Policy And Resources Committee - 28/11/2011

At a MEETING of the POLICY AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 28th November, 2011.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Councillor Ken GUILD, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 14th November, 2011 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR CLOSURES

There was submitted Report No 499-2011 by the Director, Leisure and Communities relative to the above.

The Committee approved the opening times detailed in Appendix 1 of the report.

II PROPOSAL FOR THE FUTURE USE OF THE WHITEHALL THEATRE

Councillors Duncan, Hunter, Gordon and Bailie Wallace declared non-financial interests in this item by virtue of being Council representatives on the Leisure and Culture Dundee Board.

The Lord Provost declared a non-financial interest in this item by virtue of being a Trustee of the Whitehall Theatre.

There was submitted Report No 532-2011 by the Chief Executive and Director, Leisure and Communities providing the Committee with an update on the discussions which had taken place between the Whitehall Theatre Trustees, Leisure and Culture Dundee and the City Council.

The Committee:-

(i) agreed that the City Council request Leisure and Culture Dundee to enter into a Service Level Agreement with Dundee City Council for the provision of the services specified in paragraph 4.2 of the report for the 12 month period from 1st January, 2012 to 31st December, 2012;

(ii) agreed that the Education Department commit to the booking of the Whitehall Theatre on a regular basis for Dundee Schools Music Theatre Education and Shows, and as an additional venue for music education where appropriate;

(iii) agreed that the Finance Department provide advice and support to the Whitehall Theatre Trustees in relation to the development of a longer-term Business Plan which would look at the operational model and viability of the Theatre;

(iv) agreed that the City Council provide the Whitehall Theatre with access to any appropriate procurement contracts available to the Council; and

(v) agreed that the City Council would appoint a Duty Manager for the Whitehall Theatre and this person would be seconded to the Whitehall Theatre to manage the day to day domestic arrangements for public and cast and Health and Safety. This post would be funded by the City Council for the pilot period up to 31st December, 2012, and the appointment would be a tripartite agreed appointment made by Dundee City Council, Leisure and Culture Dundee and the Whitehall Theatre Trustees.

It was further agreed that the City Council ask Leisure and Culture Dundee to:-

- provide the administrative co-ordination for the operation of the Whitehall Theatre.

- provide a ticketing and box office service for the Whitehall Theatre.

- liaise with promoters and co-ordinate future bookings of the Whitehall Theatre.

- agree and deliver a marketing and promotion plan for professional events.

- provide web-based promotion and listing for all bookings at the venue.

III EAST CENTRAL TERRITORY HUB

On a reference to Article I of the minute of meeting of the Education Committee of 28th November, 2011, and after considering Report No 488-2011 by the Chief Executive and Director of Finance, seeking approval for the appointment of a Private Sector Development Partner and the establishment of Hubco.

The Committee, approved the:-

(i) selection of Amber Blue (a consortium of Robertson Group [Holdings] Ltd, International Public Partnerships Ltd and Forth Holdings Ltd) as the Private Sector Development Partner in Hubco as recommended by the Hub East Central Territory Programme Board;

(ii) establishment of Hubco, the investment in the Hubco shareholding of 100 and the provision of participants' working capital of circa 300k, all costs to be met from enabling funds made available by Scottish Futures Trust;

(iii) entering into of the Territory Partnering Agreement, Shareholders' Agreement and Participants' Agreement with delegated authority to Iain Lilburn, Capital Projects Finance Manager, to execute the same on behalf of the Council following the resolution of final clarifications and subject to the final agreement of the Depute Chief Executive (Support Services);

(iv) appointment of Tom Steele, Director of Strategic Projects and Property, NHS Forth Valley as the B Shareholders' Director on the Board of Hubco;

(v) appointment of Catherine McFie, East Central Territory Programme Director, as the B Shareholders' Representative and Participants' Representative under and in terms of the Participants' Agreement with delegated authority to take any action, grant any approval or consent or sign any notice required in terms of the Shareholders' Agreement and Territory Partnering Agreement;

(vi) appointment of Iain Lilburn as the Council's officer representative on the Hub East Central Territory Partnering Board and Neil Martin as substitute representative, both with delegated authority to make any decisions on its behalf which require to be taken by the Territory Partnering Board pursuant to its constitution; and

(vii) inclusion of Harris Academy as an identified project in the East Central Territory Delivery Plan.

IV NATIONAL FOOTBALL ACADEMY IN DUNDEE

There was submitted Report No 534-2011 by the Chief Executive relative to the above.

The Committee agreed to take full advantage of the potential to site the National Indoor Football Centre and attached Football Academy in Dundee and that a steering group be established now to start work on taking forward the Dundee bid.

The Committee agreed that the membership of the Steering Committee be as undernoted:-

- Leader of the Administration or representative

- Both Professional Football Clubs in the City

- Both City Universities and Dundee College

- Leisure and Culture Dundee

- National Health Service - Tayside

- Regional representatives of the Scottish Football Association (if allowed)

- Regional Sporting Partnership

- Dundee City Council Departments

City Development - Planners, Property, Transport, Designers and Technical Services

Environment - Land Management

Education - Active Schools and PE

Chief Executives - Communities, Youth Work and Policy

The National Football Academy in Dundee Steering Group, due to its strategic importance to the City, would be chaired by the Chief Executive.

Ken GUILD, Convener.