Leisure, Arts And Communities Committee - 17/04/2000

At a MEETING of the NEIGHBOURHOOD RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 17th April, 2000.

Present:-

COUNCILLORS

Councillor KEMP, Convener, in the Chair.

I COMMUNITY LEARNING STRATEGY - DUNDEE CITY

There was submitted Report No.281-2000 by the Director of Neighbourhood Resources and Development presenting the Community Learning Strategy for Dundee City for the period 2000/2003 for approval.

The Committee approved the following recommendations:-

(i) to note and approve the Community Learning Strategy for Dundee City for the period 2000/2003;

(ii) to instruct officers to forward the Report to the Secretary of State for Scotland and to proceed with implementing the recommendations as contained in the Strategy.

II SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE CONSULTATION: "SUPPORTING ACTIVE COMMUNITIES IN SCOTLAND: ADRAFT STRATEGY FOR VOLUNTEERING AND COMMUNITY ACTION"

There was submitted Report No.282-2000 by the Director of Neighbourhood Resources and Development noting the content of the consultation document, identifying the key objectives and their relationship to Dundee City Council policies and determining the Council's response.

The Committee approved the following recommendations:-

(i) to note the content of the Scottish Executive's consultation document

"Supporting Active Communities in Scotland: A Draft Strategy for Volunteering and Community Action";

(ii) to endorse the key objectives of the Strategy (see Section 6);

(iii) to note and accept in principle the proposal that local authority Council leaders should champion the Active Community Strategy;

(iv) to instruct the Director of Neighbourhood Resources and Development to forward key points from consultation meetings held in Dundee to the Scottish Executive and COSLA (See Section 7).

III COMMUNITY SAFETY CHALLENGE COMPETITION 2000/2001 - MAKE OUR COMMUNITY SAFER

There was submitted Report No.283-2000 by the Director of Neighbourhood Resources and Development advising Committee on the success of the external Challenge Funding Bid for resources to support the "Dundee Repeat and Initial Victimisation Effort" part of the Home Security element of the Dundee Community Safety Partnership.

The Committee noted the success of the Partnership Bid, accepted the grant and approved the extension of services by the Home Security Trust to areas outwith the Social Inclusion Programme designated areas.

IV DEVELOPING SKILLS AND EMPLOYABILITY

There was submitted Report No.284-2000 by the Director of Neighbourhood Resources and Development advising the Committee of the Scottish Executive's consultation on Training for the Long‑term Unemployed and seeking endorsement from the Committee for comments.

The Committee agreed that the responses contained in Section 3 of the Report form the basis of Dundee City Council's response to the consultation paper.

V REPORT - THE SCOTTISH YOUTH ISSUES UNIT - YOUNG PEOPLE PARTNERS IN THE SOLUTION

There was submitted Report No.285-2000 by the Director of Neighbourhood Resources and Development advising the Committee of the key elements of the Scottish Youth Issues Unit Report and advising on current local actions which address the Report's recommendations.

The Committee approved the following recommendations:-

(i) to note the Report from the Scottish Youth Issues Unit;

(ii) to note the actions taken within the Council to address the issues raised in the Report;

(iii) to approve the construction of a Council Youth Strategy within the context of the Community Learning Strategy (See Report No.281-2000, item 7.7 and Learning Strategy Action Plan item 11.7) targeting young people in the age range 12-18 years.

VI GRANT AID 1999/2000

At the Policy and Resources Committee on 14th December 1998 (Report No. 800-1998 refers), authority was given to the Director of Neighbourhood Resources and Development to make awards up to the value of 500 to voluntary/community organisations.

The Committee noted that with effect from October 1999, 15 awards had been made at a total cost of 4,479 (Report No 286-2000) - this sum was contained within the grants' portfolio of the Department's 1999/2000 Revenue Budget.

JOHN KEMP, Convener.