City Development Committee - 03/12/2001

At a MEETING of the PLANNING AND TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 3rd December 2001.

Present:-

COUNCILLORS

Councillor PRESSWOOD, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 29th October 2001 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I DUNDEE - THE URBAN DESIGN GUIDE

On a reference to Article XV of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 27th August 2001, there was submitted Report No 637-2001 by the Director of Planning and Transportation seeking approval of the Urban Design Guide as informed by the results of the external consultation exercise.

The Committee approved the Urban Design Guide for Dundee and agreed to refer it to the Development Quality Committee as a material consideration in the determination of future planning applications.

II CITY CENTRE FACADES ENHANCEMENT GRANT SCHEME

There was submitted Report No 693-2001 by the Director of Planning and Transportation advising the Committee of an application for a Facades Enhancement Grant in respect of 34 Seagate.

The Committee agreed to award a grant of 6,000.

III COMMUNITY REGENERATION STRATEGY REVIEW

There was submitted Report No 704-2001 by the Director of Planning and Transportation advising the Committee of the mid term review of the Community Regeneration Strategy 1996 and seeking approval for the revised Dundee Community Regeneration Strategy 2001.

The Committee noted the review of the Community Regeneration Strategy 1996 and approved the mid term Dundee Community Regeneration Strategy 2001.

IV RIVER HABITATS SURVEY OF DIGHTY BURN AND ITS TRIBUTARIES

There was submitted Report No 705-2001 by the Director of Planning and Transportation reporting the key findings of the River Habitats Survey of the Dighty Burn and its tributaries.

The Committee agreed, insofar as its interests were concerned:-

(i)that the findings be taken into account in the Review of the Dundee Local Plan 1998, in order to ensure better integration between biodiversity conservation, open space management and maintenance, watercourse management and drainage systems, public access and development within the Dighty catchment;

(ii)that the Council's Public Open Space Strategy Implementation Group have regard to the findings, to promote sympathetic management and maintenance of open space within and adjacent to the Dighty; and

(iii)that those recommendations concerning the enhancement of public access be brought to the attention of the Council's Paths for All Implementation Group.

V BROUGHTY FERRY STUDY - TRAFFIC ORDER UPDATE

There was submitted report No 729-2001 by the Director of Planning and Transportation advising on progress with the Traffic Orders relative to the above Study Report and the outcome of informal consultations with road users groups and interested bodies.

The Committee agreed to:-

(i)approve the adjustments to the published order as a first phase;

(ii)introduce "loading/unloading only" bays as appropriate;

(iii)remit the Director of Planning and Transportation to advance the process to the formal advertisement of a first phase traffic order;

(iv)remit the Director of Planning and Transportation to report back to Committee on the outcome of the formal advertisement stage;

(v)remit the Director of Planning and Transportation to report back on the impact of each part of the first phase orders within six months of their implementation; and

(vi)remit the Director of Planning and Transportation to report back within a further three months of the implementation of each part of the first phase orders with a package of measures to secure implementation of the remaining measures in a second phase order.

VI DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL (ROSEMOUNT ROAD AND TURNBERRY AVENUE, DUNDEE) (STOPPING-UP OF ROADS AND FOOTPATHS) (NO 2) ORDER 2000

Reference was made to Article VIII of this Committee of 24th April 2000 wherein approval was given to stop-up the sections of roads and footpaths at Rosemount Road and Turnberry Avenue to allow for the redevelopment of Ardler Housing Estate.

It was reported that the Order had been duly prepared and advertised in the Dundee Courier and Advertiser and the relevant statutory undertakers consulted. One objection had been received and was later withdrawn.

The Committee therefore authorised and confirmed the Stopping-Up Order and authorised formal publication of the confirmation after which the Order will become operative.

VII DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL (off-street car parks) (abercraig car park) (variation) order 2001

Reference was made to Article XIV of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 25th June 2001 wherein approval was given for the preparation of an Order to include Abercraig Car Park in the Off-Street Car Parks Order for the purpose of control and charging.

It was reported that the proposed Order had been duly drafted and advertised and no adverse comments or objections received.

The Committee therefore agreed to make the Order as advertised.

VIII DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL (melfort place, dundee) (stopping-up) order 2001

Reference was made to Article IX of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 4th June 2001 wherein authority was given to stop-up the sections of roads, footpaths and footways at Melfort Place as they had become unnecessary following the demolition of Trottick Court, Mains Court and Claverhouse Court.

It was reported that the Order was duly prepared and advertised and no objections were received.

The Committee therefore authorised and confirmed the Stopping-Up Order and authorised formal publication of the confirmation, after which the Order will become operative.

IX CYCLING, WALKING AND SAFER STREETS (CWSS) PROJECTS

There was submitted Report No 498-2001 by the Director of Planning and Transportation seeking approval for a programme of works for the years 2001/02 and 2002/03 funded from additional capital consent given by the Scottish Executive for Cycling, Walking and Safer Streets (CWSS) Projects.

The Committee approved the proposed programme of works set out within the report.

X CYCLING IN THE CITY 2001

Reference was made to Article III of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 25th June 2001 wherein Report No 253-2001, Cycling in the City 2001, was approved, subject to further ratification through consultation with cyclist user groups.

It was reported that consultation had been undertaken with Sustrans, Scotland and the Cyclists Touring Club Right to Ride Network and both organisations had expressed full support for the document and its contents.

The Committee noted that the Cycling in the City 2001 document aims to assist Dundee in achieving the national aims of doubling of cycle usage in the city by the end of 2001 and again by 2011. To date it has been instrumental in raising awareness of this issue and in gaining external funding to achieve progress towards these targets.

XI DROPPED KERBS

There was submitted Report No 650-2001 by the Director of Planning and Transportation proposing a revised procedure and a financial allocation to enable adequate dropped kerbs to be provided to improve opportunities towards increased mobility.

The Committee agreed to:-

(i)approve the introduction of a priority procedure, in conjunction with Social Work and Housing, for the justification of dropped kerbs; and

(ii)allocate 20,000 per annum from the existing Planning and Transportation revenue budget toward installing networks of dropped kerbs.

XII EXTENSION OF CONTROLLED PARKING ZONE

There was submitted Report No 685-2001 by the Director of Planning and Transportation proposing the preparation of a Traffic Regulation Order to include Nethergate, west of South Tay Street and Perth Road, east of Roseangle in the Central Area Controlled Parking Zone in order to introduce pay and display parking.

The Committee approved the preparation of the necessary Traffic Regulation Variation Order to include the aforementioned lengths of Nethergate and Perth Road in the Central Area Controlled Parking Zone for the purpose of introducing pay and display parking.

XIII LICENSING OF OFF-STREET CAR PARKS

There was submitted Report No 730-2001 by the Director of Planning and Transportation seeking authority to undertake the necessary procedures to introduce a system of Licensing of Off-Street Car Parks in accordance with Control of Off-Street Parking (Scotland) Order 1979.

The Committee approved the designation of the Dundee City Council area as a "controlled area" in accordance with the aforementioned regulations, subject to future Committee approvals, and remitted to the Directors of Support Services and Planning and Transportation to consult with commercial operators of car parks who levy a charge or require payment in kind for the facility, in order that the objectives of the new licensing system can be introduced in an equitable manner.

XIV PROPOSED NEW STREET NAMES

There were submitted the undernoted proposed new street names:-

The Committee agreed to defer consideration of this item to the next meeting of the Planning and Transportation Committee of 17th December 2001 or, should timescales not permit, to delegate the item to the Chief Planning Officer following consultation with the Convener and the local elected member.

XV APPLICATION FOR CONSTRUCTION CONSENT

The Committee approved the undernoted applications for Construction Consent, subject to the conditions which had been agreed with the contractors:-

It was further agreed that, on the 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.

Councillor Rolfe declared an interest in this item and took no part in the discussion thereof.

XVI CONFIRMATION OF TREE PRESERVATION ORDER NO 2 2001 - BLACKNESS NURSERY, PERTH ROAD, DUNDEE

It was reported that on 20th June 2001 the Council had made a Provisional Tree Preservation Order on the abovementioned site to protect the trees, including some significantly rare species, contained within the old Lauries Nursery, which was to be sold for development purposes.

The Committee authorised the Director of Support Services and the Director of Planning and Transportation to undertake the necessary procedures and confirm the Tree Preservation Order.

XVII CONFIRMATION OF TREE PRESERVATION ORDER NO 3 2001 - HARRIS ACADEMY ANNEXE, LOGIE SCHOOL, DUNDEE

It was reported that 11th July 2001 the Council had made a Provisional Tree Preservation Order on the abovementioned site to protect the trees contained within the former school grounds, which was to be sold for development purposes.

The Committee authorised the Director of Support Services and the Director of Planning and Transportation to undertake the necessary procedures and confirm the Tree Preservation Order.

XVIII SIP MONITORING AND EVALUATION UNIT FUNDING 2001/02

On a reference to Article XI of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 22nd November 1999 the Committee approved the City Council's funding contribution for 2001/02 to the SIP Monitoring and Evaluation Unit, based at the Geddes Centre, School of Town and Regional Planning at the University of Dundee.

The Committee noted that the allocation from the Council funding for 2001/2002 was 14,000 made up of 5,000 from Planning and Transportation Revenue Budget and 9,000 from the Social Inclusion Partnership Fund held within the Neighbourhood Resources and Development Departments revenue budget.

XIX LOCAL TRANSPORT STRATEGY MONITOR

Reference was made to Article VI of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 30th October 2000 wherein the Local Transport Strategy was approved. At that time, provision was made for a monitoring statement in December 2001 in line with expected requirements of the Scottish Executive.

It was reported that to date the Scottish Executive had made no details of their requirements for monitoring known. In addition, the Local Transport Strategy is underpinned by some 42 targets related to the implementation of a wide range of transportation elements, of which almost half involve annual statistical returns collated in December.

Given the imminence of the availability of updated monitoring indicators and lack of current guidance from the Scottish Executive, it was felt to be more appropriate to report back to Committee early in 2002 when robust data on progress is available.

The Committee noted accordingly.

XX TENDERS RECEIVED

(i) There was submitted Report No 778-2001 by the City Architectural Services Officer detailing tenders received in respect of new external wall lighting at the Hub and Brooksbank Library.

The Committee approved acceptance of the lowest offer in the sum of 1,952 from Philectric Limited, Dundee, together with allowances, giving a total amount of 2,282.

(ii) There was submitted Report No 762-2001 by the City Engineer detailing tenders received in respect of environmental improvements at Happyhillock Road.

The Committee approved acceptance of the lowest offer, in the sum of 174,794.42 from T & N Gilmartin Limited, together with allowances, giving a total amount of 222,000.

It was reported that the Convener had agreed that the undernoted item be considered as a matter of urgency, in terms of Standing Order 52(3)(b), in view of the timescales involved.

XXI DUNDEE CITY CENTRE STREET FAIR - REQUEST TO OCCUPY PUBLIC ROADS

There was submitted Report No 802-2001 by the Director of Planning and Transportation regarding a request to close certain roads in the City Centre area in connection with the City Centre Street Fair at New Year.

The Committee agreed to grant permission to close roads under Section 62 of the Roads Scotland Act 1984 to enable Horne's Pleasure Fairs to hold a Street Fair in Dundee City Centre as detailed in the report and subject to the conditions stated.

CONFIDENTIAL ITEM

The Committee resolved, under Section 50(A)(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, that the public and press be excluded from the meeting for the undernoted item of business on the grounds that it involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 6 and 9 of Part 1 of Schedule 7(A) of the Act.

XXII REDEVELOPMENT OF SHOPPING PRECINCT AT TURNBERRY AVENUE - COMPENSATION: UNIT 11, 679 TURNBERRY AVENUE

Reference was made to Article VII of the minute of meeting of the Planning and Transportation Committee of 25th September 2000 where it was reported that the Compulsory Purchase Order covering the shopping precinct and the owner occupied flats above had been confirmed by the Scottish Ministers and that a General Vesting Declaration (GVD) was currently being prepared with an expected date of vesting of 30th November 2000.

The GVD was made and the properties affected vested with the Council on 30th November 2000. One of these properties is Shop Unit 11, 679 Turnberry Avenue. Ian Dunbar Butchers had continued to occupy the above premises under a licence from the City Council pending demolition of the shopping centre.

The demolition contract for the shopping centre was due to be let shortly, therefore, Ian Dunbar agreed to vacate the premises by 2nd November 2001.

In view of the urgency of settling the claim, approval was given by the Director of Planning and Transportation, in consultation with the Depute Convener of the Planning and Transportation Committee and Spokespersons from the Majority and Minority Opposition Groups, to settle the claim for compensation on terms and conditions negotiated by the District Valuer.

The Committee noted accordingly.

ROBIN PRESSWOOD, Convener.