Minute
North Lanarkshire Council · 15 February 2023
Back to Housing Committee — 15 February 2023 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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HOUSING - 15 FEBRUARY 2023 76 15 February 2023 at 10 am. A Meeting of the HOUSING COMMITTEE PRESENT Councillor Brannan-McVey, Convener; Councillor McPake, Vice-Convener; Councillors Brennan, Burgess, Carragher, M. Coyle, Di Mascio, Dunbar, Fisher, Fotheringham, Hughes, D. Johnston, Keltie, Leckie, Lennon, MacGregor, McBride, B. McCulloch, M. McCulloch, McDade, McKay, McManus, McNally, McPhilemy, Mitchell, Nolan, Patton, Reddin, Robinson, Smith, A. Stubbs, Sullivan, Toner and Woods. ALSO PRESENT In accordance with Standing Order 64(A) Councillors Barclay, Boyd, Roarty, Stevenson and Thomas attended as substitutes for Councillors McCluskey, McVey, Jones, Logue and Crichton respectively. CHAIR Councillor Brannan-McVey (Convener) presided. IN ATTENDANCE Chief Officer (Housing Property Services); Chief Officer (Housing Management); Chief Officer (Place); Business Finance Manager (Resource Solutions); Communications Officer, and Democratic Services Manager. APOLOGIES Councillors Crichton, Jones , Logue, McCluskey, McKendrick and McVey. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST IN TERMS OF THE ETHICAL STANDARDS IN PUBLIC LIFE ETC. (SCOTLAND) ACT 2000 1. Councillor M. Coyle, by virtue of being a Board Member of Mears LLP, declared a connection amounting to a declarable interest in respect of paragraph 2 – Mears LLP: Operational and Financial Performance Monitoring Report; paragraph 16 – Housing and Property Services – Corporate Maintenance – Measured Term Contract Update, Non-Housing Properties, and paragraph 17 – Housing and Corporate Property Repairs and Maintenance Contracts – Update, and left the meeting during consideration of these items. Councillor McPake, by virtue of being a Board Member of Scotland Excel, declared a connection in respect of paragraph 7 – New Housing Supply Programme – Procurement Report, and paragraph 15 – Provision of Domestic Flooring 2023 to 2027, and further declared that he considered the interest so sufficiently remote that it did not preclude his participation in these items. Councillor Brennan, by virtue of receiving assistance from the Planning Service regarding Future New Build Sites, declared a connection in respect of paragraph 8 – Future New Build Sites, and further declared that he considered the interest so sufficiently remote that it did not preclude his participation in that item. Councillor Leckie, by virtue of previously being a member of Torbothie and Shotts Housing when it had objected to the new build properties at Springhill Road, Shotts, declared a connection amounting to a declarable interest in respect of item 8 – Future New Build Sites, and left the meeting during consideration of the item.
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HOUSING - 15 FEBRUARY 2023 77 Councillor Nolan, by virtue of expressing a view which was on public record regarding the volume of traffic at the junction of Dalzell Drive and surrounding roads, declared a connection amounting to a declarable interest in respect of item 8 – Future New Build Sites, and left the meeting during consideration of the item. Councillor M. Coyle, prior to consideration of the following item of business, having declared a connection by virtue of being a Board Member of Mears LLP, left the meeting during consideration of this item. MEARS LLP: OPERATIONAL AND FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE MONITORING REPORT TO 30 NOVEMBER 2022 2. With reference to paragraph 2 of the Minute of the meeting of this Committee held on 31 August 2022, there was submitted a report by the Chief Officer (Housing Property Services) (1) outlining Mears LLP's (a) operational and financial performance against its business objectives, Council priorities and the Housing and Corporate Repairs and Maintenance Service Delivery contracts; (b) performance for the financial years 2022/23 for both housing repairs and corporate repairs for the period up to 30 November 2022, and (c) financial performance as at 30 September 2022, along with assurance by Finance of its financial standing; (2) highlighting within the report, and the attached Appendices, details of the Performance Indicators for Housing, Property and Projects, and Corporate Property Projects and Performance, together with a comparison of figures from the previous financial year; (3) advising that the customer satisfaction level was 94.27% year-to-date, with the 2021/22 Scottish average being 88.0%, and (4) intimating that performance against targets was submitted to the Audit and Scrutiny Panel on a six monthly basis. Decided: (1) that the operational performance of Mears LLP for Housing Repairs and Corporate Repairs from the period for 1 April to 30 November 2022 be noted; (2) that Mears LLP's financial performance and financial standing for 2022/23 be noted, and (3) that it be noted that a report confirming that the Governance and Risk Management arrangements were suitably robust will be submitted to the Audit and Scrutiny Panel on a six monthly basis. SALTIRE PERFORMANCE REPORT 3. With reference to paragraph 3 of the Minute of the meeting of this Committee held on 31 August 2022, there was submitted a report by the Chief Officer (Housing Property Services) (1) setting out the performance of the Housing Property Central Heating Repairs and Maintenance service delivery contracts for 2022/23; (2) advising (a) of the performance against the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for 2022/23 in relation to the Heating Repairs and Maintenance, as set out within Appendix 1 to the report, with Appendix 2 to the report containing the full KPIs set for 2021/22 for comparative purposes, and (b) that Appendix 3 to the report contained the full breakdown of emergency and non-emergency repairs carried out; (3) highlighting the Housing Property and Projects’ performance and developments in Section 2 of the report, and (4) providing details of the Stage 1 and 2 complaints received in 2022/23, together with the number of complaints received in 2021/22 for comparative purposes. Decided: that the report be noted.
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HOUSING - 15 FEBRUARY 2023 78 LOCAL HOUSING STRATEGY 2021-2026 ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT 4. With reference to paragraph 10 of the Minute of the meeting of the former Housing and Regeneration Committee held on 24 November 2021, when, inter alia, the Local Housing Strategy 2021-2026 was approved, there was submitted a report by the Chief Officer (Housing Management) (1) advising of progress made in delivering the strategic priorities and actions set out in the Local Housing Strategy 2021-2026, and (2) intimating that this was the first annual progress review. Thereon, the Chief Officer (Housing Management) provided an overview of the actions set out in delivering the Local Housing Strategy 2021-2026. Following discussion, it was agreed that a further report be submitted to a future meeting of the Committee providing statistics relating to downsizing, to include details of how many tenants had taken up the offer, how many had been refused, and also a breakdown by locality area. Decided: (1) that the progress made to date in delivering the actions, set out in the Local Housing Strategy 2021-2026, be noted, and (2) that a further report be submitted to a future meeting of the Committee providing statistics relating to downsizing, to include details of how many tenants had taken up the offer, how many had been refused, and a breakdown by locality area. RENT ASSISTANCE FUND 5. There was submitted a report by the Chief Officer (Housing Management) (1) seeking approval to establish a new fund to assist tenants who were falling into rent arrears due to the impact of the cost- of-living crisis; (2) outlining the background to, and the need for, a Rent Assistance Fund, and (3) proposing (a) that a Rent Assistance Fund be established; (b) that the Universal Credit Assistance Fund remain in its current form and be part of the overall new Rent Assistance Fund, with the criteria remaining unchanged, and with the fund continuing to be administered in the same way; (c) that a new fund be established within the Rent Assistance Fund to assist tenants with no benefit entitlement and who were experiencing rent arrears and financial hardship, and (d) that the Rent Relief Fund be reassigned to the Rent Assistance Fund. Decided: (1) that a Rent Assistance Fund be established to assist Council tenants on low incomes and those on Universal Credit to sustain tenancies; (2) that the Universal Credit Assistance Fund be included within the newly established Rent Assistance Fund; (3) that the current Rent Relief Fund be reassigned to the Rent Assistance Fund, and (4) that the report be otherwise noted. UPDATE ON OPEN MARKET PURCHASE SCHEME - PROGRAMME OF WORK PO13(2) 6. With reference to paragraph 11 of the Minute of the meeting of this Committee held on 31 August 2022 when, inter alia, approval had been given (1) to the targeted expansion of the Open Market Purchase Scheme (OMPS) to help prevent homelessness and enable private tenants to remain within their homes as Council tenants, and (2) that a six monthly update report be submitted to future meetings of the Committee, which would include options for the further expansion of the Scheme, there was
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HOUSING - 15 FEBRUARY 2023 79 submitted a report by the Chief Officer (Place) (a) advising that the OMPS had been very popular, with over 2,545 enquiries/applications; (b) indicating that, in 2022/2023, 44 properties had been purchased as at 6 January 2023, with a further 31 at conveyancing stage; (c) detailing, within the report, the locations of the properties purchased, together with the apartment size by area, and (d) intimating that five owners had sold their properties to the Council and that a Compulsory Purchase Order was being progressed for the remaining property within the first phase of the reprovisioning programme. Decided: (1) that the continued success of the Open Market Purchase Scheme, to help increase housing supply and improve stock conditions, be noted; (2) that a six monthly update report be submitted to a future meeting of the Committee, and (3) that the report be otherwise noted. Councillor McPake, prior to consideration of the following item of business, having declared a connection by virtue of being a Board Member of Scotland Excel, further declared that he considered that the interest was so sufficiently remote that it did not preclude his participation in consideration of the matter. NEW HOUSING SUPPLY PROGRAMME – PROCUREMENT REPORT 7. With reference to paragraphs 8 and 10 of the Minutes of the former Housing and Regeneration Committee held on 24 November 2021 and 16 February 2022 respectively, there was submitted a report by the Chief Officer (Place) (1) providing an update on the current procurement activity relating to the New Build Programme; (2) advising that, in line with the Scotland Excel New Build Residential Framework, the contract for the construction of new build housing at Brandon Street, Motherwell, up to 48 units and up to the revised value of £11.527m, including a contingency allowance, had been awarded to CCG (Scotland) Limited, and (3) intimating (a) that the feasibility costs obtained for the projects at King Street, Wishaw; Graham Street, Wishaw, and Laburnum Road, Viewpark were not considered to represent best value, and a value engineering exercise was currently underway, and (b) if it was not possible to agree a final tender price to allow the contract award to proceed, the procurement route be changed to a mini-competition via the Scotland Procurement Alliance (SPA) H2 Framework. Decided: (1) that the award of a call off contract in line with the Scotland Excel New Build Residential Framework for the construction of new build housing at Brandon Street, Motherwell to CCG (Scotland) Limited, up to the revised value of £11.527m, including contingency allowance, be noted; (2) that approval be given that, if best value could not be achieved through the current direct award procurement process, the procurement route be changed to a mini-competition via the Scotland Procurement Alliance (SPA) H2 Framework for the projects at King Street, Wishaw; Graham Street, Wishaw, and Laburnum Road, Viewpark, and (3) that the report be otherwise noted. Councillor Brennan, prior to consideration of the following item of business, having declared a connection by virtue of receiving assistance from the Planning Service regarding future new build sites, further declared that he considered the interest so sufficiently remote that it did not preclude his participation in this item.
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HOUSING - 15 FEBRUARY 2023 80 Councillor Leckie, prior to consideration of the following item of business, having declared a connection by virtue of previously being a member of Torbothie and Shotts Housing which had objected to the new build properties at Springhill Road, Shotts, left the meeting during consideration of this item. Councillor Nolan, prior to consideration of the following item of business, having declared a connection by virtue of expressing a view which was on public record, regarding the volume of traffic at the junction of Dalzell Drive and surrounding roads, left the meeting during consideration of this item. FUTURE NEW BUILD SITES 8. With reference to paragraph 13 of the Minute of the meeting of this Committee held on 31 August 2022, there was submitted a report by the Chief Officer (Place) (1) reminding the Committee that the new supply programme aimed to deliver 5,000 new homes by 2035; (2) informing that, to date, 970 new build houses had been completed, with a further 421 homes under construction; (3) proposing (a) that the sites at Dalzell Drive, Motherwell (former Taggarts car sales, Windmillhill Street) – approximately 24 units, subject to the Council concluding purchase of the site, and the former Thornlie Church Hall site at Caledonian Road, Wishaw – approximately 6 units, be included in the New Build Programme, and (b) that the purchase of "off-the-shelf" new homes be progressed for 23 new homes, (4 x 2 apartment/2 person cottage flat, 4 x 3 apartment/4 person cottage flat, 10 x 3 apartment/4 person terraced house, 5 x 4 apartment/6 person terraced house) at Prospecthill Road, Ravenscraig from O'Brien Properties Limited; six new homes (6 x 4 bed/5 person terraced houses, previously agreed at the Finance and Resources Committee on 30 November 2022) plus the potential purchase of up to eight more homes at Torrance Park, Newarthill from Barratt Homes, and approximately 22 new houses over several phases at Springhill Road, Shotts from Keepmoat; (4) advising that the acquisition price would be subject to agreement by the Finance and Resources Committee; (5) informing that the project at the former Thornlie Church Hall site, Caledonian Road, Wishaw, which was a priority town centre site, would support delivery of the Town Visions as part of the Council's commitment to Town Centre Regeneration, was at an early stage of design development/feasibility, and (6) indicating that a consultation had been undertaken with local Elected Members and the North Lanarkshire Tenants and Residents Association, and that no objections had been received. Decided: (1) that the inclusion of the sites, as set out in Section 2.1 and Appendix 2 to the report, within the new build programme be approved; (2) that the "off-the-shelf" purchase of completed homes at Prospecthill Road, Ravenscraig; Torrance Park, Newarthill, and Springhill Road, Shotts, as set out in Section 2.3 and Appendix 2 of the report, be approved, and (3) that the report be otherwise noted. FORMER TENANT ARREARS WRITE-OFF TO 31 MARCH 2021 9. There was submitted a report by the Chief Officer (Housing Management) (1) proposing that the sum of £2,610,389.37, being the current balance outstanding in respect of former tenant rent arrears prior to 31 March 2021 considered to be irrecoverable, be written-off; (2) intimating (a) that, in accordance with financial guidelines, a provision for expected credit losses had previously been established for the outstanding accounts highlighted within the report, and (b) that the debt written-off related to former tenancies where the tenancy end date was prior to 31 March 2021, and (3) advising that efforts would continue to secure payment of outstanding rent balances from former tenants.
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HOUSING - 15 FEBRUARY 2023 81 Decided: (1) that approval be given for the write-off of former tenant arrears totalling £2,610,389.37 for the period up to 31 March 2021; (2) that the report be remitted to the Finance and Resources Committee for consideration, and (3) that the report be otherwise noted. HOUSING REVENUE ACCOUNT - 2023/24 REVENUE ESTIMATES 10. With reference to paragraph 3 of the Minute of the meeting of North Lanarkshire Council held on 16 December 2021 when, inter alia, approval had been given to implement the Housing Revenue Account Budget for 2022/2023, there was submitted a report by the Chief Officer (Finance) providing information that would enable the Council to set its Housing Revenue Accounts (HRA) budget for 2023/2024 (1) advising (a) that the Council's 30 year Business Plan, which had been included as part of the 2023/2024 budget setting process was attached as Appendix 3 to the report, and that Finance, was working closely with Housing Property and Projects, and the New Supply Team, to confirm future investment targets to support the development and refinement of financial modelling, and (b) that the 30 year Business Plan continued to demonstrate affordability and sustainability of plans based on current assumptions; (2) indicating that 23,400 Council tenants in North Lanarkshire (67%) were in receipt of support for their housing costs, with almost 34% of tenants now in receipt of the housing cost element of Universal Credit and a further 33% in receipt of housing benefit; (3) detailing within the report, and the Appendices to the report, information regarding the HRA Revenue Estimates, Cost Pressures, and Base Budget Savings, and (4) advising (a) that, as part of its long-term HRA budget strategy, the Council's policy was to set aside a core reserve of £1.470m, which represented approximately 1% of the HRA budget, and (b) that, in addition, the HRA reserve balances included a Change Management/Risks and Uncertainty reserve of £5.155m and a reserve balance to support Ambition related activity of £5.054m, excluding the surplus currently projected for 2022/2023 of £1.000m. Decided: (1) that the HRA cost pressures detailed within Appendix 1 to the report be noted; (2) that the base budget savings outlined in Appendix 2 to the report be noted; (3) that the allocation of HRA surplus balances as detailed in paragraphs 2.3, 2.4 and 2.5 of the report be approved; (4) that the financial assumptions contained within the report be reviewed at the Special Council meeting on 23 February 2023 to allow the HRA Revenue Estimates and rent levels for 2023/2024 to be approved, and (5) that the report be otherwise noted. REVENUE BUDGET MONITORING REPORTS (1) HRA REVENUE MONITORING REPORT 11. There was submitted a report by the Chief Officer (Housing Management) (1) providing a summary of the Housing Revenue Account Financial Performance for the period from 1 April 2022 to 6 January 2023 (Period 10); (2) illustrating the projected outturn as at 31 March 2023, with major outturn variances highlighted and explained in accordance with the Council’s approved Financial Regulations, and (3) advising (a) that the Service was currently projecting an underspend of £1.069m for the
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HOUSING - 15 FEBRUARY 2023 82 financial year, and (b) that it was anticipated that £1.849m of savings (100%) would be delivered by the financial year-end. Decided: that the financial position of the HRA Revenue Budget 2022/23 be noted. (2) ENTERPRISE AND COMMUNITIES – REVENUE MONITORING REPORT 12. There was submitted a report by the Depute Chief Executive (1) highlighting the Financial Performance of the Enterprise and Communities Service for the period from 1 April 2022 to 6 January 2023 (Period 10); (2) illustrating the projected outturn as at 31 March 2023, with major outturn variances highlighted and explained as per the Council’s approved Financial Regulations; (3) advising that the Enterprise and Communities Service was currently forecasting an overspend of £3.342m, as a result of (a) inflationary pressures of £2.625m, which would be offset by a corporate contingency, and (b) the re-allocation of DigitalNL savings to Services of £0.783m, and that the Service continued to work with Business and Digital to progress plans for delivery of savings, and (4) intimating that Period 10 figures excluded the impact of the agreed 2022/2023 pay award which would be reported corporately. Decided: that the financial position of the 2022/2023 Enterprise and Communities Revenue Budget be noted. CAPITAL PROGRAMMES MONITORING REPORTS (1) HRA CAPITAL MONITORING REPORT – 1 APRIL 2022 TO 6 JANUARY 2023 13. There was submitted a report by the Chief Officer (Housing Property Services) (1) reviewing progress towards agreed spending plans within the 2022/2023 HRA Capital Programmes; (2) advising that an overspend of £1.233m was projected for the Mainstream programme due to increased material costs, approved contractor uplifts and the acceleration of some programmes, including energy efficiency specific works, to offset contractual risks elsewhere in the programme and to support tenants, due to increasing energy costs, by improving the thermal efficiency of their homes; (3) intimating that the New Build Programme was projecting an overspend of £2.941m, mainly due to the early availability and purchase of land, and off-the-shelve developments not anticipated in this financial year, with this overspend being partially offset by additional Scottish Government Grant, and (4) indicating that, due to a lack of demand within the Council Buy Back, and Mortgage to Rent, Schemes, an underspend of £2.589m was projected. Decided: that the financial position of the 2022/2023 HRA Capital Programmes be noted. (2) ENTERPRISE AND COMMUNITIES – CAPITAL MONITORING REPORT 14. With reference to paragraph 4 of the Minute of the meeting of the Policy and Strategy Committee held on 18 March 2021, when, inter alia, the five year Strategic Capital Investment Programme had been approved, there was submitted a report by the Depute Chief Executive (1) highlighting the financial performance of the 2022/2023 Enterprise and Communities Capital Programme for the period from 1 April 2022 to 6 January 2023 (Period 10); (2) advising that the Service had a total Capital Budget of £159.192m, and that, at this stage in the financial year, the Service was currently reporting a requirement to reprofile £23.053m to future years of the current capital planning period; (3) indicating (a) that the Council’s Strategic Capital Delivery Group had approved the reprofiling requests under delegated powers, and the impact would be reflected in future reports, as highlighted within Appendix B to the report, and (b) that the requirement to reprofile was largely attributable to current market conditions on capital procurement processes, resulting in later than anticipated start dates for projects, and the availability of labour and materials, and (4) providing further explanation of project variances and the action taken by the Service, as set out in the report and the attached Appendices.
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HOUSING - 15 FEBRUARY 2023 83 Decided: that the financial position of the 2022/2023 Enterprise and Communities Capital Programme be noted. Councillor McPake, prior to consideration of the following item of business, having declared a connection by virtue of being a Board Member of Scotland Excel, further declared that he considered that the matter was so sufficiently remote that it did not preclude his participation in consideration of the matter. CONTRACTS FOR APPROVAL (1) PROVISION OF DOMESTIC FLOORING 2023 TO 2027 15. There was submitted a report by the Chief Officer (Housing Management) (1) reporting on the outcome of the tendering process for provision of Domestic Flooring 2023 – 2027; (2) advising that, after checking, the most economically advantageous tender was that submitted by Spruce Carpets Limited, and (3) proposing that the tender submitted by Spruce Carpets Limited be accepted, for a period of 48 months, up to the maximum value of the contract of £800,000. Decided: (1) that the Domestic Flooring 2023-2027 contract be awarded to Spruce Carpets Limited, for a period of 48 months, up to the maximum value of the contract of £800,000, and (2) that the report be otherwise noted. (2) REPLACEMENT OF WINDOWS AND DOORS (2023-2025) 16. There was submitted a report by the Chief Officer (Housing Property Services) (1) reporting on the outcome of the tendering process for the Replacement of Windows and Doors (2023-2025) which was split into two Lots; (2) advising that the most economically advantageous tender received for Lot 1 was Walker Profiles Limited, and for Lot 2 was Belac Group Limited, and (3) proposing that the tender submitted for Lot 1 by Walker Profiles Limited, and for Lot 2 by Belac Group Limited, be accepted for an initial period of nine months, with the option to extend the contract for additional periods up to a maximum of a further 12 months, at the sole discretion of the Council, up to the maximum value of the contract of £15m, comprising £10m for Lot 1, and £5m for Lot 2. Decided: (1) that the contract for Replacement of Windows and Doors (2023-2025) for Lot 1 be awarded to Walker Profiles Limited, and for Lot 2 be awarded to Belac Group Limited, for an initial period of nine months, with an option to extend the contract for additional periods up to a maximum of a further 12 months, at the sole discretion of the Council, up to the maximum value of the contract of £15m, comprising £10m for Lot 1, and £5m for Lot 2, and (2) that the report be otherwise noted. (3) MEASURED TERM CONTRACT FOR BATTERY STORAGE AND PV PANELS (2023-2026) 17. There was submitted a report by the Chief Officer (Housing Property Services) (1) reporting on the outcome of the tendering process for the Measured Term Contract for Battery Storage and PV Panels (2023-2026); (2) advising, after checking, that the most economically advantageous tender was that submitted by Saltire Facilities Management Limited, and (3) proposing that the tender submitted by
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HOUSING - 15 FEBRUARY 2023 84 Saltire Facilities Management Limited be accepted for an initial period of ten months, with an option to extend the contract for additional periods up to a maximum of a further 24 months (8 x 3 months optional extension periods) at the sole discretion of the Council, up to the maximum value of the contract of £9m. Decided: (1) that the Measured Term Contract for Battery Storage and PV Panels (2023-2026) be awarded to Saltire Facilities Management Limited for an initial period of ten months, with an option to extend the contract for additional periods up to a maximum of a further 24 months (8 x 3 months optional extension periods), up to the maximum value of the contract of £9m, and (2) that the report be otherwise noted. (4) GARDEN ASSISTANCE SCHEME 2023-2025 (LOT 1 – MINI-COMPETITION) 18. There was submitted a report by the Chief Officer (Housing Management) seeking homologation of the decision taken to award the Garden Assistance Scheme 2023-2025 (Lot 1) to Id Verdi for a period of 24 months up to the maximum value of the call-off contract of £1,200,000. The Convener proposed that a briefing note be submitted to all Elected Members regarding the Garden Assistance Scheme 2023-2025. Decided: (1) that a briefing note be submitted to all Elected Members regarding the Garden Assistance Scheme 2023-2025, and (2) that the report be homologated. CONTRACTS AWARDED BELOW COMMITTEE APPROVAL THRESHOLD 19. There was submitted a report by the Chief Officer (Assets and Procurement) intimating that the contracts highlighted within Appendix 1 to the report had been awarded by him in accordance with the General Contract Standing Orders during the period from 1 October to 31 December 2022. Decided: (1) that the contracts awarded by the Chief Officer (Assets and Procurement) in the reported period from 1 October to 31 December 2022 be noted, and (2) that the report be otherwise noted. It was agreed in terms of Section 50A(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, that the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items on the grounds that the business involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 9 of Part 1 of Schedule 7A of the Act. Councillor M Coyle, prior to consideration of the following item of business, having declared a connection by virtue of being a Board Member of Mears LLP, left the meeting during consideration of this item.
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HOUSING - 15 FEBRUARY 2023 85 HOUSING AND PROPERTY SERVICES - CORPORATE MAINTENANCE MEASURED TERM CONTRACTS UPDATE, NON-HOUSING PROPERTIES 20. With reference to paragraph 8 of the Minute of the meeting of the Policy and Strategy Committee held on 3 December 2020, there was submitted a report by the Chief Officer (Housing Property Services) (1) setting out the current position on a number of Measured Term Contracts utilised by Housing and Property Services in relation to the Council's non-housing property portfolio; (2) intimating the current spend levels on contracts that had expired or were about to expire, and (3) advising that interim measures were being put in place prior to the contracts being re-tendered, in respect of swimming pool plant and maintenance; fire alarm maintenance; ETFE roofing, and temporary heating. Decided: (1) that the interim arrangements being put in place to manage the contracts be approved; (2) that the financial position of the various contracts be noted; (3) that the proposals to retender the contracts be noted, and (4) that the report be otherwise noted. Councillor M Coyle, prior to consideration of the following item of business, having declared a connection by virtue of being a Board Member of Mears LLP, left the meeting during consideration of this item. HOUSING AND CORPORATE PROPERTY REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE CONTRACT - UPDATE 21. With reference to (1) paragraph 14 of the Minute of the meeting of the former Housing and Regeneration Committee held on 16 February 2022, and (2) paragraph 2 of this Committee held on 31 August 2022, there was submitted a report by the Chief Officer (Housing Property Services) advising that the Service was working within the upper limit of the Housing and Corporate Property Repairs and Maintenance Contract, and not the annual extension limit as previously agreed, due to the impact of inflation on the projections and as highlighted within the report. Decided: (1) that the decision to work within the upper limit of the Housing and Corporate Property Repairs and Maintenance contract be noted, and (2) that the report be otherwise noted.