Housing, Dundee Contract Services And Environment Services Committee - 16/12/2002

At a MEETING of the ENVIRONMENTAL AND CONSUMER PROTECTION COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 16th December, 2002.

Present:-

COUNCILLORS

Councillor Neil GLEN, Convener, in the Chair.

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

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I CIVIC GOVERNMENT NOTICES WORKING GROUP

On a reference to Article III of the minute of meeting held on 16th September, 2002, wherein it was agreed that the Civic Government Notices Working Group be established, there was submitted Agenda Note AN329-2002 reporting that the first meeting of this Group had taken place on 13th November, 2002.

The Committee agreed that, as an interim procedure pending a full report from the Group, the reporting of Civic Government Notices be placed in the non public section of the agenda for consideration.

II CONSUMER DIRECT ? A NATIONAL CONSUMER ADVICE HELPLINE

There was submitted Agenda Note AN331-2002 about the planned introduction of a national (UK) consumer advice helpline, Consumer Direct, and that one such contact centre would be set up to provide this service in Scotland and that bids were currently being invited by the Department of Trade and Industry.

The Committee noted that the Environmental and Consumer Protection Department's Trading Standards Section and the Economic Development Department were working together to investigate the viability of Dundee City Council submitting a bid to manage the Scottish contact centre and that a full report would be submitted to Committee prior to the March 2003 deadline for bids.

III PURCHASE OF RECYCLING EQUIPMENT

There was submitted Report No 895-2002 by the Director of Environmental and Consumer Protection seeking authority to purchase a recycling system set of equipment. The system would consist of 7 conveyors, 2 air separators and one magnetic separator for use at Baldovie Waste Recycling Plant within the Environmental and Consumer Protection Department.

The Committee agreed to accept the offer from O Kay Engineering Services Limited which amounted to 106,010, inclusive of an additional 3 conveyors.

IV RIVERSIDE LANDFILL SITE

There was submitted Report No 894-2002 by the Director of Environmental and Consumer Protection seeking approval to carry out essential maintenance and refurbishment work to monitor boreholes at Riverside landfill site.

The Committee agreed to accept an estimate from Messrs Ritchies of Glasgow Road, Kilsyth, to carry out this work at an estimated cost of 13,700.

V TAYSIDE FURNITURE PROJECT

There was submitted Report No 901-2002 by the Director of Environmental and Consumer Protection regarding financial and practical assistance to Tayside Furniture Project.

The Committee agreed:-

(i) that a financial contribution of 10,000 be made towards the staffing and running costs of Tayside Furniture Project from now until the end of the current financial year on condition that the Project would maintain its existing service in Dundee throughout this period;

(ii) that the Council meet the cost (estimated at 2,500) of preparing a professional business plan in order to assess the funding required to secure the long term viability of the Project;

(iii) that the Director of Environmental and Consumer Protection be authorised to nominate a representative to attend board meetings of the Project as an observer; and

(iv) that it be noted that officers would continue to provide the Project with advice on applications for additional funding and would also provide information and assistance in the development of the Project's business plan.

The Committee resolved under Section 50(A)(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act, 1973 that the public be excluded from the meeting for the undernoted item of business on the grounds that this would involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Part I of Schedule 7A of the above Act.

VI CIVIC GOVERNMENT (SCOTLAND) ACT, 1982 ? SECTION 87(1) BUILDINGS IN NEED OF REPAIR

There was submitted Agenda Note AN330-2002 reporting that Notices had been served on owners of various properties requiring works to be carried out.

The Committee agreed that the Director of Environmental and Consumer Protection be authorised to carry out the works should the owners not comply within the time allowed in the Notices.

NEIL GLEN, Convener