City Development Committee - 14/01/2002

At a MEETING of the ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 14th January, 2002.

Present:-

COUNCILLORS

Councillor ROLFE, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 10th December, 2001 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I MID SIZED CITIES TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE

The Director of Economic Development reported that the City Council had been invited to participate in two linked international projects, the Cyber Cities project and the Network Activities for Regional Innovation project (NARI) which would run for one year from 1st June, 2002 involving researchers from the universities in each of the cities of Augusta, Savannah, Macon, Columbus, Dundee, Pisa, Heilbronn and Cork as well as council staff. The first international workshop would take place in Stuttgart in September 2002, a local workshop in Dundee in December 2002 and a second international workshop in Atlanta in March 2003.

All costs involved in participation in the programmes would be covered by a combination of provision from the Cyber Cities project (for travel to USA) and by a proposed grant from the EU STRATA Programme (to cover workshop and travel costs in Europe).

The Committee approved the council's participation in the projects.

II DUNDEE AIRPORT - A REVIEW OF AIRPORT DEVELOPMENT AND A FOUR YEAR CAPITAL EXPENDITURE PLAN: 2002-3 TO 2005-6

The Director of Economic Development submitted Report No. 37-2002 proposing a firm programme of capital investment at Dundee Airport for financial year 2002-03 and setting out an indicative programme for the three following years. If approved the programme would become a formal submission to the Department of Local Government, Transport and the Regions for Specific Capital Borrowing Consent.

The Committee approved the report and authorised its formal submission to the Department of Local Government, Transport and the Regions with a request for Capital Borrowing Consent for the financial year 2002-03 programme.

III ESCALATOR UPGRADE - TAYSIDE HOUSE

The Director of Economic Development submitted Report No. 45-2002 giving details of a quotation from the contractor who had maintained and serviced the escalators since they were installed, Kone Escalators Ltd, to carry out the cleaning and repainting of steps and upgrade chain guides to two escalators at Tayside House for the sum of 19,792.49.

The Committee agreed to accept the quotation.

IV TENDERS RECEIVED

The City Engineer submitted Report No. 18-2002 giving details of offers received to carry out the proposed roof edge protection for Tayside House and Podium Block.

The Committee agreed to accept the lower offer by HCL Safety Limited amounting to 14,433 to which required to be added allowances of 1,567 for contingencies and 2,000 for professional fees making a total expenditure of 18,000.

V TAYSIDE HOUSE/CITY SQUARE - ACCESS AND SECURITY IMPROVEMENTS

The City Architectural Services Officer and the Director of Economic Development submitted Joint Report No. 46-2002 giving details of offers received to carry out the above works.

The Committee:-

(a)agreed to accept the lower offer by Hall & Tawse Limited amounting to 98,864.46 less allowance within tender for CCTV of 6,000 to which required to be added 14,860 for professional services, and 20,250 for CCTV installation, making a total expenditure of 127,974.46; and

(b)authorised the Director of Economic Development to obtain offers for CCTV installation and the Director of Support Services to accept the offer recommended by the Director of Economic Development.

The Committee also noted that Hall & Tawse Limited had listed Philectric Limited as the sub-contractor for electrical work.

VI TECHNOPOLE PARK - PHASE 2 AND 3 ROADWORKS AND SITE PREPARATION

It was reported that proposals had been prepared for the second and third phases of development at the Technopole Park with Phase 2 comprising treatment of the boundary walls and preparation of the ground by removing the existing former factory floor slab and underground foundations and Phase 3 comprising new access road, public utilities and a sustainable urban drainage system. It was further reported that Phase 2 would commence in February 2002 and Phase 3 could not begin on site until after June 2002 to comply with ERDF grant rules.

The Chief Executive considered that in view of the special circumstances it would not be appropriate to follow normal tendering procedures.

The Committee agreed to a partnership arrangement with Tayside Contracts at a target cost for Phases 2 and 3 of 344,500 together with allowances of 170,500 for public utility charges and contingencies and 50,000 for professional fees and contractors' staff costs of 10,000 giving an overall cost of 575,000.

VII CLAVERHOUSE EAST INDUSTRIAL ESTATES - ROADWORKS PHASE 2

It was reported that proposals had been prepared for the second phase of the service road at Claverhouse East Industrial Estate including landscaping and lighting.

The Committee agreed to accept the lowest offer under the unit rate contract from Tayside Contracts to carry out the above works for the sum of 103,658.40 to which required to be added allowances of 56,000 for installation of public utilities, 15,341.60 for contingencies, landscaping by Parks DSO up to an amount of 25,000 and professional fees of 50,000 making a total expenditure of 250,000.

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

VIII COMMERCIAL LEASES

There was submitted and approved Report No. 14-2002 by the Director of Economic Development detailing commercial leases in respect of the undernoted premises:-

8/10 Beauly Avenue

16/20 Beauly Avenue

First Floor, Air Cargo Centre, Dundee Airport

60A Craigmount Road

211 Hilltown

Office F, Market Mews

IX RENT REVIEWS

There was submitted and approved Report No. 15-2002 by the Director of Economic Development detailing the review of rent in respect of the undernoted premises:-

76-80 Ballindean Road

82 Ballindean Road

137-139 Kingsway East

2 Beauly Avenue

X HARRIS ANNEXE (SITE OF), BLACKNESS ROAD

On a reference to Article IV of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 13th March, 2000, the Director of Economic Development reported that following a fire in early 2001 the building had been demolished for safety reasons. At that point the sale of the site to the interested company had not been completed.

An offer had now been negotiated with the interested company to include the residual demolition costs to the Council and the Director of Economic Development recommended acceptance of this offer.

The Committee agreed to accept the offer.

XI SITE AT ASH STREET

It was reported that a company had applied to lease a site within the yard at Ash Street to erect a 15 metre high mobile phone mast with ancillary equipment, cabinets and provisional agreement had been reached.

The Committee agreed to the application for lease and authorised the Director of Economic Development to request the Director of Support Services to conclude the necessary legal formalities.

MERVYN ROLFE, Convener.