Project Effect on Expenditure

Bagatelle Court

Reduction in provisional sums for works to driveway £5,800 reduction

Strone Area, Phase 1 - Gabriel Street

Investigation of existing drainage showed that this was not

sufficient to take new connections and that full replacement

runs were required £12,000 increase

Requirement to pay landfill tax which was introduced

following the receipt of tenders and which the contractor is

entitled to recover £12,000 increase; and

(c) That the following accumulated variation which is in excess of 10% of the accepted tender amount be approved in terms of the relevant Financial Regulations:-

Project Effect on Expenditure

Cottonmill Row Lead Mains Renewal

Anticipated final account 30.06% less than accepted tender £6,000 reduction

97.00

NON-HRA CAPITAL PROGRAMME 1996/97 - FINANCIAL POSITION

SUBMITTED: Report dated 8 January 1997 by the Director of Finance on the financial position of the non-HRA Capital Programme 1996/97.

NOTED

98.00

VOID PROPERTIES

SUBMITTED: Report dated 7 January 1997 by the Director of Housing and Customer Services providing information on the number of void Council properties within Inverclyde, outlining the various factors influencing this as revealed by a sample analysis of current voids and putting forward a number of practical solutions which it was believed would assist in minimising the number of empty houses.

DECIDED:

(a) That the Working Group established by the Committee on 3 September 1996 (para 795) to review the current Housing Allocation Policy be requested to address specifically those areas of the Allocation Policy which have a direct impact on voids;

(b) That internal practices within the area housing offices be reviewed and detailed procedural guidelines set to address (i) the practices implemented for issuing and receiving keys for empty houses and (ii) the reasons for refusal of offers;

(c) That further discussions take place with contractors to reach realistic and manageable timescales for effecting repairs to empty houses, the condition of the property and extent of repairs required to bring the property up to a lettable standard being the decisive factors;

(d) That all tenants must give 28 days' notice of termination of a tenancy and, where possible, housing benefit be used to pay for accommodation; and

(e) That a further report be submitted to the Committee with detailed recommendations on ways to overcome the wider problems of low demand areas.

99.00

CASH RECEIPTING SYSTEM - DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND CUSTOMER SERVICES

SUBMITTED: Report dated 10 January 1997 by the Directors of Housing and Customer Services and Information Technology advising of the requirement for the Department of Housing and Customer Services to update all its information technology systems to offer an improved service and to meet the challenges of housing management compulsory competitive tendering, outlining proposals for the installation of an automated cash receipting system and advising that expressions of interest and prices were being sought from appropriate firms with a view to having the system in place and operating by July 1997.

DECIDED:

(a) That the report be noted and the decision to seek expressions of interest and prices from appropriate firms be approved; and

(b) That it be noted that a further report on the results of the exercise will be submitted to the Committee in early course.

100.00

PURCHASE OF PERSONAL COMPUTERS AND PRINTERS

100

SUBMITTED: Report dated 7 January 1997 by the Director of Housing and Customer Services seeking authority to purchase 20 additional personal computers and 9 printers for use within his Department at an approximate cost of £50,000.

DECIDED:

(a) That approval be given to purchase 20 additional personal computers and 9 printers for use by the Department of Housing and Customer Services at an approximate cost of £50,000 and that this be funded from the Housing Repairs and Renewals Fund; and

(b) That it be noted that a report will be submitted in early course on proposals to rationalise the office arrangements within the Department.

101.00

SERVICE CHARGES FOR SHELTERED HOUSING TENANTS

101

SUBMITTED: Report dated 24 December 1996 by the Director of Housing and Customer Services providing information on the number of tenants within sheltered housing complexes who would be liable to pay a service charge, should this be introduced, and identifying the potential income from varying levels of service charge.

DECIDED: That consideration be continued to allow this matter to be dealt with as part of the annual review of Council house rents.

102.00

PROCEDURAL GUIDELINES FOR ADAPTATIONS WITHIN PUBLIC SECTOR HOUSING

102

SUBMITTED: Report by the Directors of Housing and Customer Services and Social Work proposing procedural guidelines to be followed in respect of the provision of aids and adaptations within public sector housing.

DECIDED:

(a) That the respective roles of the Departments of Social Work and Housing and Customer Services relative to the provision of aids and adaptations within public sector housing be noted; and

(b) That it be agreed that:-

(i) The Housing and Customer Services Department carry out all adaptations within public sector housing;

(ii) The Social Work Department make a contribution of £30,000 towards these costs and that this figure be reviewed annually;

(iii) Link Officers within each Department be identified to monitor these changes and co-ordinate the work; and

(iv) In-service training be arranged to ensure that Officers within each Department are aware of the range of adaptations and their respective responsibilities.

103.00

HEATHER, ROWAN AND THISTLE COURTS AND COURT ROAD, PORT GLASGOW - PROPOSED INSTALLATION OF NEW ELECTRIC HEATING SYSTEMS

103

SUBMITTED: Report dated 9 January 1997 by the Director of Housing and Customer Services advising that, following representations made to the Scottish Office, notification had recently been received that the HRA Capital Allocation for 1996/97 would be increased by £150,000 and suggesting that the additional allocation be used to assist in funding the installation of new electric heating systems to replace the existing district heating systems within properties in the Bay area of Port Glasgow.

DECIDED: That a detailed specification be prepared for the installation of individual electric heating systems at Heather, Rowan and Thistle Courts and 2/40 Court Road, Port Glasgow and that it be remitted to the Director of Central Services in consultation with the appropriate Officers to arrange for the invitation of competitive tenders for the works.

104.00

BROADFIELD EXTERNAL RENDER/INSULATION PROJECT - PHASE 2

104

SUBMITTED: Report dated 30 December 1996 by the Director of Housing and Customer Services on proposals for Phase 2 of the Broadfield external render/insulation project.

DECIDED:

(a) That it be remitted to the Director of Central Services in consultation with the appropriate Officers to arrange for the invitation of competitive tenders for Phase 2 of the Broadfield external render/insulation project; and

(b) That delegated authority be granted to the Director of Central Services in consultation with the appropriate Officers and after consultation with the Convener, Vice-Convener and a Member of the Minority Groups to accept the lowest tender received for the works.

105.00

PROPERTY AT 2/14 BRYMNER STREET, GREENOCK

105

SUBMITTED: Report dated 7 January 1997 by the Director of Property and Technical Services relative to the future of the Council-owned properties within 2/14 Brymner Street, Greenock following an interest expressed by the owner of the remaining properties within the building in either a joint development or outright acquisition of the property with a view to refurbishment of the whole block.

DECIDED: That the Housing Committee agree that it has no further requirement for the property at 2/14 Brymner Street, Greenock for the purpose of providing hostel accommodation for young single persons and that the matter be remitted to the Corporate Resources Committee with a view to disposal of the property.

106.00

RESOLUTION: EXCLUSION OF PUBLIC AND PRESS

106

On the motion of the Convener, it was agreed unanimously that, in terms of Section 50(A)(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, the public and press be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the undernoted items of business on the grounds that consideration of the items involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in the respective paragraphs of Part I of Schedule 7(A) of the Act as are set opposite each item:-

Item Paragraph(s)

Gibshill Regeneration - Transfer of Land 6 & 9

Maukinhill, Greenock - Repainting Works - Report on Tenders 6 & 8

John Street, Greenock - Repainting Works - Report on Tenders 6 & 8

89/121 Drumfrochar Road, Greenock - Repainting Works -

Report on Tenders 6 & 8

Broomhill, Greenock - Repainting Works - Report on Tenders 6 & 8

Possible Repossession of House 2

107.00

GIBSHILL REGENERATION - TRANSFER OF LAND

107

SUBMITTED: Report dated 7 January 1997 by the Director of Housing and Customer Services seeking the Committee's approval for the transfer of two areas of land within Gibshill for housing provision by other agencies as part of the overall regeneration of the area. It was noted that the consent of the Secretary of State for Scotland was required as both pieces of land are held on the Housing Revenue Account.

DECIDED: That the consent of the Secretary of State for Scotland be sought relative to the proposed transfer of the following pieces of land as part of the overall Gibshill regeneration programme:-

(i) Plot 1 as shown on the map appended to the report to Cloch Housing Association Limited for the purposes of a Housing Association Grant funded development at nil value; and

(ii) Plot 2 as shown on the map appended to the report to the successful preferred private developer selected by all the Gibshill regeneration partners, for the purposes of a GRO Grant funded development and at the market value as determined by the District Valuer.

108.00

MAUKINHILL, GREENOCK - REPAINTING WORKS - REPORT ON TENDERS

108

SUBMITTED: Report dated 8 January 1997 by the Director of Housing and Customer Services on five tenders received for repainting works in the Maukinhill area, Greenock.

DECIDED:

(a) That it be remitted to the Director of Central Services to accept the lowest tender, that by Brawley Bros Limited in the sum of £117,020.00; and

(b) That additional professional Clerk of Works supervision be approved, giving a total cost of £20,753.00 for professional and Clerk of Works fees.

109.00

JOHN STREET, GREENOCK - REPAINTING WORKS - REPORT ON TENDERS

109

SUBMITTED: Report dated 8 January 1997 by the Director of Housing and Customer Services on six tenders received for repainting works in John Street, Greenock.

DECIDED:

(a) That it be remitted to the Director of Central Services to accept the lowest tender, that by Professional Decorating Services in the corrected sum of £26,469.56; and

(b) That additional professional Clerk of Works supervision be approved, giving a total cost of £5,970.00 for professional and Clerk of Works fees.

110.00

89/121 DRUMFROCHAR ROAD, GREENOCK - REPAINTING WORKS - REPORT ON TENDERS

110

SUBMITTED: Report dated 8 January 1997 by the Director of Housing and Customer Services on five tenders received for repainting works at 89/121 Drumfrochar Road, Greenock.

DECIDED: That it be remitted to the Director of Central Services to accept the lowest tender, that by Brawley Bros Limited in the corrected sum of £21,168.75

111.00

BROOMHILL, GREENOCK - REPAINTING WORKS - REPORT ON TENDERS

111

SUBMITTED: Report dated 8 January 1997 by the Director of Housing and Customer Services on five tenders received for repainting works in the Broomhill area, Greenock.

DECIDED: That it be remitted to the Director of Central Services to accept the lowest tender, that by the Contract Services Division, Inverclyde Council, in the sum of £29,982.26.

112.00

POSSIBLE REPOSSESSION OF HOUSE

112

There was submitted a report by the Director of Housing and Customer Services requesting the Committee's authority to seek vacant possession of a house on the basis of breaches of the conditions of tenancy and this was agreed, all as detailed in the Appendix.