City Development Committee - 18/08/2003

At a MEETING of the ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 18th August 2003.

Present:-

COUNCILLORS

Councillor MORROW, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 30th June 2003 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I BUSINESS IMPROVEMENTS DISTRICTS IN SCOTLAND - A CONSULTATION PAPER FROM THE SCOTTISHEXECUTIVE

The Director of Economic Development submitted Report No 521-2003 advising the Committee of suggestions for a reply to the above consultation paper on behalf of the Council.

The Committee approved the comments made in the report and remitted to the Director of Economic Development to reply to the Paper on behalf of the Council.

II GLOBAL DIGITAL CITIES NETWORK

The Director of Economic Development submitted Report No 529-2003 advising the Committee of the progress with the Global Digital Cities Network and seeking agreement to participation in the current year's general meeting.

The Committee agreed that Dundee City Council participate at the fourth annual meeting of the Network in Gold Coast City, Australia in September 2003 and that the Council be represented at the fourth annual meeting by the Convener and the Director of Economic Development or their nominees.

III PUBLIC SPACE CLOSED CIRCUIT SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM - REPLACEMENT MONITORS ETC

The Director of Economic Development submitted Report No 520-2003 giving details of a quotation from the appointed maintenance contractor for the upgrading of monitors and the provision of additional videotape review facilities at the central monitoring station at Tayside Police HQ, Bell Street.

The Committee agreed to accept the quotation submitted by ADT Fire and Security plc amounting to 15,057.77 to replace 27 of the 49 monitors and install additional review facilities.

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

The Director of Economic Development submitted Report No 519-2003 advising of the outcome of negotiations for the ongoing rental of optic fibre lines linking CCTV cameras and the central control room and requesting a decision on entering an agreement with Telewest Communications plc.

The Committee agreed to accept the offer amounting to 163,591.50 over a ten year rental period subject to the approval of contract terms by the Depute Chief Executive (Support Services).

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 I of Schedule 7(A) of the Act.

V COMMERCIAL LEASES

There was submitted and approved Report No 517-2003 by the Director of Economic Development detailing commercial leases in respect of the undernoted premises:-

Unit L, 207 Strathmartine Road

Unit 11, Faraday Street

Unit 2, Peddie Street

Unit 23, Mid Wynd

20 Craigie Avenue

199 Princes Street

121/123 Hilltown

26 Dryburgh Street.

VI RENT REVIEWS

There was submitted and approved Report No 518-2003 by the Director of Economic Development detailing the review of rent in respect of the undernoted premises:-

16A West Port

52 South Tay Street

Site 4, Baldovie Industrial Estate

(1/1), 61 Reform Street

Yard 6, Annfield Row

Yard 7, Annfield Row

102 Foundry Lane

16 West Port

Weaver's Cafe, Wellgate Library

Unit 4, Marybank Lane

Unit 1, Marybank Lane.

VII STABLES, BARNS OF CLAVERHOUSE

There was submitted Agenda Note AN378-2003 advising that the roof covering of the above stables had required emergency repairs which had been funded from Revenue.

The Committee agreed to transfer this cost to the Economic Development Department Capital Programme.

VIII UNIT 10, FARADAY STREET

There was submitted Agenda Note AN379-2003 advising that the lease of the above unit had been relinquished and it was proposed to remove the former tenant's fixtures and fittings and return the unit to a lettable condition.

The Committee agreed to accept the lower tender received from Taycon Construction Limited to carry out the work amounting to 27,441.92.

IX LAND AT PRIMROSE BANK (0.0022 HA OR THEREBY)

There was submitted Agenda Note AN380-2003 advising that a developer had built four houses on land to the south of Primrose Bank which was in the ownership of the City Council as was access to three of the houses and a provisional agreement had been reached with the developer. The Committee was advised that, as the developer urgently wished to conclude the transaction, the Director of Economic Development, after consultation with the Convener and the spokespersons for the SNP and Conservative Groups, had instructed the Depute Chief Executive (Support Services) to conclude the sale of the small area of ground and grant the necessary rights of access for the sum detailed.

X LAND AT OLD KINGS CROSS ROAD (0.1333 HA OR THEREBY)

There was submitted Agenda Note AN381-2003 advising that a company had approached the City Council seeking to acquire an area of land which was formerly part of the Old Kings Cross Road to facilitate the redevelopment of an adjacent site.

The Committee noted that, as the company urgently wished to conclude the transaction, the Director of Economic Development, after consultation with the Convener and the spokespersons for the SNP and Conservative Groups, had instructed the Depute Chief Executive (Support Services) to conclude the sale on the terms detailed.

XI LAND AT DANIEL STREET/GUTHRIE STREET (0.0179 HA OR THEREBY)

There was submitted Agenda Note AN382-2003 advising that a company had approached the City Council seeking to acquire two areas of land on the corner of the above streets to facilitate the redevelopment and regeneration of an adjacent site.

The Committee agreed to accept the offer from the interested company and remitted to the Director of Economic Development and the Depute Chief Executive (Support Services) to conclude the transaction.

XII PLA FURNITURE LIMITED, T/A THOMAS JUSTICE & SONS LIMITED

There was submitted Agenda Note AN383-2003 advising the Committee that on 30th June 2003 certain details were reported regarding the loan to the above company and it had become apparent thereafter that the security available to the Council had altered as detailed.

The Committee noted that in view of the urgent nature of this transaction the Director of Economic Development had instructed the Depute Chief Executive (Support Services) to proceed with the granting of the loan as amended, after consultation with the Convener and the spokespersons for the SNP and Conservative Groups.

XIII FORMER GARAGE AND YARD, 4A COMMERCIAL STREET/EXCHANGE STREET

There was submitted Agenda Note AN384-2003) advising that the Scottish Children's Reporter Administration had approached the City Council seeking to acquire the above garage and yard.

The Committee noted that, as the Scottish Children's Reporter Administration had urgently wished to conclude the transaction, the Director of Economic Development, after consultation with the Convener and the Spokespersons for the SNP and Conservative Groups, had instructed the Depute Chief Executive (Support Services) to conclude the sale of the above sites as detailed.

XIV FAST FOOD/RESTAURANT SITE, ARBROATH ROAD, CLAYPOTTS

There was submitted Agenda Note AN385-2003 requesting that the Committee formally suspend Standing Order 39(1) to allow further discussion on this item.

On a reference to Article XI of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 13th February 2003 the Director of Economic Development reported that further negotiations had taken place with the original applicants and provisional agreement had been reached with the previous second highest tenderer as detailed.

The Committee agreed to accept this offer and remitted to the Director of Economic Development and Depute Chief Executive (Support Services) to conclude the legal formalities.

XV SALE OF SITE 4, BALDOVIE INDUSTRIAL ESTATE - WOOD GROUP AERO LIMITED

There was submitted Agenda Note AN386-2003 advising that the company had served notice exercising their right to purchase the above site as detailed.

The Committee authorised the Depute Chief Executive (Support Services) to conclude the necessary legal formalities in respect of the sale of the site to the company.

XVI SITES AT WEST PORT (MARKETGAIT DEVELOPMENTS LIMITED)

There was submitted Agenda Note AN387-2003 advising that an offer had been received from an interested company to acquire sites, buildings and superiorities at the above location which were held partly on the Economic Development Account and partly on the Planning and Transportation Account.

The Committee authorised the Depute Chief Executive (Support Services) to conclude the necessary legal formalities on the terms detailed.

JOE MORROW, Convener.