Policy And Resources Committee - 15/04/2002

At a MEETING of the POLICY AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 15th April, 2002.

Present:-

COUNCILLORS

Councillor Julia Sturrock, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 18th March 2002 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I BROOKSBANK NEIGHBOURHOOD CENTRE

There was submitted agenda note AN2-2002 intimating that the undernoted elected members had requisitioned this meeting in terms of Standing Order No. 49(2) in order that Councillors can debate options to avoid the closure of Brooksbank Neighbourhood Centre.

J. Barrie

R. Beattie

J. Corrigan

J. FitzPatrick

K. Guild

W. Sawers

D. Beattie

D. Bowes

E. Fordyce

A. Petrie.

In addition, the Committee agreed to hear a deputation on behalf of some of the user groups and after they had stated their case and had answered questions, they were thanked for their attendance and withdrew.

Thereafter Councillor Petrie, seconded by Councillor Richard Beattie moved approval of the undernoted.

To avoid closure of a well established and very important Neighbourhood Resource Centre (Brooksbank Neighbourhood Resource Centre). This Committee agrees

1.to restoring the estimated revenue savings of 43,000 identified in the Revenue Budget 2002/2003 proposals that were agreed at the Finance Committee on 14 February 2002.

2.that the savings identified above be restored from Dundee City Council's General Fund balance.

3.that the Director of Neighbourhood Resources and Development be instructed to continue negotiations with local groups on options and alternatives and in the meantime the facility should remain open.

4.that in the event of a satisfactory option being found, the Director of Neighbourhood Resources and Development be instructed to review the arrangements after one year.

As an amendment, Councillor Wright, seconded by Councillor Sturrock, moved that the Committee:

(i)note that negotiations are continuing with interested parties;

(ii)note that a meeting with the Local Management Group and other key voluntary sector groupings will be held on Wednesday, 17th April, 2002; and

(iii)confirm its instruction to the Director of Neighbourhood Resources and Development to return to the Committee with recommendations regarding the future of the Brooksbank Centre no later than 10th June, 2002.

On a division, there voted for the motion - Councillors Barrie, Richard Beattie, Dawson, Sawers, FitzPatrick, Petrie, Guild, Corrigan, Dave Beattie, Fordyce, Bowes and Borthwick (12); and for the amendment - Lord Provost Letford, Councillors Sturrock, de Gernier, Wright, Ward, Shimi, Presswood, Regan, Farquhar, Glen, Grant, Rolfe, Powrie, Mackie, Wallace, Scott and Macpherson (17) - whereupon the amendment was declared carried.

The Convener agreed that the undernoted item be considered as a matter of urgency in terms of Standing Order No. 51(3)(b) in view of the timescales involved.

II DUNDEE PALESTINIAN SOLIDARITY CAMPAIGN

The Committee agreed to hear a deputation from the Dundee Palestinian Solidarity Campaign regarding the hostilities in the Middle East.

After they had stated their case, they were thanked for their attendance and withdrew.

Thereafter it was remitted to the Leader of the Majority Group, the Leader of the Major Opposition Group and the Leader of the Minority Group to give further consideration to this matter.

JULIA STURROCK, Convener.