City Development Committee - 25/06/2001

At a MEETING of the PLANNING AND TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 25th June, 2001.

Present:-

COUNCILLORS

Councillor PRESSWOOD, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 4th June 2001 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I APPLICATION FOR CONSTRUCTION CONSENT - NEW ROADS

The Committee approved the undernoted applications for construction consent subject to the conditions which had been agreed with the Contractor:-

In addition, it was also agreed that on satisfactory completion of these roads, and if so requested by the applicants, they be entered on the List of Public Roads for the purposes of management and maintenance in terms of the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984.

II MAYFIELD HOSTEL HOUSING SITE - DRAFT SITE PLANNING BRIEF

There was submitted Report No.73-2001 by the Director of Planning and Transportation seeking approval of a draft Site Planning Brief which would form the basis of consultation with the local community and interest parties.

The Committee:-

(a) approved the draft site planning brief for the purposes of consultation;

(b)remitted to the Director of Planning and Transportation to consult with the local community and interested parties on the terms and content of the draft site planning brief;

(c)remitted to the Director of Planning and Transportation to report back on the result of the consultation exercise within a period of two months.

III CYCLING IN THE CITY 2001

There was submitted Report No.253-2001 by the Director of Planning and Transportation advising the Committee of progress achieved to date in the promotion of cycle related measures and ongoing and proposed action which would further seek to enhance cycle provision within Dundee.

The Committee approved the report which would form the basis of consultation to take place with the relevant parties and a further report be submitted to this Committee within six months.

IV 21/25 UNION STREET - COMPULSORY PURCHASE ORDER

There was submitted Report No.271-2001 by the Director of Planning and Transportation updating the Committee on the current situation regarding 21/25 Union Street, Dundee.

The Committee:-

(a)approved submission of the Compulsory Purchase Order to the Scottish Ministers for their confirmation;

(b)agreed to sell the four flats to be compulsorily acquired to the willing restorative third party, Dundee (Blinshall Street) Property Company Ltd/Hillcrest Housing Association.

V SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE DEVELOPMENT PLAN PILOT AUDIT

There was submitted Report No.323-2001 by the Director of Planning and Transportation reviewing the situation regarding the Development Plan process one year after receiving the results of the Pilot Audit carried out by the Scottish Executive and advising the Committee of the actions that had been taken since then.

The Committee noted the actions detailed in the report.

VI WEST MARKETGAIT/LONG WYND BRIEF

There was submitted Report No.329-2001 by the Director of Planning and Transportation containing a design brief for the above site.

The Committee:-

(a) approved the content of the Design Brief;

(b)commended the Design Brief to the Development Quality Committee as a material consideration for development control purposes;

(c)remitted the Director of Planning and Transportation to engage in consultations with the local Community Council and other interested parties.

VII RIVER HABITATS SURVEY OF DIGHTY BURN AND ITS TRIBUTARIES

There was submitted Report No.330-2001 by the Director of Planning and Transportation advising on funding arrangements for the River Habitats Survey of the Dighty Burn and the open sections of its tributaries.

The Committee approved the undernoted:-

(a)that "NAIAD" Environmental Consultancy be appointed to carry out the survey to ensure consistency with the Habitats and Species Survey as far as possible;

(b)that the survey be carried out over the course of the summer and the findings reported back to the Committee in October 2001;

(c)that the Review of the Dundee Local Plan 1998 and the Council's Public Open Space Strategy Implementation Group have regard to the survey findings.

VIII GENERAL SAFETY CERTIFICATE, TANNADICE PARK, DUNDEE

There was submitted Report No.314-2001 by the Director of Planning and Transportation seeking the approval of the Committee to issue a revised General Safety Certificate under the terms of the Safety of Sports Grounds Act 1975 for Tannadice Park, Dundee.

The Committee:-

(a)approved the General Safety Certificate for Tannadice Park for issue to Dundee United Football Club Limited;

(b)agreed that the issue of future certificates prepared under the terms of the Safety of Sports Grounds Act 1975 be delegated to the Director of Planning and Transportation.

IX MENZIESHILL RESIDENTS PARKING SCHEME

There was submitted Report No.197-2001 by the Director of Planning and Transportation setting out the implications of introducing a "Residents Parking Permit Scheme" in Menzieshill.

The Committee approved the preparation of a Traffic Regulation Order to introduce a Controlled Parking Zone in part of Menzieshill to permit the introduction of a Residents Parking Scheme and agreed that the residents contribute to the cost of administering the scheme with an annual contribution of 5 for each resident parking permit.

X CYCLING, WALKING AND SAFER STREETS

There was submitted Report No.285-2001 by the Director of Planning and Transportation advising the Committee of the additional capital consent ring-fenced by the Scottish Executive for Cycling, Walking and Safer Streets Projects.

The Committee approved the proposal to identify a programme of works for Cycling, Walking and Safer Streets Projects that best met the overall aims of Walking, Cycling and Road Safety contained in the Local Transport Strategy, giving particular emphasis to reducing accidents to vulnerable road users. and that the programme of works and estimated costs be reported to Committee later in the year.

XI CARBERRY CRESCENT STOPPING-UP

There was submitted Report No.326-2001 by the Director of Planning and Transportation recommending following the demolition of Nos 217/234 Carberry Crescent and the proposed construction of new housing a Stopping-Up Order be prepared for a length of Carberry Crescent adjacent to the former Nos 217/234 and of the footpath between Carberry Crescent and The Elms.

The Committee approved the preparation of an Order to stop-up the aforementioned road and footpath and to delete them from the List of Public Roads where applicable to allow for the construction of a new development.

XII BRIDGEND STREET - STOPPING UP

There was submitted Report No.335-2001 by the Director of Planning and Transportation regarding the necessity to stop-up a length of Bridgend Street and nearby footpaths and footways.

The Committee approved the preparation of a Stopping-Up Order to stop-up a length of Bridgend Street and nearby footpaths and footways as part of the Happyhillock Environmental Improvement Scheme.

XIII INGLEFIELD ROAD - LONGTOWN ROAD AND MAUCHLINE AVENUE - LONGTOWN ROAD-FOOTPATHS STOPPING-UP

There was submitted Report No.336-2001 by the Director of Planning and Transportation regarding the necessity to stop-up the above footpaths.

The Committee approved the preparation of Stopping-Up Orders to allow for new housing developments over the Inglefield Road - Longtown Road and Mauchline Avenue - Longtown Road footpaths.

XIV OFF-STREET CAR PARKS - ORDER ADDITION OF ABERCRAIG CAR PARK

There was submitted Report No.334-2001 by the Director of Planning and Transportation regarding the need to include Abercraig Car Park in the Dundee City Council (Off-Street Car Parks) Order 1996.

The Committee approved the preparation of a Traffic Regulation Variation Order to include the car park in the Car Parks Order.

XV STATUTORY UNDERTAKERS' PERFORMANCE IN DUNDEE 2000/2001

There was submitted Report No.338-2001 by the Director of Planning and Transportation providing an annual report on the reinstatement performance of Statutory Undertakers operating in Dundee.

The Committee:-

(a)approved the issuing of Improvement Notices to all under performing Statutory Undertakers, based on the National Coring results for Dundee, namely British Telecom, Scottish Hydro Electric, North of Scotland Water Authority, Telewest and Transco;

(b)approved the extension of the coring programme in Dundee during 2001/2002 until the next National Coring Programme was implemented during 2002;

(c)noted the findings of the National 2000 (sample) and 2000/2001 Dundee (targeted) Coring Programmes;

(d)noted the performance of Statutory Undertakers in Dundee for the year April 1999 to March 2000 based on the NRSWA sample/visual inspection regime.

XVI WINTER MAINTENANCE - REVIEW OF SERVICE DELIVERY

There was submitted Report No.237-2001 by the Director of Planning and Transportation relative to the above.

The Committee noted the formation of a Corporate Winter Maintenance Working Group and remitted to the Director to bring forward the full Winter Maintenance report on service levels in September 2001.

XVII PUBLIC TRANSPORT FUND BID 2001/2003

After considering Report No.384-2001 by the Director of Planning and Transportation relative to the above subject the Committee noted the contents of the report and approved the 2001 bid and the overall strategy for the next three year's bids.

XVIII FINMILL VILLAGE CENTRE AND MCGONAGAL'S CENTENARY

It was reported that two new public art based projects required financial assistance to investigate their potential, provide ideas and proposals for their development and advice on funding.

(a) Finmill Village Centre

It was reported that the Dundee Public Art Programme had sought a contribution of 1,000 to develop a community arts project for the Finmill Village Centre.

The Committee approved accordingly.

(b) McGonagall's Centenary

It was reported that the Dundee Public Art Programme had sought a contribution of 1,000 to develop a series of ideas and proposals for permanent markers to commemorate the prolific work of McGonagall.

The Committee approved accordingly.

XIX THE NATURE OF SCOTLAND - CONSULTATION REPORT

It was reported that the above Consultation Report had been issued by the Scottish Executive. The main purpose of the report was to set out the Executives current action to work with Scotlands people to protect Scotlands nature and introduce proposed reforms to the Sites of Specific Scientific Interest (SSSI) system and the way in which Scotlands wildlife was protected across the countryside.

The consultation paper contained a number of specific proposals, most notably,

(a)that Scottish Ministers should accept a specific duty to have regard to the conservation of biological diversity in the exercise of their functions; and

(b)that SSSIs should remain at the heart of the way of protecting Scotlands natural heritage but that there should be a number of detailed changes in the way the system operates.

It was noted that there were only two SSSIs within Dundee, the Inner Tay Estuary and Monifieth Bay (which extended west to Broughty Castle) and it was not considered that the proposed changes would have any significant effects on these.

In the circumstances it was not proposed to submit any formal comments on the consultation paper to the Scottish Executive and as views on the consultation document were requested by 29th May 2001 a letter to this effect had, therefore, already been forwarded to the Scottish Executive.

The Committee endorsed the action taken.

XX PLANNING APPLICATION D24198: REDEVELOPMENT AND EXTENSION TO KINGSWAY WEST RETAIL PARK, KINGSWAY/CLEPINGTON ROAD, DUNDEE AND

Reference was made to Article VII(i) of the minute of meeting of the Development Quality Committee of 4th December 2000 where Planning Application D24198 was approved subject to conditions and the conclusion of a Section 75 Agreement .

The range of goods to be sold from the extended retail park was to be in accordance with those set out in Committee Report 714-97. Report 714-97 made an allowance for 1,500 square metres gross floor area of electrical goods within the existing and extended retail park and in drafting the section 75 Agreement the applicants had made a request to increase the level of floor area for electrical goods.

The justification for this was to allow for two retail warehouse units for electricals for operators they had signed up and who would help to anchor the retail park. The request by the applicants had been assessed in light of the DTZ Pieda: City of Dundee Retail Review 2000 and it was considered that an increase in floor area for electricals up to a maximum of 4,500 square metres in the form of two retail warehouse units could be accommodated at the redeveloped Kingsway West Retail Park.

The Committee approved the amendment to Report 714-97.

 

Reference was made to Article XVI of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 27th May 1997 wherein it was remitted to the Director of Support Services to enter into appropriate agreements relating to the Waterfront Site development to achieve the matters set out in that report.

 

An agreement was subsequently entered into between the Council, Scottish Enterprise, Scottish Enterprise Tayside and Discovery Quay Developments Ltd providing inter alia that SET and DQD Ltd shall use all reasonable endeavours to secure, not later than 31st December 2003, the construction on the site adjacent to the Whitbread Hotel of not more than two office blocks to the design, plans, scale, specification and finishing to be agreed between the Council and Scottish Enterprise and DQD acting reasonably.

 

In view of the timescales involved the Director of Planning and Transportation in consultation with the Convener and spokespersons from the opposition groups and the independent member authorised the Director of Planning and Transportation to approve the designs, plans, scale, specification and finishings of the proposed development of offices on the said site.

 

The Convener agreed that the undernoted items be considered as a matter of urgency in terms of Standing Order No.51(3)(b) in view of the timescales involved.

 

XXII TALL SHIPS EVENT

 

It was reported that Dundee Industrial Heritage were to host a Tall Ships Event in Dundee over the weekend of 11th and 12th August, 2001.

 

With regard to parking, as an additional contribution to the event it had been suggested that any additional income generated over the normal parking income could be donated to Dundee Industrial Heritage. Given the scale of the event, it was intended to request that charges would apply in Dundee City Council car parks on the Sunday with all income going to Dundee Industrial Heritage.

 

It was not intended that this charging be applied through a variation to the Traffic Order with the ability then to apply fines for non-payment or overstay but rather that it was a request to pay and contribute to covering the cost of the event and a contribution to Dundee Industrial Heritage.

 

The Committee agreed that the additional income generated in Dundee City Council car parks on Saturday, 11th August and Sunday, 12th August be donated to Dundee Industrial Heritage.

 

XXIII VARIATION OF THE TAYSIDE REGIONAL COUNCIL (CITY OF DUNDEE TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT SCHEME) (REVIEW) ORDER 1994

 

It was intimated that it was proposed that the Traffic Order be varied to specifically permit access to the High Street for up to two wedding cars to allow Brides and Bridesmaids to alight at the west side of the front of the City Square. Such cars would have to follow the designated entrance and exit route as specified in the Order, and would be instructed to proceed at no more than four miles per hour, with headlights on and hazard warning lights flashing. The Chief Constable would be notified of all weddings due to take place in the City Chambers so that in the event of a possible clash with any other events, alternative arrangements could be made.

 

The Committee approved the proposal and remitted to the Director of Support Services, in consultation with the Director of Planning and Transportation, to prepare a Traffic Regulation Order to give effect to this proposal. The Committee further agreed that in the event of no adverse comments being received during the statutory consultation period, to authorise the formal publication of the Order.

 

 

 

 

ROBIN PRESSWOOD, Convener.