City Development Committee - 09/06/2003

At a MEETING of the ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 9th June 2003.

Present:-

COUNCILLORS

Councillor MORROW, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 19th May, 2003 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I CELTIC FILM AND TELEVISION FESTIVAL

The Director of Economic Development submitted Report No 362-2003 outlining the proposal for Dundee to put forward a bid to host the 25th Celtic Film and Television Festival (CFTF) which was a four day industry event held annually in rotation between Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Cornwall and Brittany.

The Committee noted that hosting the festival would link to current economic and cultural strategies for promoting the creative industries in this area and agreed that Dundee City Council submit a bid to host the festival and contribute some core funding.

II FIBRE RENTAL IN CONNECTION WITH PUBLIC SPACE CCTV - RENEWAL OF CONTRACT

The Director of Economic Development submitted Report No 392-2003 presenting the outcome of negotiations for the ongoing rental of optic fibre lines linking CCTV cameras and a central Control Room and requesting a decision on the acceptance of one of the options.

The Committee approved Option 1 proposed by Thus plc for the total sum of 376,000 over a ten year rental period, subject to the approval of contract terms by the Director of Support Services.

III TENDERS RECEIVED - NETHERGATE CENTRE, FLOOR 6 - LIGHTING UPGRADING

The City Architectural Services Officer submitted Report No 388-2003 giving details of offers received to carry out the above works.

The Committee agreed to accept the lowest offer by Wardah Ltd amounting to 13,599.32 to which required to be added the sum of 2,293 for professional services, making a total expenditure of 15,892.32.

IV EUROPEAN REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT FUND - DUNDEE PROGRAMME - PROPOSAL TO INCLUDE STOBSWELL ASA COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AREA

The Director of Economic Development submitted Report No 391-2003 advising the Committee on the development of a proposal to develop a Dundee Programme within the European Regional Development Fund, East of Scotland Programme and seeking approval for the inclusion of the Stobswell area as a "Community Economic Development" area.

The Committee approved the principles of the proposal and remitted to the Director of Economic Development to enter into correspondence with the East of Scotland European Partnership in order to secure Community Economic Development status for Stobswell.

V DUNDEE AIRPORT AIRSIDE ACCESS CENTRAL FACILITY (PARTNERING)

Reference was made to Article I of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 19th May, 2003 when approval was given to a progress the building phase of the Single Airside Access Control Facility project at Dundee Airport. There was submitted Agenda Note AN278-2003 requesting that the Committee note that this would be achieved by the City Architectural Services Officer negotiating a contract within the overall capital budget for the first phase of the project in 2003-2004, under a partnering arrangement with an appropriate contractor, after which the Director of Support Services, in conjunction with the Director of Economic Development, would issue an acceptance after formal capital borrowing consent had been received from the Scottish Executive.

The Committee also noted that contracts with specialist contractors for communications and electronic pass control systems would also be negotiated and accepted in the same manner subject to the approval of the Chief Executive.

The Committee resolved under Section 50(A)(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 that the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the undernoted items of business on the grounds that they involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 6 and 9 of Part 1 of Schedule 7(A) of the Act.

VI COMMERCIAL LEASES

There was submitted and approved Report No 365-2003 by the Director of Economic Development detailing commercial leases in respect of the undernoted premises:-

32-38 Fintry Drive

211 Hilltown

VII RENT REVIEWS

There was submitted and approved Report No 373-2003 by the Director of Economic Development detailing the review of rent in respect of the undernoted premises:-

Site on Glamis Court

Site on Hillside Court

VIII DUNDEE INCUBATOR COMPANY LIMITED

There was submitted Agenda Note AN279-2003 advising that the City Council was a shareholder of the above Company which was established in 1997 in partnership with the University of Dundee, the University of Abertay Dundee and Scottish Enterprise Tayside as a vehicle to facilitate the spin out of companies from research work being carried out in the city and that the Board of the Company had concluded that the need for a formal company structure was not necessary.

The Committee approved the transfer of ownership of the Company to the University of Dundee on the terms and conditions detailed.

IX UNIT 1 FOUNDRY LANE, DUNDEE

Reference was made to Article XI of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 16th August, 1999 when the sale of the garage and yard at Unit 1 Foundry Lane was approved. There was submitted Agenda Note AN280-2003 advising that the original offer had been withdrawn and provisional agreement had been reached to sell the property to an interested company.

The Committee approved the sale and authorised the Director of Economic Development to request the Director of Support Services to conclude the necessary legal formalities.

X RIGHT OF FIRE EGRESS, PEDDIE STREET INDUSTRIAL ESTATE

There was submitted Agenda Note AN281-2003 advising that an application had been received from an interested company for a right of egress over the service roadway owned by the City Council for the purpose of emergency escape.

The Committee approved the application on the terms and conditions detailed and authorised the Director of Economic Development to request the Director of Support Services to conclude all necessary legal formalities.

XI LAND AT BLINSHALL STREET/HAWKHILL - 0.462 ACRES

There was submitted Agenda Note AN282-2003 advising that an interested company had approached the Director of Economic Development regarding the possibility of acquiring land at the above addresses, together with Feu Superiority.

The Committee approved the disposal on the terms and conditions detailed.

JOE MORROW, Convener.