Leisure, Arts And Communities Committee - 10/12/2001

At a MEETING of the NEIGHBOURHOOD RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 10th December, 2001.

Present:-

COUNCILLORS

Councillor WARD, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 12th November, 2001 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I SOCIAL INCLUSION PARTNERSHIPS - ALLOCATION OF RESOURCES 2001/2002

There was submitted Report No. 779-2001 by the Director of Neighbourhood Resources and Development bringing forward further proposals for grant awards from the Social Inclusion Partnership 1 Small Grants Fund 2001/2002.

The Committee agreed the award of Social Inclusion Partnership Small Grants as set out in Appendix A of the report.

II EXTENSION OF CCTV - CENTRAL LIBRARY

There was submitted Report No. 780-2001 by the Director of Neighbourhood Resources and Development detailing a quotation received for the upgrade of the CCTV and Door Entry System at the Central Library and requesting a decision on acceptance thereof.

The Committee approved the acceptance of the quotation submitted by ADT Fire and Security for the amount of 14,728.

III NON-RECURRING REVENUE GRANTS FUND VI 2001/2002

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 Report No. 781-2001 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 4,400 to Young Quality Scot (Quality Scotland).

IV TENDERS RECEIVED

There was submitted Report No. 770-2001 by the City Architectural Services Officer detailing tenders received and requesting a decision on acceptance thereof.

In respect of Blackness Library - Toilets, the Committee approved acceptance of the tender submitted by Alexander Oastler Limited, Dundee for the sum of 49,480.50, together with allowances of 8,447, giving a total amount of 57,927.50.

In respect of Ardler Neighbourhood Centre - Alterations to Entrance, the Committee approved acceptance of the tender submitted by Forman Construction Limited, Dundee for the sum of 21,824, together with allowances of 4,032, giving a total amount of 25,856.

In respect of Fintry Neighbourhood Library - Access Improvements, the Committee approved acceptance of the tender submitted by Alexander Oastler Limited, Dundee for the sum of 26,049.04, together with allowances of 5,217, giving a total amount of 31,266.04.

In respect of Finmill Neighbourhood Centre - Disabled Access Improvements, the Committee approved acceptance of the tender submitted by Alexander Oastler Limited, Dundee for the sum of 30,749.76, together with allowances of 6,026, giving a total amount of 36,775.76.

V VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS TRAINING GRANTS FUND II 2001/2002

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 Report No. 782-2001 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 The Inclusion Group.

VI COMMUNITY RESOURCE BASE - TRANSFER OF RESPONSIBILITY

Dundee City Council inherited the Community Resource Base from the Community Education Service of Tayside Regional Council. The Resource Base comprises a wide range of equipment and resources which are accessed by community and voluntary organisations and used by staff of the Neighbourhood Resources and Development Department in their work with youth and community groups.

An internal review of the level of usage of the Resource Base had highlighted that, while some resources are being used on a regular basis by a small number of groups, the vast majority of resources were under-used and that there was a need to rethink the way in which the Resource Base operated. Separately, the Department had been offered funding to extend ground floor access for adult basic education work within the Mitchell Street Centre - raising the question of the need to relocate the Resource Base.

Initially, the Department had proposed de-segregating the equipment held in the Resource Base to a variety of different centres across the City. However, following an approach from Dundee Voluntary Action, it was now recommended that the resources held within the Resource Base be transferred to Dundee Voluntary Action on the understanding that these resources would continue to be made available to community and voluntary organisations within the City and to staff of the Neighbourhood Resources and Development Department working with community and voluntary organisations.

The Scottish Executive had recently provided additional funding to Dundee Voluntary Action to enable it to extend its support and to build the capacity of the voluntary sector in Dundee. Dundee Voluntary Action was therefore well placed to promote use of these resources and to increase their accessibility to the groups they are intended to benefit. While there would be no direct cost of Dundee City Council, the transfer of resources from the control of the City Council to an independent voluntary organisation required the approval of the Council.

The Committee approved the transfer of responsibility.

BETTY WARD, Convener.