City Development Committee - 25/02/2002

At a MEETING of the PLANNING AND TRANSPORTATION held at Dundee on 25th February, 2002.

Present:-

COUNCILLORS

Councillor PRESSWOOD, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 28th January, 2002 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE CONSULTATION PAPER "GETTING INVOLVED IN PLANNING"

There was submitted Report No 68-2002 by the Director of Planning and Transportation seeking the Committee's views on the Scottish Executive's consultation paper "Getting Involved In Planning".

The Committee agreed to:-

(a)support in principle the Scottish Executive's suggestion that authorities should take responsibility for Neighbour Notification procedures on the understanding that a dialogue will take place between the Scottish Executive and authorities on the detail of the procedural and financial implications;

(b)endorse the comments on the Consultation Paper "Getting Involved In Planning" (November 2001) outlined in Sections 7, 8 and 9 and the Appendix to the report; and

(c)remit the Director of Planning and Transportation to forward these comments as the Council's formal response, to the Scottish Executive prior to 31st March, 2002.

II DUNDEE LOCAL PLAN REVIEW - RESPONSE TO ISSUES PAPERS

There was submitted Report No 86-2002 by the Director of Planning and Transportation advising the Committee of the responses received to the Issues Papers that were published to encourage public involvement in the Dundee Local Plan Review process.

The Committee agreed to note that the Issues Papers had encouraged a broad range of responses that would now be considered in the preparation of the Consultative Draft Local Plan Review.

III SUSTAINABILITY APPRAISAL OF THE FINALISED DUNDEE AND ANGUS STRUCTURE PLAN

There was submitted Report No 90-2002 by the Director of Planning and Transportation advising the Committee of the results of the second stage of the Sustainability Appraisal of the Dundee and Angus Structure Plan.

The Committee agreed to:-

(a)note both the outcome of the second stage of the Sustainability Appraisal process and the Consultants' views on how the changes introduced in the course of finalising the Structure Plan have improved its sustainability; and

(b)remit the Director of Planning and Transportation to submit the first and second stage Sustainability Appraisal documents to the Scottish Ministers as supporting documents to assist their consideration of the (already submitted) Finalised Structure Plan.

IV FLOOD PREVENTION AND LAND DRAINAGE (SCOTLAND) ACT 1997

There was submitted Report No 228-2002 by the Director of Planning and Transportation advising the Committee on the completion of the third biannual report on flooding and seeking approval for the publication of this Report as required by the Flood Prevention and Land Drainage (Scotland) Act 1997.

The Committee agreed to note the content of the report and authorise its publication.

V TAY ESTUARY FORUM

It was reported that Dundee City Council was one of sixteen partners in the Tay Estuary Forum, a non-statutory voluntary partnership established in late 1997 as part of Scottish Natural Heritage's initiative "Focus on Firths". The Tay Estuary Forum is dedicated to safeguarding the future wellbeing of the Tay Estuary and adjacent coastline and an immediate objective is the preparation of a Coastal Zone Management plan within three years.

It was noted that considerable progress had been made in the previous three years but it was now necessary to secure funding for the next three years. Dundee City Council has contributed to the funding of the Project Officer post and to other Forum initiatives both in financial terms and in staff time. The continued collaboration of the Forum will ensure that management of the Tay Estuary and the adjacent coastline can be reviewed and updated regularly, thereby ensuring a sustainable approach for the future. By having in place core funding, the Tay Estuary Forum would be in a position to make application to a range of bodies for funding.

The Committee approved a contribution of 1,000 from within the Planning and Transportation Department's 2001-2002 Revenue Budget and a contribution of 2,000 per annum thereafter for a period of 3 financial years, subject to availability of resources, to be funded from a contribution of 1,500 from the Planning and Transportation Department's Revenue Budget and the balance of 500 to be met from within the Environmental and Consumer Protection Department's Revenue Budget.

VI CITY CENTRE FACADE ENHANCEMENT GRANT SCHEME

There was submitted Report No 88-2002 by the Director of Planning and Transportation advising of two applications for grant assistance under the City Centre Facade Enhancement Grant Scheme.

The Committee approved the undernoted grants in respect of the properties detailed:-

VII BLUE BADGE PARKING SCHEME FOR DISABLED PEOPLE

There was submitted Report No 74-2002 by the Director of Planning and Transportation detailing the proposed response to the Department of Transport, discussion paper entitled "The Blue Badge Parking Scheme for Disabled People".

The Committee noted the proposed responses as detailed in the report and remitted to the Director of Planning and Transportation to submit them to the Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions' Mobility Inclusion Unit.

VIII WHITFIELD DRIVE/WHITFIELD SQUARE - STOPPING UP

There was submitted Report No 131-2002 by the Director of Planning and Transportation relative to proposals to stop-up footpaths at Whitfield Drive/Whitfield Square in order to allow the construction of new housing.

The Committee agreed to approve the preparation of the necessary Roads Order to stop-up footpaths in the Whitfield Drive/Whitfield Square area, and subject to no objections to the Order being received or all objections received being withdrawn, to authorise the formal confirmation of the Order.

IX NINEWELLS HOSPITAL WAITING RESTRICTIONS

There was submitted Report No 84-2002 by the Director of Planning and Transportation relative to a proposal to delete waiting restrictions at Ninewells Hospital following a request from the Tayside University Hospitals NHS Trust.

The Committee approved the preparation of the necessary Traffic Regulation Variation Order to delete reference to the waiting restrictions at Ninewells Hospital in the Tayside Region (Western Area, Dundee) (Waiting Restrictions) (Consolidation) Order 1987.

X ARTS AND SCIENCE CENTRE CAR PARKS - VARIATION ON CONTROLS

There was submitted Report No 96-2002 by the Director of Planning and Transportation proposing that the Arts Centre and Science car parks be restricted for the use only of patrons of these establishments.

The Committee approved the preparation of the necessary Traffic Regulation Variation Order to restrict use of the Arts Centre and Science Centre car parks to patrons of these establishments.

XI DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL (SCHOOL KEEP CLEAR AREAS) (VARIATION) ORDER 2002

Reference was made to Article I of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 29th October, 2001 wherein authority was given to the preparation of an Order to improve safety for school children by prohibiting vehicles from stopping adjacent to the school entrance in Lawton Road.

It was reported that the proposed Order was duly drafted and during the statutory consultation period no adverse comments were received.

The Committee therefore authorised publication of the Order as drafted.

XII DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL (VARIATION OF WAITING RESTRICTIONS) ORDER 2002

Reference was made to Article VIII of the minute of meeting of the Planning and Transportation Committee of 30th October, 2000 wherein authority was given to the preparation of an Order introducing further measures to vary the provisions of numerous existing Waiting Restrictions Orders affecting Dundee.

It was reported that the proposed Order was duly drafted and during the statutory consultation period comments were received regarding Ninewells Avenue and as a result of these comments the paragraph in Section D relating to Ninewells Avenue was deleted.

The Order was then duly advertised and no objections received.

Accordingly, the Committee agreed to make the Order as advertised.

XIII SPEED LIMIT - GOURDIE BRAE

There was submitted Report No 62-2002 by the Director of Planning and Transportation seeking approval to extend the 30mph speed limit on Gourdie Brae north to protect concealed accesses and to introduce a 40mph limit on the remaining length of road.

The Committee agreed:-

(a)that a Speed Limit Order be promoted to extend the 30mph limit northwards on Gourdie Brae to include the concealed accesses to Gourdie Cottages and the Scottish Crop Research Institute, the new start point of the limit to be immediately south of the U328 Liff (Hospital) Road junction as detailed on the attached plan; and

(b)that from the U328 Liff (Hospital) Road junction northwards to the junction with the A923 at Birkhill a 40mph limit be introduced to achieve speeds more suited to this road with horizontal and vertical visibility problems along its entire length.

XIV CONFIRMATION OF TREE PRESERVATION ORDER, SHIELL COURT, BROUGHTY FERRY

It was reported that on 4th October, 2001 the Council had made a Provisional Tree Preservation Order on the abovementioned site to protect the trees within a Sheltered Housing Development, trees bordering a private access road and trees within certain private gardens.

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.

XV CONFIRMATION OF TREE PRESERVATION ORDER, THOMAS WISE PLACE, DUNDEE

It was reported that on 20th November, 2001 the Council made a Provisional Tree Preservation Order to protect the trees within the abovementioned site, which was to be developed for housing.

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.

XVI APPLICATIONS FOR CONSTRUCTION CONSENT - NEW ROADS

(a) APPLICATIONS FOR CONSTRUCTION CONSENT

The Committee approved the undernoted applications subject to conditions which had been agreed with the applicants.

Furthermore it was 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.

XVIII CIVIC GOVERNMENT (SCOTLAND) ACT, 1982 - PROPOSED NEW STREET NAMES

The Committee approved the undernoted new street names:-

XVIII TENDERS RECEIVED

There was submitted Report No 104-2002 by the Director of Planning and Transportation detailing tenders received in respect of Thornton Road Environmental Improvements.

The Committee approved acceptance of the lowest offer from J D Minto Ltd in the sum of 30,347.02, together with allowances amounting to 4,152.98, giving a total of 34,500.

XIX COMPULSORY PURCHASE ORDER CONFIRMATION, 21-25 UNION STREET

Reference was made to Article X of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 30th March, 1998, wherein it was agreed to serve a Listed Building Repairs Notice on the owners of 21-25 Union Street. It was also agreed that failure to comply with the Listed Building Repairs Notice by the owners, would result in the Council serving a Compulsory Purchase Order which has a direction for minimum compensation. The Compulsory Purchase Order was served on all the owners on 13th March, 2000.

It was reported that the District Valuer in July 2000 placed a valuation of 12,600 on all four of Mossadeque Hussain's flats and the Director of Support Services was advised by Historic Scotland, acting on behalf of the Scottish Ministers, that they could not support the direction for minimum compensation.

A minute of agreement was subsequently drawn up between the City Council and SL Development, whereby the Council would only compulsorily acquire the four flats from Mossadeque Hussain and dispose of these to SL Development, who in conjunction with Hillcrest Housing Association, would refurbish the property. SL Development agreed to pay 12,600 for the four flats.

It was therefore recommended that the direction for minimum compensation be withdrawn, so that the confirmation of the Compulsory Purchase Order can be proceeded with. This would allow the Council to proceed with the disposal of the four flats to SL Development and bring about the improvement to 21-25 Union Street.

In view of the urgency of confirming the Compulsory Purchase Order, approval was given by the Director of Planning and Transportation following consultation with the Convener and spokespersons from the Major and Minority Opposition Groups.

The Committee noted accordingly.

ROBIN PRESSWOOD, Convener.