Leisure, Arts And Communities Committee - 20/02/2006

At a MEETING of the COMMUNITIES COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 20th February 2006.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Councillor HIND, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 16th January 2006 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE CONSULTATION ON THE ROLE OF COMMUNITY COUNCILS

There was submitted Report No 38-2006 by the Director of Leisure and Communities bringing together Dundee City Council's response to the Scottish Executive Discussion Paper on the Role of Community Councils. The primary purpose of Community Councils was to ascertain and express the views of the community which they represent. Community Councils formed the most local tier of statutory representation in Scotland.

The Committee agreed the City Council's response to the Scottish Executive's Discussion Paper.

II DUNDEE COMMUNITY SAFETY WARDENS - MOBILE SUPPORT TEAM

There was submitted Joint Report No 136-2006 by the Director of Leisure and Communities and the Assistant Chief Executive (Management) seeking approval to bring forward the recruitment of a Community Safety Warden Mobile Support Team from May 2007 to April 2006. Consent post April 2006 for a mobile team had been received from the Scottish Executive. The introduction of a Mobile Support Team would allow intelligence led tasking to cover areas outwith those currently designated.

The Committee approved the implementation of a Mobile Support Team as described in Section 7.2 of the Report which would also be submitted to the Personnel Committee on 13th March 2006.

III THE REDEVELOPMENT OF FINMILL CENTRE

There was submitted Report No 133-2006 by the Director of Leisure and Communities seeking approval for the City Architectural Services Officer to obtain offers, tenders or negotiate partnerships and for the Depute Chief Executive (Support Services), in conjunction with the Director of Leisure and Communities, to accept these tenders/offers/partnership agreements for the refurbishment and extension of Finmill Centre up to a total cost of 302,646. The extension to the existing building would provide much needed additional capacity enabling new activities and services to be introduced.

The Committee authorised the City Architectural Services Officer to obtain offers, tenders or partnership agreements for the refurbishment and extension of Finmill Centre. The Committee also authorised the Depute Chief Executive (Support Services), in conjunction with the Director of Leisure and Communities, to accept the offers/tenders/partnership agreements as recommended by the City Architectural Services Officer for works to be undertaken by Dundee Contract Services and other contractors.

IV THE DEVELOPMENT OF ST MARY'S COMMUNITY CENTRE

There was submitted Report No 146-2006 by the Director of Leisure and Communities seeking approval for the City Architectural Services Officer to obtain offers/tenders or negotiate partnerships and for the Depute Chief Executive (Support Services), in conjunction with the Director of Leisure and Communities, to accept these offers/tenders/partnership agreements for the development of St Mary's Community Centre to be located on The Green, St Kilda Road/St Mungo Terrace up to a cost of 660,000.

The Committee approved the following recommendations:-

a. that the City Architectural Services Officer be authorised to obtain offers, tenders, or partnership agreements for the development of the St Mary's Community Centre which would then be reported back to Committee;

b. that the Depute Chief Executive (Support Services) provide legal advice in terms of the model of operation and partnership between Dundee City Council, the Army Cadet Force and the Local Management Group.

V REPLACEMENT OF ROOF/ROOFLIGHTS - VARIOUS SITES

There was submitted Report No 134-2006 by the Director of Leisure and Communities seeking approval for the carrying out of urgent roofing works as detailed in Appendix 1 of the Report up to a total of 90,000 as part of the Capital Roofing Works Programme for 2006/2007.

The Committee approved the following recommendations:-

(a) that the City Architectural Services Officer be authorised to obtain offers, tenders or partnership agreements;

(b) that the Depute Chief Executive (Support Services), in conjunction with the Director of Leisure and Communities, be authorised to accept the offers, tenders, partnership agreements as recommended by the City Architectural Services Officer.

VI PROPERTY UPGRADES 2006/07 - PHASE 1

There was submitted Report No 135-2006 by the Director of Leisure and Communities seeking approval for the City Architectural Services Officer to obtain offers, tenders or negotiate partnerships and for the Depute Chief Executive (Support Services), in conjunction with the Director of Leisure and Communities, to accept these offers/tenders/partnership agreements on Property Upgrades up to a total cost of 97,500 as detailed in Appendix 1 of the Report.

The proposed works would lengthen the useful life of the buildings, replace plant, increase the extent to which the buildings are suitable for the purposes they serve, comply with legislation and ensure the safety of occupants and users of departmental properties.

The Committee approved the following recommendations:-

(a) that the City Architectural Services Officer be authorised to obtain offers, tenders or partnership agreements for the Property Upgrades as detailed in Appendix 1 of the Report;

(b) that the Depute Chief Executive (Support Services), in conjunction with the Director of Leisure and Communities, be authorised to accept the offers, tenders/partnership agreements as recommended by the City Architectural Services Officer for works to be undertaken.

VII LITERACIES ACTION PLAN - ALLOCATION OF RESOURCES 2006/2007

Councillor Grant declared a non-financial interest in the undernoted item being a member of the Dundee College Board.

There was submitted Report No 132-2006 by the Director of Leisure and Communities making recommendations for the allocation of resources to deliver on the key elements contained in the Literacies Action Plan which was submitted to the Scottish Executive in December 2005.

The Committee agreed the allocation of Literacies Action Plan funding for 2006/2007 as recommended by the Community Learning Partnership (Literacies Sub Group) on 18th January 2006 and as detailed in Appendix 1 of the Report.

VIII NON-RECURRING REVENUE GRANTS FUND VI 2005/2006

Lord Provost Letford and Councillors Hind, Duncan and Webster declared non-financial interests in the following item being Council representatives on the Dundee Repertory Theatre Board.

There was submitted Report No 127-2006 by the Director of Leisure and Communities making a recommendation for a grant award from the Non-Recurring Revenue Grants Fund. The grant award would be met from the Department's Revenue Budget 2005/2006.

The Committee approved the following recommendations:-

(a) that the recommended grant of 3,350 be paid to the Rep/Space Summer School; and

(b) that the Leisure and Communities Department contributes help-in-kind through its staff input and use of facilities.

Chris HIND, Convener