Leisure, Arts And Communities Committee - 11/11/2002

At a MEETING of the NEIGHBOURHOOD RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 11th November, 2002.

Present:

COUNCILLORS

Councillor Ward, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 21st October, 2002 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I REVISED SCHEME FOR THE OPERATION OF COMMUNITY COUNCILS

There was submitted Report No. 790-2002 by the Director of Neighbourhood Resources and Development seeking the formal adoption of the Revised Scheme for the Operation of Community Councils in Dundee.

The Committee approved the following recommendations:-

(a) To formally adopt the Revised Scheme for the Operation of Community Councils in Dundee.

(b) To note the timetable for petitioning for the establishment of new Community Councils and the subsequent nomination and election of Community Councillors.

II GIVING VOICE TO COMMUNITIES: EXTENDING RECOGNITION TO NEIGHBOURHOOD REPRESENTATIVESTRUCTURES IN DUNDEE

There was submitted Report No. 725-2002 by the Director of Neighbourhood Resources and Development recommending that, under certain circumstances, the recognition given to Community Councils should be extended to other neighbourhood representative organisations. The report was brought forward at the same time as the new Scheme for the Operation of Community Councils in Dundee.

The Committee approved the following recommendations:-

(a) That in conjunction with approving the new Scheme for the Operation of Community Councils (Item 1 of this minute refers) a process for extending recognition to other representative organisations be approved.

(b) That the criteria for recognition of neighbourhood representative organisations as detailed in Section 7 of the report be approved.

(c) That organisations satisfying the criteria set out in Section 7 of the report, and having received formal City Council recognition, should qualify for access to support, information and consultation from all Council departments, along similar lines to that afforded to properly constituted and recognised Community Councils.

(d) That the Director of Neighbourhood Resources and Development be instructed to return to Committee in 12 months with a report detailing progress on the implementation of the strategy.

III EQUALITY SCHEMES 2002/2005

There was submitted Report No. 782-2002 by the Director of Neighbourhood Resources and Development seeking approval for the Equality Policy, Standard and Scheme documents which proposed new measures for Race, Disability, Gender and Sexuality. A copy of the relevant documents had been circulated.

The Committee approved the following recommendations:-

(a) That the adoption of the documents be approved as the Council's interim revised Equality Policy, Standard and Scheme (Appendices 1 to 4 of the report refer).

(b) That the corporate action priorities as outlined in the documents be approved.

(c) That the continued role of corporate Equality Task Groups (ETGs) and Departmental Equality Groups (DEGs) and champions be approved.

(d) That the allocation of adequate time to designated employees as outlined within the Access Association Guidance on Access Roles of Local Authorities be approved.

(e) That the instructing of the Chief Executive be approved to ensure that within departmental budgets sufficient priority is given to implementing the legislative requirements from the new legislation.

(f) That the forwarding of these documents as an interim response to the Scottish Executive by 30th November, 2002 as requested be approved. This will allow adequate community consultation on the final text (see recommendation 2.7 of the report).

(g) That a wide consultation exercise be undertaken with Community Planning Partners, relevant community groups and key support agencies during the period to 31st March, 2003.

(h) That the Director of Neighbourhood Resources and Development be instructed to produce a further report by early summer 2003 on the text of a final Equality Policy, Standard and Scheme.

IV CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR SERVICE ARRANGEMENTS

There was submitted Agenda Note AN284-2002 recommending that all Neighbourhood Centres/Complexes, Neighbourhood Libraries, Central Library and Mitchell Street Centre would be closed on Wednesday, 25th December and Thursday, 26th December, 2002.

During the New Year period it was proposed to close Neighbourhood Centres/Complexes and Neighbourhood Libraries, Central Library and Mitchell Street Centre on Wednesday, 1st January, 2003 and reopen on Saturday, 4th January, 2003.

Experience had shown that on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve, Central Library and Neighbourhood Libraries were very quiet. It was recommended that libraries scheduled to be opened beyond 5 pm should close at that time on Tuesday, 24th December and Tuesday, 31st December, 2002.

Where appropriate, staff timetables would be adjusted to take account of these opening hours i.e. all staff throughout the department would have the equivalent of 5 public holidays. Notices would be posted advising the public of the holiday period opening hours.

With the agreement of staff, The Corner would open on:

The Committee approved the above arrangements.

BETTY WARD, Convener.