made in the approved HRA Provisional Capital Programme 1999/2000 and that additional provision would be met from the Department’s Planned Maintenance Special Needs Budget 1999/2000 for security measures at homeless persons units; and
(v) to note the additional revenue expenditure of £4,050 arising from this additional work.
14. MODERNISATIONS AT GLAMIS, FORFAR - COMPLETION CONTRACT
There was submitted Report No 383/99 by the Director of Property Services on tenders received for completion of the above project following the appointment of Joint Receivers in respect of Inwood Ltd, Forfar.
The Committee approved the terms of the Report and agreed:-
(i) to authorise acceptance of the lowest tender for completion of the project, being that submitted by J & G Construction, Dundee in the amount of £183,200;
(ii) to note the estimated total cost of £256,922.75, an increase of £28,658.75 over the original estimated project cost;
(iii) to note that a claim would be lodged with the Joint Receivers for the £28,658.75 increase on the project cost;
(iv) to note that an allowance of £228,000 for this project had been made in the approved HRA Provisional Capital Programme 1999/2000 and that additional provision might have to be made; and
(v) to note the additional revenue expenditure arising from this project.
15. MODERNISATIONS AT GUTHRIE PARK AND DUNDAS PARK, BRECHIN - COMPLETION CONTRACT
The Committee agreed that Report No 384/99 by the Director of Property Services on the modernisations at Guthrie Park and Dundas Park, Brechin be referred to the Executive Sub-Committee on Monday, 19 April 1999.
16. EXTERNAL REFURBISHMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENTS AT WARDDYKES, ARBROATH - PHASE 4 - COMPLETION CONTRACT
There was submitted Report No 385/99 by the Director of Property Services on the completion of the above project following the appointment of Joint Receivers in respect of Inwood Ltd, Forfar.
The Committee approved the terms of the Report and agreed:-
(i) to authorise acceptance of the tender for completion of the project, being that submitted by Muirfield (Contracts) Ltd, Dundee in the amount of £79,137.12;
(ii) to note the estimated revised total cost of £177,463.75, an increase of £20,797.60 over the original estimated project cost;
(iii) to note that a claim would be lodged with the Joint Receivers for the £20,797.60 increase on the project cost;
(iv) to note that an allowance of £150,000 for this project had been made in the approved HRA Provisional Capital Programme 1999/2000 and that additional provision might have to be made; and
(v) to note the additional revenue expenditure arising from this project.
17. EXTERNAL REFURBISHMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENTS AT WARDDYKES, ARBROATH - PHASE 5 - COMPLETION CONTRACT
There was submitted Report No 393/99 by the Director of Property Services on the completion of the above project following the appointment of joint Receivers in respect of Inwood Ltd, Forfar.
The Committee approved the terms of the Report and agreed:-
(i) to authorise acceptance of the tender for completion of the project, being that submitted by Muirfield (Contracts) Ltd, Dundee in the amount of £114,283.85;
(ii) to note the estimated revised total cost of £184,563.77, an increase of £27,645.06 over the original estimated project cost;
(iii) to note that a claim would be lodged with the Joint Receivers for the £27,645.06 increase on the project cost;
(iv) to note that an allowance of £150,000 for this project had been made in the approved HRA Provisional Capital Programme 1999/2000 and that additional provision might have to be made; and
(v) to note the additional revenue expenditure arising from this project.
18. VALEDICTORY REMARKS
As this was the last meeting of this Committee to be held before the elections, the Convener thanked all the officers for the support which he and the Committee had received over the last four years.