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| GENERAL MEETING MINUTES | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Minutes of General Meeting Present - Adams Edith Gault Jessie Marr Jean Sinclair Sheila Bates Joyce Grunwell Anthony McMillan C Sloan Rebecca Bathgate Marion McNeil Janette Smart Rita Black Robert Milligan A Smith Rena Brodie Amy Hoskins Nancy Muir Annie Stevenson M Carrington Stella Hutcheson Morag Valentine Sadie Cochrane Jim Jack Betty Petrie Nancy Waugh Peter Crichton Mary Jeffrey J Phinn Patricia Webster Cathie Docherty Mary Jones David Robb A Whittet William Fawns Bill Knight Douglas Gina Runciman Fawns Mamie Stewart Rebecca Garrigan Margaret Malen Rod Scott Margaret Garrigan Owen McIntosh Wilma Simpson Eddie 1. Welcome & Introduction - Rena welcomed everyone to the meeting. She then introduced Roger Seaman, Housing Investment Manager, Dundee City Council and Kirsty Wells, Development Manager, Tenants Information Service Apologies - Bob Mitchell, Joanne Ostenberg, Arlene Sutherland, R Pike, James McKinnon, Robert Law, Margaret Beedie, Ann McDonald, Lawrence Young, Phylis Lawrence, Russell Scotland, Stella Scotland, Edith Wallace, William Nicoll, Helen Nicoll 2. Adoption of Minutes of General Meeting held on Proposed by Patricia Phinn and seconded by Brian Paris Matters Arising: There were no matters arising. 3. Roger Seaman, Housing Investment Manager, gave his presentation on the Scottish Housing Quality Standard Root and Branch Review Update Recap DFTA / Focus Group have examined Stock conditions and Investment needs Housing need and demand Current SHQS standard delivery plan (SDP) Stock performance Financial assessment Further Issues Stock assessment (at risk stock) Bringing stock previously included in the demolition programme back into core stock Updated financial Plan once these issues are resolved Feasibility study on retaining Committee decision for demolition and these currently are within 1,900 demolition programme within current Standard Delivery Plan Allowance made for demolition not for improving to SHQS standard Stock Assessment 1,900 units are approved for demolition and contained within the Standard Delivery Plan Further analysis of stock performance shows that there may be the need for further demolitions Stock within regeneration areas Stock with high investment needs / poor performance Timetable Resolution of issues on assessment of stock by Nov/Dec 2009 Further financial modelling Jan/Feb 2010 Tenant conference presenting R&B Review Feb 2010 Drafting standard delivery plan Committee Report April 2010 Submission to Scottish Government by June 2010 4. Kirsty Wells, Development Manager, Tenants Information Service gave her presentation on Root and Branch Review of Housing Standards and Rent Tenants Information Service work to date } Support to DFTA and Focus Group } Initial financial assessments } Reporting on Craigforth study Tenants Information Service opinion on Derby Street } Current Standard Delivery Plan is high risk and this included } Best financial option is still to demolish } Craigforth study showed north and central areas were least popular areas in the city. } 2000 tenants need to move and 75% want larger accommodation therefore greatest need is for family housing. What happens next? } Decision needs to be reached about } Rent consultation for 2010/11 and its implications for Standard Delivery Plan are closely linked. } Other financial issues to be considered in Housing Revenue Account e.g. decoration of empty houses, concierge and investment in other multi-storey blocks. } Re-start the process by Focus group meeting in November. } TIS Financial assessments in New Year. Risk Factors still to be resolved } Housing finances very difficult for Dundee City Council to manage. } Borrowing levels become unaffordable. } Pressure on rent levels will increase. Questions from the floor Roger Q Why should we spend money on new kitchens and bathrooms in the multis, when they have anti social behaviour tenants? A The anti social topic is not on the agenda and can be discussed at a later date. We are here to discuss Scottish Housing Quality Standard (SHQS) and Q Will the multis have a 10-12 years life span? A Yes, at least 10-15 years, but nothing is certain Q Whorterbank multis with the confusion over whether they will be demolished or retained, the tenants are wondering when they will be brought up to standard? A It should be within the next 2 years Q Will the multis that are retained be brought up to SHQS standard? A The proposal is to bring them up to a standard although they might not be up to the SHQS standard as they have to be energy efficient. We may have to apply for an exemption from the Government. Q Convenor is on record saying that Dundee City Council will reach SHQS by 2015 is that the official position? A The properties will be brought to a standard, not necessarily the SHQS. This is work in progress Q There are a lot of properties lying empty in the multis - and yet there are people desperate for houses Dundee City Council could be gaining more revenue from rents. A This is part of the feasibility study that is being carried out currently. Q Is it possible to get more money towards the SHQS? A There is no additional money for this although there is money for a new build programme Q Has any information come back from the government about exemptions for controlled entry? A We havent had guidance yet but we can resubmit in June 2010. Kirsty Q When a multi is demolished there doesnt seem to be the same number of houses built. A With regeneration, multis are not replaced with the same number of units Q Is it possible to make the multis only for sheltered tenants? A Yes the multis could be re-designated for one specific use although some of the multi units have internal stairs which would not be appropriate. Falkirk Council utilised its multis very successfully by housing tenants over 50. Roger - The Convener of Housing will be setting up a multis working group in February. The details of this are not available yet. · One of the tenants pointed out that Q Is it true if someone is over 16, next on the housing list and there is an empty house in a multi housing has to offer it them by law? A Dundee City Council are tied by the Housing Scotland Act 2001. In 2012 the homeless legislation will be changed again. Q Is it true that if a tenant is evicted in A Yes, again tied by law A Roger This is still current practice, although Dundee City Council are in the early days of the study, looking at improvements. Q Sheltered house tenants have to pay around £30 per week for warden services why are sheltered charges not pooled if the concierge services in multis are? A This is something to be discussed between DFTA and the Dundee City Council Consensus of Opinion The tenants present were asked if they thought Rena thanked Roger and Kirsty for their presentations and the tenants who attended the meeting. Next General Meeting - For information - DCC DCS DFTA SHQS - Scottish Housing Quality Standard SDP - Standard Delivery Plan |
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