Leisure, Arts And Communities Committee - 24/10/2005

At a MEETING of the COMMUNITIES COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 24th October 2005.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Councillor HIND, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 19th September 2005 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I COMMUNITY LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT ACTION PLAN

There was submitted Report No 603-2005 by the Director of Leisure and Communities summarising the development of Community Learning and Development (CLD) Action Plans and recommending approval of the summary documents for publication by the Dundee Partnership. The aim of the CLD Action Plans was to identify and set out proposals for dealing with community needs, aspirations and priorities.

The Committee approved the following recommendations:-

(a) to note the rationale, structure and processes underpinning the development of the CLD Action Plans.

(b) to recognise the high level of collaboration, co-operation and support between Dundee City Council, partner agencies and community stakeholders in the development of the CLD Action Plans.

(c) to refer the draft summary documents to the Dundee Partnership Lifelong Learning Theme Group for publication.

(d) to continue to work with public, private and voluntary sector agencies in partnership with local communities to address their community learning and development needs.

(e) to refer the responsibility for implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the CLD Action Plans to each Local Community Learning and Development Partnership Group.

(f) to instruct the Director of Leisure and Communities to report progress on the implementation of the CLD Action Plans on an annual basis.

II DIALOGUE YOUTH INITIATIVE

There was submitted Report No 597-2005 by the Director of Leisure and Communities informing the Committee of progress in the development of youth information through the Dialogue Youth Initiative. Significant progress had been made in the development of the Dialogue Youth Initiative in Dundee and the report highlighted those achievements in more detail.

The Committee noted the report and approved the proposed future priorities contained therein.

III WHITFIELD ACTIVITY COMPLEX

There was submitted Report No 459-2005 by the Director of Leisure and Communities seeking approval for the Whitfield Activity Complex to revert to Local Authority management and responsibility. A decision to dissolve the Private Company Limited by Guarantee was approved, in principle, by the Whitfield Activity Complex Limited Board on 15th September 2005 subject to Committee approval for the transfer of Whitfield Activity Complex Limited undertakings to Dundee City Council.

The Committee agreed to the following recommendations:-

(a) to approve the request that the Leisure and Communities Department assume responsibility for and the management of the Whitfield Activity Complex.

(b) to note that Whitfield Activity Complex Limited would be dissolved

(c) to approve the transfer of any outstanding undertakings from Whitfield Activity Complex Limited to Dundee City Council.

(d) to note the intention for a Local Management Group to be constituted.

(e) (when a Local Management Group is constituted), to remit the Director of Leisure and Communities and Depute Chief Executive (Support Services) to negotiate and enter into a Licence to Occupy with the Local Management Group.

IV VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS TRAINING GRANTS FUND 2005/06

Councillors Grant and W Dawson declared a non-financial interest in the following item being Council representatives on the Grey Lodge management committee.

There was submitted Report No 611-2005 by the Director of Leisure and Communities making recommendations for grant awards from the Voluntary Organisations Training Grants Fund. The grant awards would be met from the Department's Revenue Budget 2005/06.

The Committee approved payment of the following recommended grants:-

V NEIGHBOURHOOD REGENERATION FUND 1- 2005/06 - COMMUNITY COUNCIL SPECIAL PROJECT

There was submitted Report No 614-2005 by the Director of Leisure and Communities making a recommendation for a grant award from the Neighbourhood Regeneration Fund. The grant award could be met from the Department's Revenue Budget 2005/06.

The Committee approved payment of the recommended grant of 500 to the Community Neighbourhood Representative Structure.

VI MITCHELL STREET CENTRE - ALTERATIONS - EXTENSION TO CONTRACT (CONTRACT NO. 04-590)

There was submitted Report No 604-2005 by the City Architectural Services Officer seeking approval to extend the existing contract for alterations at the Mitchell Street Centre. Expenditure of 32,500 had been approved in respect of this project at the Committee meeting held on 22nd August 2005 (Article III refers) - during the negotiating period further refurbishment works had been identified.

The Committee agreed to extend the existing contract incurring additional expenditure of approximately 30,000. The additional works to be carried out by Forman Construction Limited as an extension to their contract.

CHRIS HIND, Convener.