Leisure, Arts And Communities Committee - 28/06/2010

At a MEETING of the LEISURE, ARTS AND COMMUNITIES COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 28th June, 2010.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Councillor Bob DUNCAN, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 14th June, 2010 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I TENDER FOR SUPPLY OF FIREWORKS DISPLAYS AT BAXTER PARK AND LOCHEE PARK ON 6TH NOVEMBER, 2010

There was submitted Report No 347-2010 by the Director of Leisure and Communities seeking approval for the supply, delivery and firing of fireworks at Baxter Park and Lochee Park, Dundee.

The Committee agreed that the following offer from 21cc Fireworks Ltd, Edinburgh of 24,928.80 be accepted (subject to references).

II DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL ALLOTMENT STRATEGY

There was submitted Report No 366-2010 by the Director of Leisure and Communities advising the Committee of the outcome of consultation on the Dundee City Council Allotment Strategy, and seeking approval for the adoption of the strategy.

The Committee approved the Allotment Strategy for the period 2010/2015 and instructed the Director of Leisure and Communities to take forward the implementation of the strategy.

III SERVICE LEVEL AGREEMENT WITH DUNDEE VOLUNTARY ACTION - YEAR 2 FINANCIAL SUPPORT

There was submitted Report No 293-2010 by the Director of Leisure and Communities seeking approval for a grant award to Dundee Voluntary Action as part of a three year Service Level Agreement.

The Committee approved payment of 41,450 to Dundee Voluntary Action following the satisfactory assessment of the Service Specification contained in Schedule 1 of the Agreement during 2009/2010.

IV PROPOSED EXTENSION TO BIRKHILL CEMETERY

The Convener declared a non-financial interest in this item by virtue of his employment.

There was submitted Report No 240-2010 by the Director of Leisure and Communities updating the Committee on the site investigations in respect of the proposed area for the extension to Birkhill Cemetery and seeking remit to progress the extension by inviting tenders for various elements including the extension to the road and other works within the cemetery.

The Committee agreed that a remit be given for the City Engineer to bring back a tender report for the extension of the existing cemetery including the roadway and associated works within Birkhill Cemetery.

V CEMETERY PROVISION PROGRESS REPORT

The Convener declared a non-financial interest in this item by virtue of his employment, and Councillor Asif declared a non-financial interest in this item by virtue of his involvement in the consultation process regarding a Muslim Cemetery.

There was submitted Report No 315-2010 by the Director of Leisure and Communities updating the Committee on the site investigations required for the provision of cemetery sites in the City and seeking a remit to progress the investigation works accordingly and, in particular, authorise additional site investigation works at the proposed new North East Cemetery.

The Committee agreed that:-

(i) the City Engineer progress additional boreholes and reporting at the new North East Cemetery (Linlathen) as part of the planning process;

(ii) the planning application be progressed for the new North East Cemetery site;

(iii) the City Engineer advance a formal offer to undertake the works for the access road and the creation of a new cemetery and report the offer to a future Committee;

(iv) the Director of Leisure and Communities be remitted to investigate the potential of a Muslim burial site to the north of Eastern Cemetery and bring back a report to Committee for further consideration; and

(v) the position regarding progress with the extension to Birkhill Cemetery be noted.

VI PROPOSED MULTI-USE GAMES AREA (MUGA) AT BAXTER PARK

There was submitted Report No 283-2010 by the Director of Leisure and Communities seeking approval, in principle, for construction of a multi-use games area to the south end of Baxter Park.

The Committee agreed to:-

(i) agree the principle of creating a multi-use games area subject to acceptance that the development required to be funded externally; the design and specification be developed by the Council and the contract be managed through the Council and delivered to the Council's satisfaction; and

(ii) instruct the Director of Leisure and Communities to work in partnership with the recognised Steering Group to take the project forward.

VII LEISURE AND COMMUNITIES DEPARTMENT PLAN

There was submitted Report No 333-2010 by the Director of Leisure and Communities seeking approval for the Leisure and Communities Department's Plan for 2010/2012.

The Committee approved the Department Plan as appended to the report.

VIII SERVICE LEVEL AGREEMENTS WITH DUNDEE COLLEGE, CRAIGOWL COMMUNITIES AND CM ASSOCIATES 2009/2010 AND PROGRESS OF LITERACIESPARTNERSHIP

Councillor Hunter declared a non-financial interest in this item by virtue of his Council appointment to Dundee College Board.

There was submitted Report No 340-2010 by the Director of Leisure and Communities informing the Committee of progress in implementation of the Literacies Action Plan in 2009/2010, and updating the Committee on the Service Level Agreements with Dundee College, Craigowl Communities and CM Associates for the period 2009/2010 as approved in Report No 123-2008.

The Committee agreed to:-

(i) acknowledge the progress and key achievements of the Partnership during 2009/2010; and

(ii) approve an annual payment for the period 2010/2011 of 37,000 from Dundee City Council to Dundee College, 26,000 to Craigowl Communities and 14,000 to CM Associates upon satisfactory provision of the service specifications. The caveat on this being that the money would be released on a quarterly basis and if on 1st March, 2011, 11/12 of the annual targets had not been met, Dundee City Council would reduce the payment proportionately.

IX DUNDEE MUSICIANS AWARD ALLOCATION

There was submitted Report No 342-2010 by the Director of Leisure and Communities making a recommendation for financial grant awards as The Dundee Musician's Award 2010/2011.

The Committee approved the following award:-

(i) Paul Wright - 1,000 contribution to professional development of Indian classical music and sitar technique by visiting India for one month to study with Ustad Chhote Rahimat Khan of Kala Academy Panaji.

X ADULT EDUCATION FUND (ADULT EDUCATION ASSOCIATIONS)

There was submitted Report No 345-2010 by the Director of Leisure and Communities recommending approval of support for an application received from Broughty Ferry Education and Recreation Association (BERA), to assist in the administrative and running costs of presenting a programme of evening classes for the adult community in and around Broughty Ferry.

The Committee approved the recommended grant of 3,350 to allow the organisation to continue to provide very valuable and wide ranging evening learning opportunities.

XI DUNDEE CITY YOUTH COUNCIL

There was submitted Report No 335-2010 by the Director of Leisure and Communities advising the Committee on progress towards establishing a Youth Council for Dundee and seeking approval for the recommendations contained within the report.

The Committee agreed to:-

(i) acknowledge the Lord Provost's interest in the establishment of the Dundee Youth Council and the role he played in bringing the Youth Council Steering Group together;

(ii) establish a Working Group of young people with responsibility to work towards a first meeting of a Youth Council for Dundee in January 2011;

(iii) ensure that support for the Youth Council be provided by the Leisure and Communities Department working in close partnership with colleagues from Education and Social Work Departments and guided by the principles described within the "Framework for Engaging Young People" which had been produced as part of the Integrated Children's Services Plan for Dundee;

(iv) ensure that in order to ensure equality of opportunity and representation, a Youth Council Support Network be established to be representative of the broad range of partners involved in supporting young people in Dundee. This Network Group would be a sub-group of the Dundee Youth Work Partnership; and

(v) the Youth Council present an annual progress report to Dundee City Council detailing the issues identified by the young people in Dundee and the action taken to address these issues.

Bob DUNCAN, Convener.