Coordinating HDB's Repairs and Redecoration Works with Town Councils' Works

Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim asked the Minister for National Development (a) what is HDB’s current practice for effecting repairs and redecoration (R&R) works for multi-storey car parks (MSCPs) when there are concurrent R&R works in the precinct; (b) whether there are any guidelines on the maximum duration for R&R works on precinct housing blocks and their MSCPs to differ; and (c) whether HDB will consider a system where Town Councils bid for R&R works for MSCPs alongside precinct tenders, with proportionate cost-sharing.

The Senior Minister of State for National Development (Ms Sim Ann) (for the Minister for National Development): Sir, the Town Councils (TCs) manage the repair and redecoration (R&R) works for residential blocks, while the Housing and Development Board (HDB) manages the R&R works for HDB multi-storey car parks (MSCPs).

HDB generally adopts a seven-year cycle for R&R works for HDB MSCPs. The R&R cycles of HDB MSCPs and residential blocks may not fully align, as there could be instances where R&R works are expedited, such as in response to public feedback on estate maintenance.

Where there are synergies from carrying out R&R works for MSCPs together with the residential blocks, HDB encourages TCs to undertake the R&R works for the MSCPs on HDB's behalf. Under the maintenance agreement between HDB and TCs, for HDB car parks, TCs can opt to carry out the R&R works for MSCPs. TCs that opt to do so will receive full reimbursement from HDB for the cost of the R&R works for the MSCPs, in addition to a 5% agency fee.

Mr Speaker: Assoc Prof Jamus Lim.

Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim (Sengkang): I thank the Senior Minister of State Sim Ann for that response. Just a little context for why this was brought up. I am sure, as herself and other Members of this House would have experienced, we have received feedback about seemingly dilapidated MSCPs and that is because they happen to fall substantially outside of the cycle. I appreciate that from the perspective of HDB, it absolutely makes sense to bundle these together for economies of scale. Which is why I wonder, whether to exploit the same economies of scale, it can be more or less standardised that TC can just make a request from HDB to enfold the R&R works for MSCPs into the R&R cycle for neighbouring clusters. So, my understanding is that this is possible. But the Senior Minister of State is saying that this is on a case-by-case basis, that they have to apply for it?

Ms Sim Ann: Sir, to clarify, this is possible and is an option that is available to the TCs. Some TCs choose to take it up, some TCs choose not to. But if they want to undertake the MSCP R&R works, they can and I have also explained the way in which HDB will reimburse the TCs for doing so. By and large, we leave it to the TCs to manage the R&R cycle for their own residential blocks.