Agenda item

Update report for OSC committee.

The Cabinet Member for Housing updated the Committee on the progress of the Riverside communal heating upgrade works.

Members attention was drawn to Table 1 of the report which detailed the short-term rectification/enhancement works which had been presented to the Committee in September 2024.   At the meeting it was confirmed that items numbered 1 – 8 would be the focus of the work including the replacement of boilers.   The Cabinet Member for Housing confirmed that the new boilers had been installed and had been operational since December 2024.  A temporary boiler had been installed whilst the works were being undertaken to ensure that residents had access to heating and hot water.  

The Building Management System had been installed and was expected to go live during January 2025.  There were still three immersion heaters to install, these had not been done due to gaining access to properties.  The flushing of the secondary system and the installation of new thermostatic controls commenced the previous week.   Chemicals would be added to the system to ensure the existing pipes were in working order and to ensure that the system worked efficiently.

The Council’s Mechanical Contractor had regularly attended Riverside whilst the works were being carried out to monitor progress and address any concerns or issues which residents had experienced.

The Cabinet Member for Housing referred the Committee to Table 2 of the report which provided a breakdown of the costs that had been incurred to date in respect of the project.  It was noted that complaints had been received from residents, the most prolific complaint was due to residents’ flats being too hot. The Council’s Mechanical Contractor had shown residents how to lower the temperature which would be easier once the new thermostatic controls had been installed and so far, the project had been successful. 

The Ward Member for the area welcomed the news in respect of the project for the residents at Riverside and also thanked the emergency services and those officers that had attended a small fire which had happened at the weekend.  The Member made reference to compensation which had been discussed at a meeting of the Committee and what the current position was in respect of the budget, what was the final figure likely to be acknowledging what had been spent to date as shown in Table 2.  

The Director of Housing and Projects confirmed that all compensation had been paid, it had gone against residents rent accounts and had been paid in line with the Council’s compensation policy.  The only works that were missing from the Table within the report were the replacement heaters for the communal room which were in the region of £3,000 and also it was proposed to replace the flooring in this area which would cost in the region of £10,000.  It was noted that these works would bring the total cost in, under that which had been originally budgeted.

The Ward Member thanked the Officers and the Cabinet Member for Housing for the work done in respect of the heating project which had hopefully resolved the issues at Riverside.

The Committee noted the current position.