MANAGEMENT OF TOWN COUNCILS

Abstract

Over the last 30 years, the Housing and Development Board (HDB) has been acting as a sole public housing authority in Singapore, building homes to house about 90% of the population in Singapore. It also acts as the largest 'Estate manager', taking care of a vast majority of building stocks in Singapore. The HDB has adopted a comprehensive and total approach in maintenance management and has managed its housing estates efficiently. However, the estate management tasks of HDB have grown in scale and complexity over the years and prevented it from concentrating on its more important objective ie, building homes for people. Thus, it has devolved its estate management tasks ( for common properties ) to Town Councils. The formation of Town Councils provides opportunity for each town to establish its own maintenance standards. Thus, the maintenance performance of various estates may vary. This dissertation attempts to examine the maintenance management of Town councils on public housing estates. Case study research methodology is used. The maintenance management of 4 Town Councils are evaluated and recommendations are made to further improve the management of the estates. Factors affecting staffing needs are analysed and the organization structures adopted by the Town Councils are discussed. Other areas which are looked into include contractual arrangements, work execution and control. Lastly, an evaluation was made on the term contractors' performance.