DATA LABEL: Public 67 MINUTE of MEETING of the LINLITHGOW LOCAL AREA COMMITTEE held within MEETING ROOM FF2, LINLITHGOW PARTNERSHIP CENTRE, TAM DALYELL HOUSE, LINLITHGOW, on 4 JUNE 2019. Present – Councillors Tom Conn (Chair), Tom Kerr and David Tait In Attendance – Graeme Struthers, Lead Officer, West Lothian Council Dougie Grierson, Community Regeneration Officer, West Lothian Council Sergeant Iain Wells, Police Scotland Scott Williamson, Scottish Fire & Rescue Service Eirwen Hopwood, Park and Woodlands Manager, West Lothian Council Phyllis McFadyen, Housing Manager, West Lothian Council Robert Smith, Housing Development Manager, West Lothian Council 1. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST No declarations of interest were made. 2. MINUTE The committee approved the draft Minute of its Meeting held on 4th March 2019. The Minute was thereafter signed by the Chair. 3. POLICE WARD REPORT The committee considered a report (copies of which had been circulated) by Police Constables Neil Drummond and Andrew Murray which summarised the national police priorities, West Lothian priorities and the community engagement priorities for the ward. Statistics on police activity across West Lothian and within the ward was not currently available as there was no partnership analyst in the Community Safety Unit and therefore no access to the previously provided statistics. Instead, a link was provided within the report to the Police Scotland official statistics for period up to 30th April 2019. Full information on the various local priorities prevention activities that had been undertaken within the ward, as noted below, were provided in the report:- Violence, Disorder and Antisocial Behaviour Road Safety Dishonesty Drug Dealing and Misuse Engagement Forums The report then provided members with an overview of incidents of note DATA LABEL: Public 68 within each community of the ward and concluded with contact details for the local community policing team. It was recommended that the committee note the contents of the report. Arising from a discussion, members noted that a report would be presented to a future meeting of the committee on accidents at the Champany/Kingscavil junctions and planned improvements. Decision To note the contents of the report. 4. FIRE & RESCUE SERVICE REPORT The committee considered a report (copies of which had been circulated) by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service providing an overview of activity within the Linlithgow Multi-Member Ward for the period to 31st March 2019. The quarterly reports were produced to ensure delivery of the Local Fire and Rescue Service Plan for West Lothian for 2014-2017 which was a requirement of the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012, Section 41E. The report set out the seven key priorities within the ward and provided a series of graphs showing details of accidental dwelling fires, deliberate fires, fires in non-domestic properties, non-fatal non-fire emergencies and unwanted fire alarm signals for Scotland, West Lothian and the ward. It was recommended that the local area committee note and provide comment on the Linlithgow Multi-member Ward Quarterly Performance report. Decision To note the contents of the report. 5. HOUSING, CUSTOMER AND BUILDING SERVICES The committee considered a report (copies of which had been circulated) by the Head of Housing, Customer and Building Services providing an overview of housing performance for the period 1 January to 31 March 2019. The performance figures for property void and let for mainstream and temporary tenancies were detailed in the report. Committee noted that for the period January to March 2019, a total of 12 properties had been let for mainstream tenancies and 8 let for temporary tenancies. There were 10 policy voids in the ward and a table within the report provided an overview of reasons for the voids and the void periods. DATA LABEL: Public 69 A graph within the report demonstrated the position for rent arrears in the ward at the end of Q4 was £95,403. This was an increase of £36,294 on last year's position. The West Lothian overall position had increased by £720,520 from last year and on 31 March 2019 was £2,119,134 A table within the report provided a visual overview of arrears levels by banding and the number of tenants in arrears in the ward by band at the end of the fourth quarter and for the same period in the previous year. Despite 31 serious arrears cases with tenants owing £1000+, the committee noted that 60% of cases fell into the lower bands with arrears of £300 or less. The report explained that the overall increase in rent arrears compared to last year was the result of the Full Service Universal Credit being introduced in West Lothian from May 2018, along with other Welfare Benefit reforms and the current economic climate. The report then provided a list of those actions to be undertaken during the course of the year to continue to address rent arrears. The report also contained information on the following:- Linlithgow Area Team Activity; Capital Programme and New Build Council Housing; Tenant Participation Update; and Safer Neighbourhood Council Officer Ward Update The report recommended that members note the content of the Housing, Customer and Building Services activity report. Decision To note the contents of the report. 6. THE VENNEL - ROOF AND WINDOWS CONDITIONS REPORT The committee considered a report (copies of which had been circulated) by the Head of Housing, Customer and Building Services providing an update on the condition of the roof and windows and 1 to 29 The Vennel and 1 to 9 The Cross and planned repair to roof or windows. The report advised that The Vennel and The Cross Flats had been constructed in 1970 and gave an overview of the mix of residential and commercial properties that formed the development. In 2004, the properties had benefitted from part of a £2.1 million pound modernisation project and received external wall insulated render, new roofs and door replacements. The report explained the in the subsequent years, properties had been subject to some ad hoc repairs. The council had recently commissioned DATA LABEL: Public 70 Scott Bennett Associates (Group 1) Ltd to undertake a non-intrusive structural survey and detailed structural inspection of the façade and to comment on concerns raised by tenants and homeowners. A list of the survey works undertaken in 2017 was set out in the report. The report advised that based on the external survey conclusions, the building, overall, was considered to be in fair condition and was found to be consistent with a building of its age and construction. Scott Bennett Associates had concluded that the building exhibited only minor defects that could be dealt with by regular planned maintenance. They advised that the cause of reported problems could be attributed to a number of contributing factors including water ingress, frost damage and incorrect sealing. Tendering was currently underway to address the remedial repair issues. The report then set out the findings on the inspection of the roof and condition survey of the windows. The investigation found the roof to be in fair condition and performing to the standard expectations. Based on a life cycle of 30 years and the assessment of the roofs current condition, no major works were expected to be required within the next 15 years. The assessment of the windows had concluded that they were in a fair condition. Ad hoc repairs had occurred over the years resulting in some windows being replaced. Similar to the roof, the life expectancy of the widows was 30 years and based on their installation date and current condition, no major works were expected within the next 15 years. The service recognised that whilst it may be advantageous to undertake these works at the same time as the remedial repairs and that life cycles were not an exact science. As both elements were currently compliant with the Scottish Housing Quality Standard and were not showing any signs of failing in the medium term, the council would not be entitled to recover the costs for works from owner occupiers. The service would continue to monitor the situation through their existing conditions surveying programme and take appropriate action if required. It was recommended that committee note the current condition and planned upgrades. Decision To note the terms of the report. 7. SERVICE UPDATE - NETS, LAND AND COUNTRYSIDE The committee considered a report (copies of which had been circulated) by the Head of Operational Services providing an update on the recent activity of the NETS, Land and Countryside teams for the period 1 February to 30 April 2019 and highlighting future works planned for the locality. The report provided an overview of the routine works and enquiries that had been carried out by the grounds maintenance, garden maintenance DATA LABEL: Public 71 and cleaner communities’ teams. It also provided an overview of environmental community action carried out by the enforcement team. The report then moved on to provide members with an overview of the parks and woodland routine enquiries dealt with before moving on to provide full information on the ranger service activities. The report concluded with a comprehensive overview of the open space and cemeteries routine works and enquiries that had been dealt with. The committee was invited to note the content of the report and advise of any areas that required further investigation or inclusion in future work plans. Decision To note the terms of the report. 8. REPORT ON PROGRESS OF REGENERATION PLANNING The committee considered a report (copies of which had been circulated) by the Head of Planning, Economic Development & Regeneration providing an update of progress on partner activities and regeneration planning within the ward. The report recalled that in September 2016, members had received a report which set out the background to developing a regeneration plan including the processes, structures and timescales.