Annual Report 2011.pdf (size 6 MB) - Offaly County Council

V Social houses were acquired completing the current
Part V programme. One social unit was acquired from
the 2011 capital budget. No voluntary units were
completed. The social housing construction programme
for the Council has now been completed with no new
schemes at planning stage and no schemes to be
completed in 2012.
Following a review of the voluntary and co-operative
sector in late 2009, funding under the CLSS scheme
was wound down. Consequently no new approvals for
CLSS projects will be granted. A total of 271 CLSS
units of accommodation were provided in Offaly under
the scheme. Approvals were granted in 2010 for a new
build 6 unit development for the intellectually disabled
in Tullamore and for a 1 unit extension to an existing
development for the intellectually disabled in
Portarlington. The unit in Portarlington has been
completed. It is expected that work on the Tullamore
project will be completed in 2012. A total of 117 units
of accommodation have been provided in County Offaly
under the CAS scheme.
Cluid Housing Association received provisional approval
to lease 8 two bedroom units in Edenderry to be funded
under the Leasing Scheme. These units will be allocated
to applicants from Offaly County Council‟s social
housing list in 2012.
A Shared Services agreement was drafted for the
amalgamation of capital programmes on a county-wide
basis on behalf of the Town Councils in 2009. This
process continued to facilitate increased efficiencies and
savings.
Housing Maintenance and Pre-Let Repairs
Despite budget reductions, over 1,000 maintenance
repairs were completed in 2011 while significant
progress was achieved in restoring homes that were
void for considerable periods. A panel of small works
contractors was set up in 2008 and houses in need of
major refurbishment continue to be contracted out to
speed up turnaround time. This panel will be reviewed
in 2012 to reflect shared service agreement with the
Town Councils. Funding in the region of €450,000 was
expended on pre-let repairs / energy efficiency
upgrading to 35 houses that in some cases required
considerable renovation prior to re-let.
A revised Housing Maintenance Policy was drafted for
SPC consideration in 2012 and a review of Clerk of
Works duties undertaken which considered best use of
resources, allocation of duties, boundary amalgamation
and outsourcing. It is anticipated that the
recommendations from the review will be implemented
in 2012.
Regeneration and Remedial Works Programmes
Phase 1 of the Remedial Works Scheme at Greenwood
Park and Churchview Heights estates in Edenderry to
include back lanes improvement works, public lighting,
lane surfacing, surface water disposal and security
measures was completed in 2011. Phase 2 covering
environmental works to the large open space in
Greenwood Park was also completed to include
Offaly Local Authorities Annual Report 2011