Minute
North Lanarkshire Council · 10 May 2023
Back to Housing Committee — 10 May 2023 and its agenda
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HOUSING - 10 MAY 2023 43 10 May 2023 at 10 am. A Meeting of the HOUSING COMMITTEE PRESENT Councillor Brannan-McVey, Convener; Councillor McPake, Vice-Convener; Councillors Burgess, Carragher, M. Coyle, Dunbar, Fisher, Fotheringham, Hughes, D. Johnston, Jones, Keltie, Larson, Leckie, Logue, MacGregor, McBride, B. McCulloch, McDade, McKay, McKendrick, McNally, McPhilemy, McVey, Mitchell, Nolan, Patton, Reddin, Robinson, Smith, A. Stubbs, Sullivan, Toner and Woods. ALSO PRESENT In accordance with Standing Order 64(A) Councillor Roarty attended as a substitute for Councillor M. McCulloch. 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 Principal Democratic Officer. APOLOGY Councillor M. McCulloch. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST IN TERMS OF THE ETHICAL STANDARDS IN PUBLIC LIFE ETC. (SCOTLAND) ACT 2000 1. Councillor McPake, by virtue of being a Board Member of Scotland Excel, declared a connection in respect of paragraph 5 – New Housing Supply Programme – Procurement Update, and further declared that he considered the interest so sufficiently remote that it did not preclude his participation in that item. BROADBAND IN TEMPORARY ACCOMMODATION 2. This item was withdrawn. COMMUNITY SAFETY HUB PERFORMANCE AND DEVELOPMENT 3. There was submitted a report by the Chief Officer (Housing Management) (1) providing an update on the performance and service development in respect of the Community Safety Hub; (2) providing details of the services delivered via the Community Safety Hub, and (3) intimating that Community Safety, through CCTV, tackling Anti-Social Behaviour and ensuring Public Protection, made an enormous contribution to achieving the Council's Ambition, set out in The Plan for North Lanarkshire. Councillor Reddin proposed that the Service explore options for the enhanced use of mobile CCTV units across North Lanarkshire, which was agreed.
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HOUSING - 10 MAY 2023 44 Decided: (1) that the performance of the Community Safety Hub be noted; (2) that the positive impact that the Community Safety Hub has had on the communities of North Lanarkshire be recognised; (3) that the Chief Officer (Housing Management) explore options for the enhanced use of mobile CCTV units across North Lanarkshire, and submit a report to a future meeting of the Committee, and (4) that the report be otherwise noted. PO14 TOWER STRATEGY UPDATE 4. With reference to paragraph 2 of the Minute of the meeting of this Committee held on 16 November 2022, there was submitted a report by the Chief Officer (Housing Property Services) (1) providing details of the progress of the (a) Demolition/Ambition Programme, and (b) Sprinkler/Fire Safety Programme; (2) highlighting the progress of the major refurbishment works within the four tower blocks in Coatbridge; (3) attaching, in Appendix 1 to the report, the properties contained within Phase 2 of the re-provisioning Programme; (4) advising that a consultation will be undertaken with the stakeholders affected by the proposals, and an options appraisal will be progressed for each of the sites, and (5) intimating that, in order to support displaced citizens affected by the war in Ukraine, the Council had committed to reinstate approximately 200 properties, on a temporary basis, at the tower blocks in High Coats, Coatbridge, and Birkshaw, Wishaw, which were now refurbished, and several families were now living in these towers. The Convener referred to Appendix 1 of the report and clarified that Glen Tower and Woodside Tower, Motherwell were included in the Phase 2 re-provisioning Programme and Shields Tower, Motherwell was not included in the Programme. Decided: (1) that the progress of the Tower Demolition/Ambition Programme be noted; (2) that the progress of the Sprinkler Installation and Fire Safety Programmes be noted; (3) that the progress of major refurbishment projects be noted; (4) that consultation be undertaken with stakeholders affected by the second Phase of the re-provisioning Programme; (5) that the outcome of the Phase 2 consultation be submitted to a future meeting of the Committee for approval, and (6) 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.
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HOUSING - 10 MAY 2023 45 NEW HOUSING SUPPLY PROGRAMME - PROCUREMENT UPDATE 5. With reference to paragraphs 9 and 21 of the Minutes of the meetings of the former Housing and Regeneration Committee held on 25 November 2020, and 8 September 2021 respectively, there was submitted a report by the Chief Officer (Place) (1) providing an update on current procurement activity relating to the New Build Programme; (2) advising that using the Scottish Procurement Alliance (SPA) New Build Housing Construction H2 (Scotland) Framework, the Council had obtained feasibility costs from McTaggart Construction for the projects at (a) Thorn Road, Bellshill, for 26 units, and at a revised value of £5.30m, including a contingency allowance, and (b) Airdriehill Road, Airdrie, for 65 units, and at a revised value of £15.6m, including a contingency allowance; (3) proposing that the contracts for the projects at Thorn Road, Bellshill, and Airdriehill Road, Airdrie be awarded to McTaggart Construction, subject to the Council acquiring the sites and securing planning permission; (4) informing that the next batch of sites would be reviewed, and a suitable procurement route would be identified to progress the projects to deliver new build housing to align with The Plan for North Lanarkshire. Decided: (1) that the award of call-off contracts in line with the SPA New Build Housing Construction H2 (Scotland) Framework for the construction of New Build Housing at Thorn Road, Bellshill for 26 units to McTaggart Construction, at the revised value of £5.30m, including a contingency allowance, be approved; (2) that the award of call-off contracts in line with the SPA New Build Housing Construction H2 (Scotland) Framework for the construction of New Build Housing at Airdriehill Road, Airdrie for 65 units to McTaggart Construction, at the revised value of £15.6m, including a contingency allowance, be approved, and (3) that the report be otherwise noted. HOUSING OUTLINE HRA CAPITAL PROGRAMME 2023/24 6. With reference to paragraph 4 of the Minute of the meeting of the former Housing and Regeneration Committee held on 16 February 2022 when, inter alia, approval had been given to the HRA Capital Programme for 2022/23, there was submitted a report by the Chief Officer (Housing Property Services) (1) seeking approval to implement the mainstream HRA Capital Programme (excluding new build) for 2023/24, as detailed within the report and the Appendices to the report, and (2) summarising the up-to-date position regarding (a) the Capital Resources - HRA Programme, and (b) the HRA Capital Programme, with specific reference to Heating; Windows/Door Replacement; Roofing and Rendering; Lead Pipe Replacement; Door Entries; Electrical Work; Kitchens and Bathrooms; The Tower Strategy; The Ambition Programme, and Community Care. Decided: (1) that the HRA Capital Programme for 2023/24, as detailed within the report and Appendix 1 to the report, be approved, and (2) that the report be otherwise noted. STRATEGIC PERFORMANCE FRAMEWORK UPDATES (1) LATEST PERFORMANCE RESULTS FOR HOUSING MANAGEMENT 7. There was submitted a report by the Chief Officer (Housing Management) (1) providing the Committee with an update on the latest results of the Strategic Performance Indicators used by Housing
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HOUSING - 10 MAY 2023 46 Management to inform service delivery and underpin operational decisions, and (2) attaching, as an Appendix to the report, a high-level performance overview as at 31 March 2023. Decided: that the high-level performance overview, as presented in Appendix 1 to the report and supporting data contained within a linked document, be acknowledged. (2) LATEST PERFORMANCE RESULTS FOR HOUSING PROPERTY SERVICES 8. There was submitted a report by the Chief Officer (Housing Property Services) (1) providing the Committee with an update on the latest results of the Strategic Performance Indicators used by Housing Property Services to inform service delivery and underpin operational decisions, and (2) attaching, as an Appendix to the report, a high-level performance overview as at 31 March 2023. Decided: that the high-level performance overview, as presented in Appendix 1 to the report and supporting data contained within a linked document, be acknowledged. REVENUE BUDGET MONITORING REPORTS (1) HRA REVENUE MONITORING REPORT 9. 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 3 March 2023 (Period 12); (2) illustrating the projected outturn as at 31 March 2023, with major outturn variances highlighted and explained in accordance with the Council's Financial Regulations, and (3) advising (a) that the Service was currently projecting an underspend of £1.067m for the 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 10. 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 3 March 2023 (Period 12); (2) illustrating the projected outturn as at 31 March 2023, with major outturn variances highlighted and explained as per the Council's Financial Regulations; (3) advising that the Enterprise and Communities Service was currently forecasting an overspend of £2.380m, as a result of (a) inflationary pressures of £2.652m, 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 the Service was also forecasting an underlying underspend of £1.056m, mainly as a result of increased savings from vacancies and additional income. Decided: that the financial position of the 2022/23 Enterprise and Communities Revenue Budget be noted. CAPITAL PROGRAMMES MONITORING REPORTS (1) HRA CAPITAL MONITORING REPORTS - 1 APRIL 2022 TO 3 MARCH 2023 11. 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
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HOUSING - 10 MAY 2023 47 overspend of £1.916m was projected for the Mainstream programme due to increased material costs, approved contractor uplifts and the acceleration of a number of programmes, including energy efficiency specific works, to offset contractual risks elsewhere in the programme and to support tenants, due to the increasing energy costs, by improving the thermal efficiency of their homes; (3) intimating that the New Build Programme was projecting an overspend of £5.604m, mainly due to the early availability and purchase of land, and off-the-shelf 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 £2.206m was projected. Decided: that the financial position of the 2022/2023 HRA Capital Programmes be noted. (2) ENTERPRISE AND COMMUNITIES – CAPITAL MONITORING REPORT 12. 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 3 March 2023 (Period 12); (2) advising that the Service had a total Capital Budget of £133.810m, and that, at this stage in the financial year, the Service was currently reporting an in-year underspend of £14.934m which would be carried forward to 2023/2024, to reflect when the expenditure would be incurred, and (3) providing further explanation of project variances and management action taken by the Service, as set out in the report and the attached Appendices. Decided: that the financial position of the 2022/2023 Enterprise and Communities Capital Programme be noted. CONTRACTS AWARDED BELOW COMMITTEE APPROVAL THRESHOLD 13. 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 January to 31 March 2023. Decided: (1) that the contracts awarded by the Chief Officer (Assets and Procurement) in the reported period from 1 January to 31 March 2023 be noted, and (2) that the report be otherwise noted.