City Development Committee - 12/02/2001

At a MEETING of the ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 12th February, 2001.

Present:-

COUNCILLORS

Councillor ROLFE, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 8th January, 2001 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I LOCAL EMPLOYMENT ACTION PLAN

The Director of Economic Development submitted Report No.57-2001 seeking approval for the Council to act as a partner organisation with 5 other Local Authorities (North Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire, Stirling, West Lothian and City of Edinburgh) in a COSLA-led European Project which aimed to assist, develop and align Local Employment Action Plans which were in line with the European Employment Strategy and the the UK National Employment Action Plan.

The Committee agreed to the Council acting as a partner organisation and upon completion of the project, to commit itself to implementing the Local Action Plan.

II DUNDEE AIRPORT

(a) FOUR YEAR CAPITAL EXPENDITURE PLAN - 2001 - 02 TO 2005 - 06

The Director of Economic Development submitted Report No.78-2001 proposing a firm programme of capital investment at Dundee Airport for Financial Year 2001 - 02 and setting out an indicative programme for the three following years which, if approved, would become a formal submission to the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions for specific Capital Borrowing Consent.

The Committee approved the report and authorised a formal submission to the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions with a request for Capital Borrowing Consent for the Financial Year 2001-02 programme.

(b)FORMATION OF ACCESS TRACK AND HARDSTANDING IN SOFT GROUND AREAS

The Director of Economic Development reported that Rescue Services training exercises towards the end of 2000 had revealed a problem of access to the far south western corner of the airport due to soft waterlogged ground resulting from heavy autumn rains. It was therefore proposed to form a rubble track, turning area and hardstanding in the far south west corner of the Airport in order to provide better emergency access to the area and to provide an equipment storage site as a side benefit.

The Committee was advised that Raynesway Construction were carrying out a large contract to extend and improve the apron at Dundee Airport and agreed that this Company be awarded an addition to its current contract on the basis of the rates contained in its successful tender, to enable it to construct the rubble track and hardstanding at an estimated cost of 25,000.

III MANAGEMENT OF SECRETARIAT OF THE EAST OF SCOTLAND EUROPEAN CONSORTIUM

The Director of Economic Development submitted Report No.94-2001 advising the Committee on the hosting of the East of Scotland European Consortium (ESEC) Secretariat by Dundee City Council.

The Committee noted the contents of the report and congratulated the Convener on his election as Chair of the Consortium.

The Committee resolved under Section 50(A)(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act, 1973 that the public and press be excluded from the meeting for the undernoted items of business on the grounds that they involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 6 and 9 of Part I of Schedule 7(A) of the Act.

IV COMMERCIAL LEASES

There was submitted and approved Report No 55-2001 by the Director of Economic Development detailing Commercial Leases in respect of the undernoted premises:-

Unit 9 Market Mews, Market Street

137 Pitkerro Road

Unit 8, Slessor Court, Claverhouse Industrial Estate

201/203 Hilltown

Incubator Unit, Dundee Technopole, James Lindsay Place

Site on Bucklemaker Court

Unit 3 Marybank Lane

159 Perth Road

Site at Fairweather Motors, Kingsway East

V RENT REVIEWS

There was submitted and approved Report No 56-2001 by the Director of Economic Development detailing the review of rent in respect of Units 1,2,3 and 4 Smeaton Road.

VI 255 SQUARE METRES ADJACENT TO FORMER JANITOR'S HOUSE, BALDRAGON ACADEMY, BALGOWAN DRIVE

It was reported that the above former Janitor's House had been sold to an interested party in 1998 and the Director of Education had subsequently erected security fencing to the north and east of the property which had isolated land extending to approximately 255 sq.m., which was declared surplus to requirements by the Education Committee in May 2000.

The Committee agreed to the disposal of the ground to the interested party on the terms and conditions detailed.

MERVYN ROLFE, Convener.