Every council home in Dundee will soon be refitted with new fire safety equipment after an £8 million plan was agreed by councillors.
At a meeting of the council’s Neighbourhood Services Committee last night, councillors voted to approve the measures, which will see fire, smoke, and carbon monoxide alarms in homes across the city replaced.
The update will be rolled out immediately to ensure tenant safety following the devastating Grenfell Tower fire in London.
The extensive 23-month programme is expected to be begin within the next month to make sure local homes meet new safety standards coming into law on February 1 2021.
They include the requirement for at least one smoke alarm to be installed in the room most frequently used for general daytime living purposes.
It also means at least one smoke alarm should be in spaces such as hallways and landings while at least one heat alarm must be in every kitchen.
These alarms will be interlinked and will include an interface connection to the existing warden call systems in sheltered housing.
Baillie Fraser Macpherson, leader of the Dundee Liberal Democrats, welcomed the move but said he hoped more information will be given to the public before the work is carried out.
He said: “After arriving to visit a public information event about the plans, I found out it had ended early because just five people had turned up.
“I would like to see further events held and for these to be advertised better.”
Dundee Labour group leader Kevin Keenan said he hoped tenants would be helped with redecorating in the event the work caused disruption to housing.
Council officers confirmed assistance would be given and that this is included in the tenders.
The work will be funded through the Housing Revenue Account Capital budget in Healthy Safe and Secure (Smoke Detector Programme).
Meanwhile, Lochee High Street will have a new £7000 clock installed.
The proposed location of the clock is to be next to the Health Centre after members of the public voted in a questionnaire undertaken by the council.
This is still to be finalised however due to ongoing investigations of the position of services and utilities.
The cash will come from the District Shopping Budget within the Work and Enterprise Section of the Capital Plan 2019-24.
