Environment Committee - 29/10/2012

At a MEETING of the ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 29th October, 2012.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Councillor Craig MELVILLE, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 10th September, 2012 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I DECLARATION OF INTEREST

There were no declarations of interest.

II PURCHASE OF ELECTRICAL VEHICLES AND INFRASTRUCTURE

There was submitted Report No 406-2012 by the Director of Environment seeking authority for the development of an expanded electric car pool system across various Council departments, and also seeking approval for the spending on electric vehicle charging infrastructure within Dundee, to include publicly available charging points.

The Committee approved the purchase of the vehicles listed in Appendix 1, at a total cost of 162,000. These vehicles would be used exclusively for business purposes, and the Committee authorised the spending of 160,000 on charging infrastructure within the city funded by Transport Scotland.

III ADOPTION OF THE OUTDOOR STRATEGY 2012/2017

There was submitted Report No 407-2012 by the Director of Environment seeking approval for the City Council's formal adoption of the Dundee Outdoor Access Strategy 2012/2017.

The Committee noted the content of the Dundee Outdoor Access Strategy 2012/2017 and approved the adoption of the Strategy by the City Council.

IV THE SUPPLY AND ERECTION OF SECURITY FENCING ON DUNDEE LAW ALLOTMENTS

There was submitted Report No 408-2012 by the Director of Environment seeking approval for the supply and erection of security fencing at West Law Allotments.

The Committee agreed the proposed improvements and instructed the Director of Environment to undertake these works.

V PURCHASE OF END OF LEASE PLANT

There was submitted Agenda Note AN167-2012 advising the Committee that the recent fleet asset management review of plant and vehicles had identified a number of pieces of equipment where leases would expire at the end of September, 2012.

The most cost effective method to deal with these items would be to buy out the residual lease fee, allow the items to continue in service and then trade the residual value against their eventual replacements. The pieces of equipment listed below were required to ensure ongoing operational efficiency.

The Director of Corporate Services advised that the overall cost of 25,850 for purchasing the plant could be met from allowances within the Environment Department's Capital Plan for 2012/2013.

- 1 x Badger MK2 Digger C/W 12" Bucket

- 1 x Barber 600HD Beach Cleaner

- 2 x Toro Side Winder Master 3100-D C/W

- 1 x Ferris Zero Turn Rear Mower

- 2 x Kuhn VSA601 Fertiliser Spreader

- 5 x Dennis FT610 Mower

- 1 x John Deere Turf Gator

- 1 x John Deere E-Gator

In view of the timescales involved, this report was approved by the Director of Environment in consultation with the Convener of the Environment Committee, Opposition Group spokesperson, Conservative member, Liberal Democrat member and the Independent member.

The Committee noted the above for information.

VI CAIRD PARK VELODROME - ADDITIONAL WORKS

There was submitted Agenda Note AN178-2012 advising the Committee that as part of the refurbishment of the Caird Park Velodrome, additional hard surfacing works were identified to improve access arrangements to the Velodrome. This included the enhancement to the entrance and additional parking and clear access to the Velodrome.

Approval to undertake these additional works was obtained from the Chief Executive and were added to the existing contract being carried out by Tayside Contracts to refurbish the Velodrome.

The cost of the additional works was 14,590 and the Director of Corporate Services advised that this could be met from the Environmental Department's Capital Budget for 2012/2013.

The Committee noted the additional works instructed.

VII CEMETERY HEADSTONE SAFETY

There was submitted Agenda Note AN179-2012 making reference to the ongoing problem of dangerous headstones within cemeteries and to the approach taken to make such stones safe including the inspection process, identification of headstone owner and treatment of stones where no owner could be traced. In the past, inspections had been undertaken by Environment Department staff and steps taken to make the headstones safe temporarily by propping the stones or laying them flat on the ground.

It was proposed to undertake a pilot scheme within the 2012/2013 programme utilising spare capacity within the Construction Division of the Environment Department to undertake the inspection testing and making safe of stones up to approximately 1.5m in height. It was intended that where possible, such headstones would be made safe on a more permanent basis. Any headstones in excess of 1.5m would be referred to the specialist contractor Vermicon who were appointed last year following competitive tender to undertake the restoration of headstone memorials.

The Committee approved the pilot utilising resources within the Construction Division of the Environment Department and agreed the extension of the Vermicon Contract for 2012/2013 to carry out the more limited and specialist works noted, having noted that the Director of Corporate Services advised that the cost of these works could be met from allowances of 60,000 within the Environment Department's 2012/2013 Capital Plan for these works.

Craig MELVILLE, Convener.