Recess Sub-committee - 15/07/2002

At a MEETING of the RECESS SUB-COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 15th July, 2002.

Present:-

COUNCILLORS

Councillor STURROCK, Convener, in the Chair.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I TENDERS RECEIVED FOR TAY ESTUARY RAIL STUDY

There was submitted Report No. 569-2002 by the Director of Planning and Transportation detailing tenders received for the Tay Estuary Rail Study and requesting a decision on acceptance thereof.

The Sub-Committee approved the appointment of Steer Davies Gleave/Babtie Group Partnership at an estimated cost of 88,870.

II ALBERT SQUARE - APPOINTMENT OF CONSULTANTS

There was submitted Report No. 570-2002 by the Director of Planning and Transportation requesting approval to commission consultants to develop design proposals for Albert Square and the area around the McManus Galleries.

The Sub-Committee approved the appointment of Page & Park to develop the initial design work for Albert Square and the environs of McManus Galleries. The overall cost of this part of the study was 50,000.

III TENDERS RECEIVED

There was submitted Report No. 568-2002 by the City Architectural Services Officer detailing tenders received and requesting decisions on acceptance thereof.

(a) DUNDEE AIRPORT - RELOCATION OF WINDSOCK ETC.

The Sub-Committee agreed to accept the lowest offer by Land and Building Services, Dundee amounting to 18,903.28 to which required to be added an allowance of 3,188 for professional services, making a total expenditure of 22,091.28.

(b) MENZIESHILL 3RD DEVELOPMENT - PITCHED ROOF REPAIRS PHASE 3

The Sub-Committee agreed to accept the offer by Dundee Contract Services amounting to 202,834.79 to which required to be added an allowance of 13,705 for professional services, making a total expenditure of 216,539.79.

IV TWA SEMIS YOUTH PROJECT

There was submitted Joint Report No. 559-2002 by the Director of Neighbourhood Resources and Development and the Director of Personnel and Management Services seeking approval for the appointment of a Youth Worker funded from the BBC Children In Need Initiative.

The Sub-Committee approved the following fixed term post to 1st August, 2005 - 1 FTE Youth Worker (CEW) 16,673 - 21,536.

V LEISURE AND ARTS DEPARTMENT - ESTABLISHMENT OF FIXED TERM POST

Reference was made to Articles VII and VI of the Education and Leisure and Arts Committees respectively of 17th June, 2002 which had considered and approved a report on Grant Aid to Promote Sporting and Physical Activity in Out of School Care Clubs.

There was submitted Agenda Note AN139-2002 advising that, in order to take this initiative forward, it was proposed to establish a post of Children's Sports Co-ordinator. The Co-ordinator would work with the 16 Out of School Care Clubs in the City, planning and delivering physical activities to encourage youngsters attending the clubs to take part. They would also train and encourage playleaders and playworkers employed in the Clubs to participate in the delivery of planned programmes.

The cost of the proposal was 12,993 in this financial year and 19,489 in the full financial year and would be met from the new childcare projects and childcare workforce development funding from the Scottish Executive.

The Sub-Committee approved the establishment of a post of Children's Sports Co-ordinator, Grade AP2, currently 14,984 - 16,217 on a fixed term basis until 31st March, 2004.

VI VISIT TO DUBAI

There was submitted Agenda Note AN141-2002 advising the Sub-Committee that on 6th May; 2002 his Highness Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum visited the City of Dundee to formally open the Al-Maktoum Institute for Arabic and Islamic Studies, University of Abertay Dundee, as patron.

His Highness was very committed to developing the relationship already built with the City of Dundee and had invited a delegation from the City, the University and the Institute to visit Dubai to further this relationship.

Since arrangements had yet to be finalised, it was not possible at this time to indicate the costs of participation and the visit. However, any expenditure would be contained with in the existing approved revenue budgets.

The Sub-Committee agreed that the Lord Provost and the Director of Economic Development should participate in the visit.

The Convener agreed to consider the undernoted items of business as a matter of urgency in terms of Standing Order No. 52(3)(b) in view of the timescales involved.

VII DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL (CENTRAL AREA FOURTH ZONE) (BELL STREET, COMMERCIAL STREET, CONSTITUTIONSTREET, EUCLID CRESCENT, WEST BELL STREET AND MEADOWSIDE) (PROHIBITION OF

Reference was made to Article VI of the minute of meeting of the Planning and Transportation Committee held on 30th April, 2001 instructing and authorising the preparation of an Order to:-

(i) remove non-essential through traffic from the city centre whilst allowing easy penetration for public transport; and

(ii) create a safer, more pleasant environment for pedestrians in Albert Square and the Bell Street area.

There was submitted Agenda Note AN143-2002 stating that the proposed Order was duly drafted and during the statutory consultation period, three objections were received but later withdrawn. As a result of these comments the Order was amended per Article IV of this Committee of 29th April, 2002. The Order was duly advertised and one objection was received.

The Sub-Committee agreed to make the Order.

VIII DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL (NORTH EAST CORRIDOR) (VARIATION OF TRAFFIC REGULATIONS) ORDER 2002

Reference was made to Article VII of the minute of meeting of the Planning and Transportation Committee held on 26th March, 2001 instructing and authorising the preparation of an Order to facilitate public transport priorities following the construction of Lower Princes Street between Princes Street and Blackscroft.

There was submitted Agenda Note AN144-2002 advising that the proposed Order has been duly drafted and during the statutory consultation period no adverse comments were received. The Order was duly advertised and there were no objections.

The Sub-Committee agreed to make the Order as advertised.

IX DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL (ALBERT STREET) (TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT SCHEME) ORDER 2002

The Sub-Committee agreed to suspend Standing Order No. 38(i) in order to consider this amendment.

Reference was made to Article XVII of the minute of meeting of the Planning and Transportation Committee of 27th May, 2002 wherein the Committee authorised publication of an Order introducing further measures to:

(i) improve safety by reducing the volume of unnecessary through traffic in Albert Street.

(ii) improve facilities in the shopping area and to enhance walking, cycling and public transport use.

(iii) increase the number of short term parking spaces near the shops.

(iv) improve safety at the Forfar Road/Albert Street/Dura Street/Pitkerro Road junction by introducing traffic signal controls and re-aligning the junction and closing a section of Mains Loan; and

(v) improve penetration for local traffic in Albert Street by allowing two-way traffic over its entire length.

There was submitted Agenda Note AN145-2002 stating that the Order was duly advertised and there were no objections. However, an objection had been received prior to statutory consultation period.

The Sub-Committee approved an amendment to the Order to allow a relaxation in the proposed prohibition of driving in Mains Loan to a prohibition of entry in a southbound direction. This would enable traffic serving property between Dura Street and Mollison Street to exit northwards and save having to turn into a street of restricted width. The initial problem was the difficult exit from Mains Loan into the junction of Albert Street/Dura Street/Forfar Road.

X PLANNING APPLICATION - EXTENSION AND ELEVATIONAL ALTERATIONS TO CLASS 2 OFFICE AND OLDPOLICE STATION, FINTRY ROAD, DUNDEE

There was submitted Agenda Note AN146-2002 stating that the Report had been withdrawn by the Director of Planning and Transportation at the Committee meeting on 24th June, 2002 due to the need for the report to consider additional information. The information concerned related to a proposal to extend the village square at this location. This information was not available when the Report was prepared and it was considered that this required to be investigated prior to the Committee reaching a decision.

Before the proposal for the village square extension could subsequently be taken into account in a revised Report, the applicant appealed against the non-determination of the planning application to the Scottish Executive Inquiry Reporters.

The Sub-Committee agreed to refuse the application on the grounds that it was premature pending the outcome of further investigations into the planning status and viability of the proposals for the extension to the village square.

XI NHS UK TRANSPLANT ORGAN DONOR CAMPAIGN

There was submitted Agenda Note AN147-2002 advising that the above organisation campaigns on an ongoing basis to attract more organ donors and a recent initiative by local authorities, in conjunction with UK Transplant, had begun to make a difference.

The recent development involved local Civic Heads asking their citizens to consider registering as organ donors. This was done through a personal invitation to do so sent in the post along with the Electoral Registration Canvass forms which were due to be sent anyway to every household in the city in the next few weeks. This meant that cost implications would be minimal both to the Council and the citizens and experience elsewhere suggested that as many as 15% of the City's electorate (109,213) may sign up as organ donors. As this campaign extended, UK wide shortages of organs could become a thing of the past within 2 or 3 years.

The Sub-Committee agreed that Dundee City Council should participate in this exercise and that authority be granted for the Lord Provost to add an appropriate letter to the Electoral Registration Canvass material.

XII DUNDEE AND ANGUS STRUCTURE PLAN - DRAFT MODIFICATIONS

There was submitted Report No. 575-2002 by the Director of Planning and Transportation seeking the endorsement of Dundee City Council's response to the Scottish Ministers' proposed modifications to the Dundee and Angus Structure Plan.

The Sub-Committee approved the commentary/response as outlined in Appendix 1 of the Report as the basis of the Council's formal response to the Scottish Ministers including representations in respect of adjustments to ten of the proposed modifications to the Structure Plan.

XIII UNITS 1 AND 2, FRUITMARKET, EAST DOCK STREET, DUNDEE

Reference was made to Article VI of the Environmental and Consumer Protection Committee on 17th June, 2002 wherein the sale of the Foundry Lane Depot was agreed.

There was submitted Agenda Note AN148-2002 asking the Sub-Committee to note that it was the Director of Economic Development's intention to appoint the developer of the East Dock Street site to carry out the demolition of Units 1 and 2 Fruitmarket, East Dock Street and the subsequent formation of car parking, hard standing and landscaping on the site. The demolition of these former warehouse units, which had proved difficult to let in recent years, would open up the remainder of the fruit market site for future lettings and possible development including the possibility of a link from the East Dock Street development to the ongoing development at the docks. It was noted that the entire cost of the demolition, reinstatement and landscaping of the site would be met by Countywide Developments Limited.

The Sub-Committee approved the proposals.

XIV DUDHOPE PARK - APPLICATION FOR USE BY SCOTTISH SOCIALIST PARTY

There was submitted Agenda Note AN140-2002 stating that the Scottish Socialist Party (SSP) had applied to use Dudhope Park for the end point of a march and for the purpose of hosting speakers together with musical entertainment on 27th July, 2002. The application to hold the public procession would be considered by the Licensing Committee on 24th July, 2002. The procession would comprise approximately 400 people with 20 - 30 stewards. The Chief Constable had been consulted regarding the application to hold the procession and had formally objected to it on the grounds that he had serious concerns in respect of public road safety and traffic management issues.

The Sub-Committee was asked to consider whether this application would prevent or unreasonably restrict public recreation, the use of the park by the public and their dogs for exercise and the use of the park by children for playing. The Director of Leisure and Arts recommended that the application be refused for the reasons outlined in the Agenda Note.

Councillor Sturrock, seconded by Councillor Grant, moved that the application for use be approved subject to conditions to be specified by the Director of Leisure and Arts in consultation with the Director of Environmental and Consumer Protection. In addition, Councillor Sturrock asked that a report be prepared by the Directors of Leisure and Arts and Environmental and Consumer Protection after the event in respect of noise levels, litter, traffic congestion, costs incurred etc. for future reference.

As an amendment, Councillor Borthwick moved that the application be refused but he failed to find a seconder.

The terms of the motion were agreed.

The Sub-Committee resolved under Section 50(A) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 that the public and press be excluded during consideration of the undernoted item on the grounds that it involved the likely disclosure of information which was exempt in terms of paragraphs 6, 8 and 9 of Schedule 7A to the Act.

XV MIDDLETON FARM

There was submitted Agenda Note AN138-2002 stating that an opportunity had arisen to purchase land at Middleton Farm which had been identified as having future development potential lying adjacent to Claverhouse East Industrial Park.

The Sub-Committee approved the purchase in terms of the Agenda Note.

JULIA STURROCK, Convener.