Leisure, Arts And Communities Committee - 09/05/2011

At a MEETING of the LEISURE, ARTS AND COMMUNITIES COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 9th May, 2011.

 

Present:-

 

Lord Provost John R LETFORD

 

 

 

Depute Lord Provost Ian BORTHWICK

 

 

 

BAILIES

 

Willie SAWERS

Helen WRIGHT

Roderick A J WALLACE

George REGAN

 

Derek J SCOTT

 

COUNCILLORS

 

Ken GUILD

Elizabeth F FORDYCE

Mohammed ASIF

Jim BARRIE

Stewart HUNTER

Laurie BIDWELL

Jimmy BLACK

Ken LYNN

Tom FERGUSON

David BOWES

Craig MELVILLE

Brian GORDON

Andrew DAWSON

Alan G ROSS

Richard McCREADY

Will DAWSON

Kevin KEENAN

Donald HAY

Bob DUNCAN

 

Fraser MACPHERSON

 

Councillor Bob DUNCAN, Convener, in the Chair.

 

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 25th April, 2011 was held as read.

 

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

 

I SCOTTISH YOUTH PARLIAMENT

 

There was submitted Agenda Note AN75-2011 giving details of two recent events in the development of opportunities for young people in Dundee to have their views heard and to participate in decision‑making.

 

During the two weeks commencing 14th March, 2011, the elections for Dundee's representatives to the Scottish Youth Parliament took place. The results of the elections were announced on 1st April, 2011 in The Shore by Councillor Bob Duncan.

 

Four members of the Scottish Youth Parliament for Dundee have been elected. They are:-

 

- Hannah Wilson

- Jamie McGilchrist

- Josh NG

- Daniel Coleman

 

In total, 5,097 young people voted. There were 11 candidates. This represented an 83% increase in the number of young people who participated in the 2009 SYP elections, when 2,791 young people voted and there were nine candidates.

 

The elections were co-ordinated by Community Learning and Development Service Youth Work staff from the Leisure and Communities Department, with support from colleagues in schools and young people in the Schools Pupil Councils.

 

Also, the new Dundee Youth Council was launched in the City Chambers on 30th March, 2011. Nineteen young people from across Dundee attended the launch. The first meeting saw the elections of office bearers as follows:-

 

- Matthew Landsburgh, Chair

- Jamie McGilchrist, Vice-Chair

 

The newly elected MSYPs and the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Youth Council were present in Chambers for the meeting.

 

Members noted this accordingly.

 

II DUNDEE COMMUNITY SAFETY PARTNERSHIP AWARDS UP TO £500, 2010/2011

 

Councillors Andy Dawson, Bowes, Fordyce, McCready and Bailies Wright and Wallace declared non‑financial interest in this item by virtue of their Council appointment to Tayside Fire and Rescue Board.

 

There was submitted Report No 176-2011 by the Director of Leisure and Communities detailing awards, each up to the value of 500, that had been made during the financial year 2010/2011.

 

The Committee noted the detailed payments contained within the report, as shown below:-

 

Organisation/Agency

Amount

Brief Description of Project/Application

 

Tayside Fire and Rescue

500.00

Pilot Project. Exchange Chip Pans for thermostatically controlled deep flat fryers.

 

Brooksbank Centre and Services

500.00

To purchase 500 heat resistant hair straightening bags.

 

Kirkton Tackle Crime

500.00

Safety Events to be held over the Autumn.

 

Whitfield Community Safety Panel

500.00

Safety Event to be held in November.

 

DVAWP

500.00

Admin cost for Issues surrounding Sexual/Violence/Exploitation event.

 

Peer Education Project

373.92

To produce a DVD which highlights the Safe Taysiders event.

 

WRASAC

441.69

To distribute "Spikeys" as part of 16 Days of Action to end violence against women.

 

DCSP - Bogus Caller Sub-Group

500.00

See off Scam Event to be held for professional agencies and members of the public.

 

III DUNDEE COMMUNITY SAFETY PARTNERSHIP, COMMUNITY SAFETY ACTION PLAN 2010/2011, 2011/2012UPDATE; COMMUNITY SAFETY PARTNERSHIP COMMISSIONING BUDGET 2011/2012 AND LOCAL

 

There was submitted Report No 226-2011 by the Director of Leisure and Communities seeking approval for the Community Safety Partnership Commissioning Budget 2011/2012 and the Local Action Fund Commissioning Budget 2011/2012.

 

The Committee agreed to:-

 

(i) approve the Community Safety Action Plan 2010/2012, 2011/2012 Update;

 

(ii) approve the Community Safety Partnership Commissioning Budget/Local Action Fund 2011/2012;

 

(iii) note that the Community Safety Action Plan would be reviewed in April 2012; and

 

(iv) note that the Community Safety Action Plan 2010/2012 was approved by Committee on 26th April, 2010. Report No 208-2010 refers.

 

IV ADMINISTRATIVE GRANTS TO COMMUNITY COUNCILS AND NEIGHBOURHOOD REPRESENTATIVE STRUCTURES2011/2012

 

There was submitted Report No 225-2011 by the Director of Leisure and Communities seeking approval for the payment of administrative grants for the financial year 2011/2012 to Community Councils and Neighbourhood Representative Structures in existence or established during the year, and to confirm the formulae for payment.

 

The Committee agreed that:-

 

(i) administrative grants be awarded to all Community Councils currently in existence or established during 2011/2012 in accordance with the Council's Revised Scheme for the Operation of Community Councils;

 

(ii) administrative grants also be awarded to other Neighbourhood Representative Structures which meet the eligibility criteria set out in Committee Report No 725-2002;

 

(iii) grants be awarded according to the following formulae: a lump sum of 330 per Community Council/Neighbourhood Representative Structure plus 1.2p per resident in each area;

 

(iv) an administration grant of 440 be awarded to the Dundee Civic Forum; and

 

(v) Community Councils or Neighbourhood Representative Structures established beyond 1st April, 2011 would only be eligible for a grant for the part of the year from their inception.

 

V DAWSON PARK PARTNERING AGREEMENT WITH SCOTTISH ASSOCIATION OF MENTAL HEALTH (SAMH)

 

There was submitted Report No 196-2011 by the Director of Leisure and Communities advising the Committee of the proposal from the Scottish Association of Mental Health (SAMH) to work in partnership with Dundee City Council at Duntrune Demonstration Gardens in Dawson Park and to gain agreement for officers to enter into a Partnership Agreement with the organisation.

 

The Committee agreed to:-

 

(i) remit officers to enter into a Partnership Agreement with SAMH for the use of part of the Demonstration Gardens in Dawson Park and in and around the adjacent park; and

 

(ii) note the vision, purpose and values of the organisation and the opportunities and the benefits of such a Partnership.

 

VI PURCHASE OF NEW SCREEN FOR THE McMANUS: DUNDEES ART GALLERY AND MUSEUM

 

There was submitted Report No 234-2011 by the Director of Leisure and Communities detailing the proposals received for the supply and delivery of a permanent blind system for the Here and Now Gallery within the McManus and requesting a decision on acceptance of the same.

 

The Committee approved the acceptance of the proposal submitted by Silent Gliss Ltd and installation by Goldcrest Furnishing Contracts Ltd.

 

VII PITCH STRATEGY 2, 2011/2016

 

There was submitted Report No 227-2011 by the Director of Leisure and Communities seeking agreement for the content of the updated Pitch Strategy and approval to take the Strategy forwards via its Action Plan.

 

The Committee agreed to:-

 

(i) approve the content of Dundee's Pitch Strategy 2, 2011/2016; and

 

(ii) remit the Director of Leisure and Communities to take forward the recommendations of the strategy and establish a steering group to oversee its implementation.

 

VIII WESTERN CEMETERY NEW CREMATED REMAINS SECTION

 

Councillor Macpherson declared a non-financial interest in this item by virtue of his membership of the Western Cemetery Association.

 

There was submitted Report No 233-2011 by the Director of Leisure and Communities seeking approval to allow the development of a cremated remains section at the Western Cemetery.

 

The Committee approved the principle of creating a cremated remains section in Western Cemetery and agreed:-

 

(i) that the Director of Leisure and Communities be remitted to develop and progress the proposal outlined in the 'Sketch Design' with option 1 being the preferred option; and

 

(ii) agreed to continue to work with the Western Cemetery Association and acknowledge the role of the Association in developing the proposal for the cremated remains areas.

 

IX SPORTDUNDEE - APPLICATION FOR GRANT 2011/2012

 

The Convener, Councillors McCready and Bailie Wallace declared a non-financial interest in this item by virtue of their membership of SportDundee Board.

 

Reference is made to Article 11 of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 16th December, 1996, wherein approval was given to allow SportDundee (previously Dundee City Sports Council) to administer the grant aid scheme on behalf of Dundee City Council.

 

It was requested that 7.714 be allocated to SportDundee for administration of the SportDundee grant aid scheme for the year 2011/2012.

 

This expenditure could be met from the Leisure and Communities Department's 2011/2012 Revenue Budget for grants.

 

In 2010/2011, the grant allocations went to:-

 

National Athletes

-

36% (13 awards)

Coach/Official Education

-

35% (26 awards)

Discretionary

-

14% (4 awards)

 

The remainder of the grant allocation was split between the following grant categories - Start Up, Club Development, Equipment and Events.

 

Some of the good work/successes supported by the grant aid scheme included:-

 

- 13 athletes from seven different sports awarded national athlete grants, including a hockey player selected for the Great Britain Centralised Training Programme, in preparation for London 2012;

 

- 25 coaches/officials from five different sports awarded coach/official education grants, including over 1,150 to swimming coaches across the city, for their continued development; and

 

- 4 clubs awarded 300 each for discretionary grants, including two hockey clubs attending European hockey competitions, as Scottish representatives.

 

The Committee approved accordingly.

 

X DEMOLITION OF DICK McTAGGART CHANGING ROOMS

 

There was submitted Agenda Note AN77-2011 advising the Committee that the City Engineer was instructed by the Director of Leisure, Arts and Communities to obtain tenders for the demolition of the Dick McTaggart changing rooms.

 

A pre-demolition bird and bat survey report highlighted that in order to minimise conflict with wildlife the demolition should take place between the 1st October and 15th April. To ensure this and to avoid delay to the new gymnastics centre, demolition works were required to start within this period.

 

After consultation with Convener and Group spokespersons, the lowest offer from Dundee Plant was accepted allowing demolition works to commence on Monday, 11th April, 2011 with a contract period of five weeks. The contract amount was for 25,365, together with allowances of 3,500 for professional services and 6,135 for public utilities and contingencies, make a total expenditure of 35,000.

 

The Committee noted the foregoing, for information.

 

 

 

 

Bob DUNCAN, Convener.