Leisure, Arts And Communities Committee - 12/11/2001

At a MEETING of the NEIGHBOURHOOD RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 12th November, 2001.

Present:-

COUNCILLORS

Councillor WRIGHT, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 15th October, 2001 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I INTRODUCTION OF LEARNING CENTRES IN NEIGHBOURHOOD RESOURCES

There was submitted Report No. 717-2001 by the Director of Neighbourhood Resources and Development seeking approval for the City Architectural Services Officer and the Head of Information Technology to obtain offers and tenders, and for the Director of Support Services and the Head of Information Technology where appropriate, in conjunction with the Director of Neighbourhood Resources and Development to accept these offers and tenders for ICT communication systems and hardware, electrical cabling, furniture and building work incurred in the development of Learning Centres.

The Committee approved the following recommendations:-

(a)that the City Architectural Services Officer and the Head of Information Technology be authorised to obtain offers and tenders for the work and materials involved in the development of Learning Centres;

(b)that the Director of Support Services, in conjunction with the Director of Neighbourhood Resources and Development, be authorised to accept the offers and tenders as recommended by the City Architectural Services Officer;

(c)that the Director of Support Services, in conjunction with the Director of Neighbourhood Resources and Development, be authorised to accept the offers and tenders as recommended by the Head of Information Technology for ICT Communication Systems and ICT hardware.

II STRATEGY FOR CREDIT UNION DEVELOPMENT IN DUNDEE

There was submitted Report No. 718-2001 by the Director of Neighbourhood Resources and Development providing a progress report and setting out the vision for establishing the Dundee City-Wide Credit Union and outlining the strategy for realising the vision. Previous Committee Report Nos. 329-2000 and 571-2000 also refer.

The Committee approved the following recommendations:-

(a) to support the strategy for developing the Dundee City Credit Union;

(b) to continue to resource credit union development in Dundee as at its current level;

(c)to support the strategy for targeting external funding to meet start-up/development costs over an initial three year period;

(d)to consult Neighbourhood Resources and Development Department staff, local management Committees and Trade Unions about establishing a network of local collection points in local Neighbourhood Centres and Libraries across the City of Dundee.

III SOCIAL INCLUSION PARTNERSHIPS: TACKLING DRUG MISUSE PHASE 2

The Director of Neighbourhood Resources and Development reported that on 28th September, 2001, the Scottish Executive Development Department advised local authorities and Social Inclusion Partnerships of an additional allocation to strengthen and deepen the work started by Social Inclusion Partnerships to tackle misuse of drugs locally. In the case of Dundee SIP 1, the provisional allocation for 2002/2003 was 49,981 and for 2003/2004 74,972. In the case of Dundee SIP 2, the provisional allocation for 2002/2003 was 54,101 and for 2003/2004 81,151.

Proposals for the use of this additional funding required to be submitted and outlined to the Scottish Executive by the end of November 2001. Priority will be given to projects funded during the first phase which have been judged to be successful. Proposals required to demonstrate the support of the local Drug and Alcohol Action Team and those involved in the SIP decision-making process.

The Community Safety Partnership will also be consulted and their advice would be sought in terms of support and development of proposed projects.

The Committee noted these developments.

IV TENDER REPORT

There was submitted Report No. 723-2001 by the City Architectural Services Officer detailing tenders received and requesting a decision on acceptance thereof.

In respect of Menzieshill Library and Neighbourhood Centre - disabled access improvements, the Committee approved the acceptance of the tender submitted by Forman Construction Limited, Dundee for the sum of 74,780.16 together with allowances of 14,061, giving a total amount of 88,841.16.

V CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR CLOSURES

It was recommended that all Neighbourhood Centres/Complexes, Neighbourhood Libraries, Central Library and Mitchell Street Centre be closed on Tuesday 25th December and Wednesday 26th December, 2001.

During the New Year period, Neighbourhood Centres/Complexes and Neighbourhood Libraries, Central Library and Mitchell Street Centre to be closed on Tuesday 1st January, re-opening on Friday 4th January, 2002.

Experience had shown that on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve, Central Library and Neighbourhood Libraries are very quiet. It was therefore recommended that Libraries scheduled to be opened beyond 5 p.m. should close at that time on Monday 24th December and Monday 31st December, 2001.

Where appropriate, staff timetables would be adjusted to take account of these opening hours i.e. all staff throughout the department would have the equivalent of five public holidays. Notices would be posted advising the public of the holiday period opening hours.

With the agreement of staff, the Corner would open on:

22nd December 1.00 pm - 4.00 pm

24th December 12 noon to 5.00 pm

27th December 12 noon to 5.00 pm

28th December 12 noon to 5.00 pm

29th December 1.00 pm to 4.00 pm

31st December 12 noon to 5.00 pm

3rd January 12 noon to 5.00 pm

4th January 12 noon to 5.00 pm

5th January 1.00 pm to 4.00 pm.

The Committee approved these arrangements.

VI NATIONAL ORGANISATIONS FUND IV 2001/02

At its meeting on 10th February, 1997, the Committee approved the criteria and procedures for the Department's grant aid portfolio (Report No.127-1997 refers).

There was submitted No. 719-2001 by the Director of Neighbourhood Resources and Development detailing a specific grant award which could be met from the relevant revenue budget 2001/2002.

The Committee approved payment of the recommended grant of 607 to the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme.

VII SOCIAL INCLUSION PARTNERSHIP - SMALL GRANTS FUND 2001/02

At its meeting on 10th February, 1997 the Committee approved the criteria and procedures for the Departments grant aid portfolio (Report No.127-1997 refers).

There was submitted Report No. 720-2001 by the Director of Neighbourhood Resources and Development detailing a specific grant award which could be met from the relevant Revenue Budget 2001/2002.

The Committee approved payment of the recommended grant of 500 to Partnerships for Christmas.

HELEN WRIGHT, Convener.