City council could take action over pipe woes

Legal action may be taken by Dundee City Council after a faulty pipe caused its headquarters to be closed for two days.

A burst pipe and electric outage at Dundee House caused hundreds of staff to be evacuated.

The North Lindsay Street building was closed for two days in December, sparking an emergency response.

Staff had to be relocated and a number of council services were temporarily unavailable.

Now local authority bosses have blamed a pipe joint they say was incorrectly fitted when Dundee House was built.

The historic building was refurbished in 2011, when council staff vacated the now-demolished Tayside House.

Some repairs have been carried out but it is now thought all pipes will have to be replaced, at an unknown cost.

A contract for the work is currently out for tender.

In a report for the council’s scrutiny committee, Robin Presswood, executive director of city development, said legal action will be taken against a third party if they are found to be responsible for the faulty work.

Earlier this year, councillors agreed to spend £327,000 of public cash for roof repairs at Dundee House, months after it was sold to insurance giant Canada Life.

Dundee City Council agreed a £23.8 million “leaseback” deal which saw the property handed back in August, but faced criticism after it emerged the arrangement will cost the public significant rental payments for 40 years.

Mr Presswood said in his report: “The costs associated with the required remedial works to the pipework in Dundee House are of a capital nature and are currently being tendered with the costs reported to committee in due course.

“The head of democratic and legal services is presently considering issues of liability for the damage, loss and expense caused to the council both by the original events and by the remedial works which will be required.

“If he concludes that the council have a right of recourse against any third party, he will take all necessary action, including legal action, to protect the council’s interests.”