Property Services Committee
9 March 2005
IRVINE, 9 March 2005 - At a Meeting of the Property Services Committee of North Ayrshire Council at 2.00 p.m.
Present
Margaret McDougall, Ian Clarkson, Margie Currie, Drew Duncan, Jane Gorman, Elizabeth McLardy, Margaret Munn, John Reid, Nan Wallace and Richard Wilkinson.
In Attendance
T. Orr, Corporate Director, J. Paul, Head of Technical Services, C. Nelson, Head of Catering and Cleaning, J. Currie, Head of Cleansing, Grounds Maintenance and Transport and R Small, Head of Roads (Property Services); P. Doak, Finance Manager (Finance); J. Stevenson, Communications Officer; M. Adams and M. Anderson, Corporate and Democratic Support Officers (Chief Executive's).
Chair
Councillor McDougall in the Chair.
Apologies for Absence
Samuel Taylor, Stewart Dewar, John Bell, Gordon Allison, Jacqueline Browne, Anna Donn and David O'Neill.
1. Appointment of Chair
In the absence of the Chair and Vice Chairs, the Committee was invited to nominate a Chair.
Councillor Munn, seconded by Councillor Reid, moved that Councillor McDougall be appointed to the Chair for the duration of the meeting.
Councillor McDougall then assumed the Chair.
2. Minutes
The Minutes of the Meeting of the Committee held on 26 January 2005, copies of which had previously been circulated, were confirmed.
3. Food Standards Agency: Sudan 1 Dye Warning
Submitted report by the Corporate Director (Property Services) on the Food Standards Agency warning relating to the potential contamination of food products.
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has published a list of some 580 products found to contain the red dye, Sudan 1, which is not permitted for food use in the UK and the rest of the European Union. The Catering and Cleaning Service has liaised with its suppliers to ensure that any affected products are removed. Only one item has been identified to date and this has been removed from sale. The list will be monitored closely for updates and any affected products will be removed from Catering and Cleansing Units.
Noted.
4. Disturbance Allowances for Central Heating and Rewiring
Submitted report by the Corporate Director (Property Services) on proposals for the payment of disturbance allowances to tenants whose homes are included in the central heating and rewiring programmes.
The Council currently provides a fixed sum of £75 in disturbance allowance to tenants whose homes are the subject of central heating installation works. Following a review of the policy on disturbance allowances for major works, it is proposed to introduce a tiered allowance based on house size, to be applied to tenants whose homes are included in the central heating and rewiring programmes. The proposal is designed to maintain an appropriate balance between recognition of the disturbance caused to tenants by major works and the need to maximise the resources available for the works themselves.
The Committee agreed that the disturbance allowance payable to tenants from 1 April 2005 for central heating and/or rewiring works be based on a figure of £25 for each room, hall and landing, resulting in a payment range of approximately £100-£200 per dwelling.
5. Roads Management and Maintenance Revenue Budget Programme
Submitted report by the Corporate Director (Property Services) on the proposed programme of roads management and maintenance works for the year 2005/2006.
The total value of the proposed works detailed within the Appendix to the report is approximately £1.3m, which includes the additional revenue allocated to Roads Services. The suggested programme seeks to ensure a reasonable distribution of works across the three Area Committee areas commensurate with the network condition, road length in each area and established assessment criteria.
The Committee agreed to approve the proposed programme of roads management and maintenance for 2005/06 as detailed in the Appendix to the report.
6. Largs: Moorburn Road: Moorburn: Demolition of Public Toilet
Submitted report by the Corporate Director (Property Services) on the proposal to declare the public toilets at Moorburn Road, Largs, surplus to requirement.
The public toilets at Moorburn Road, Largs have been closed for over a year and are now considered surplus to requirement. Demolition of the toilets would give direct access to the land behind the Moorburn local offices, freeing it for possible future developments.
The Committee agreed (a) to declare the public toilets at Moorburn Road, Largs, surplus to requirement; and (b) that the prospective users of the site seek tenders for the demolition of the property and arrange for its demolition.
7. Safer Routes to School : 20 mph Speed Limits
Submitted report by the Corporate Director (Property Services) on the progress of the part-time 20 mph speed limit proposals for primary schools on the mainland and Cumbrae.
The Committee at its meeting on 25 November 2003 agreed to the use of part-time 20 mph speed limits and the promotion of the necessary Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) in respect of primary schools on the mainland and Cumbrae not already the subject of 20 mph zones.
There have been no formal objections to the consultation and advertisement. Requests have been made for an extension to the original proposals in respect of three sites, at Abbey and Corsehill Primary Schools in Kilwinning and at Skelmorlie Primary School.
It is proposed that, at the locations where no changes are required, a Traffic Regulation Order is implemented and that a further supplementary Order (covering the three sites where extensions are proposed) is promoted and implemented. The cost of the project is being met from specific allocations from the Scottish Executive over the period from 2004-2006.
The Committee agreed (a) to approve the implementation of the Traffic Regulation Order at the locations where no changes are required; and (b) that a further TRO be promoted and implemented in respect of Abbey, Corsehill and Skelmorlie Primary Schools, where an amendment to the extent of the speed limit is justified.
8. Kilbirnie: 24 Holmhead (First Floor Left House)
Submitted report by the Corporate Director (Property Services) on the proposal to revoke the Closing Order on the first floor left house at 24 Holmhead, Kilbirnie.
The Council served a Closing Order on the property at 24 Holmhead, Kilbirnie on 31 December 1976. Following repair and improvement by the owner, however, the property now meets the tolerable standard. A request has been made by the owner that the Closing Order be revoked, which would allow the property to be reoccupied.
The Committee agreed to authorise revocation of the Closing Order served on 31 December 1976 in respect of the property at 24 Holmhead, Kilbirnie (1st floor left house).
9. Saltcoats: 8 Ardrossan Road
Submitted report by the Corporate Director (Property Services) on the proposal to serve a Repair Notice on the property at 8 Ardrossan Road, Saltcoats.
The semi-detached property at 8 Ardrossan Road, Saltcoats is severely affected by rising damp, together with structural and other defects which make the property below the Tolerable Standard. The owners are unable to carry out all the necessary repairs without assistance. Service of a Repair Notice would entitle the owners to a Repair Grant and give the Council authority to ensure that repairs are undertaken.
The Committee agreed to authorise the serving of a Repair Notice on 8 Ardrossan Road, Saltcoats in terms of Section 118 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987.
10. Revenue Budget 2004/05: Budgetary Control
Submitted report by the Assistant Chief Executive (Finance) on the budgetary control position for Property Services at the end of January 2005, and on projections to the end of financial year 2004/05.
Noted.
11. Urgent Items
The Chair agreed that the following item of business be considered as a matter of urgency in the light of concerns in the Kilwinning Road, Stevenston area expressed by the local Member.
11.1 Stevenston: Kilwinning Road: Quality Public Transport Corridor Proposals
Councillor Wallace referred to the Quality Public Transport Corridor proposals agreed by the Committee on 5 June 2002 and to detailed discussions which have now taken place with residents on proposals for a bus lane on Kilwinning Road, Stevenston. Councillor Wallace expressed the view that the bus lane proposals should be reviewed in the light of local opposition to them and reduced traffic flow following the opening of the Three Towns Bypass.
The Committee agreed that the Corporate Director (Property Services) review the proposal to introduce a bus lane in light of traffic flow forecasts for the Kilwinning Road area and report to a future meeting of the Committee.
The meeting ended at 2.35 p.m.