Leisure, Arts And Communities Committee - 08/09/2003

At a MEETING of the NEIGHBOURHOOD RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 8th September 2003.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Councillor Kevin KEENAN, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 18th August 2003 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I SOCIAL INCLUSION PARTNERSHIP - ALLOCATION OF RESOURCES AND SMALL GRANTS 2003/04

There was submitted Report No 583-2003 by the Head of Communities noting the allocation of funding for SIP1 from Communities Scotland. The report also made recommendations for the allocation of SIP1 funding for the financial year 2003/2004.

The Committee approved the following recommendations:-

(a)to note the outcome of the SIP decision-making process, and agree the proposals contained in Section 9 of the report;

(b)to instruct officers to proceed with the implementation of these proposals and conditions contained in Appendices B(i) and B(ii); and

(c)to approve the SIP1 small grants as detailed in Appendix C.

II PROGRESS ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF SOCIAL INCLUSION PARTNERSHIPS

There was submitted Report No 581-2003 progressing public reporting and providing the Committee with details of the progress achieved through the implementation of Dundee's Social Inclusion Partnerships.

The Committee approved the following recommendations:-

(a)to note the progress made in implementing each of the Geographical Social Inclusion Partnerships in Dundee and the significant contribution that these programmes have made to addressing social justice in the City;

(b)to note that the Social Inclusion Partnership to programme was approved for a five year period and was due to terminate on 31st March 2002. SIP2 was subsequently extended until 31st March 2004; and

(c)to instruct the Head of Communities to bring forward a further report detailing progress in twelve months time.

III LOCAL PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENTS

On a reference to Article II of the minute of meeting of the Neighbourhood Resources and Development Committee of 15th April 2002, there was submitted Report No 582-2003 by the Head of Communities advising the Committee of amendments to the standard Partnership Agreement and associated Centre leasing/constitutional agreements.

The Committee approved the following recommendations:-

(a)to note that changes have been made to the standard Partnership Agreement and remitting the Depute Chief Executive (Support Services) and the Head of Communities to keep these agreements under review and amend as appropriate;

(b)to extend existing arrangements for three year Partnership Agreements with the local management groups listed in the Appendix subject to ongoing monitoring and evaluation as to efficiency, economy and effectiveness in contributing to local/thematic community learning plans;

(c)to approve the extension of access to 25 years leasing to approved neighbourhood centres/complexes to assist Management Groups in accessing external funding.

(d)to extend consent to all Centre Management Groups to amend constitutions democratically under existing Title Examiner and Charity legislation, subject to consent by the Head of Communities where it refers directly to the content of the Partnership Agreement and its viability.

IV SETTING STANDARDS FOR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

There was submitted Report No 580-2003 by the Head of Communities briefing the Committee on proposals that Dundee should take part in a national standards development project funded by the Scottish Executive.

The Committee approved the following recommendations:-

(a)to note the proposal that Dundee City Council should take part in the National Standards Development Project for Community Engagement;

(b)the Head of Communities to lead a small working group of representatives from the City Council and its community planning partners to support implementation of this project as part of the local commitment to community education;

(c)that the outcomes of the Standards Project be fed back to community groups, the City Council, Community Planning Partnership and other stakeholders in addition to any national reporting which may take place.

V ADULT EDUCATION FUND I 2003/04

There was submitted Report No 584-2003 by the Head of Communities making a recommendation for a grant award from the Adult Education Fund. The grant award would be met from the Department's revenue budget 2003/2004.

The Committee approved payment of the recommended grant of 1,600 to the Harris Education Recreation Association (HERA).

VI COMMUNITY TRANSPORT MINIBUS - ADAPTATION

On a reference to Article VII of the minute of meeting of the Recess Sub-Committee of 21st July 2003 which approved the purchase of a new minibus, there was submitted Agenda Note AN413-2003 stating that it had been agreed that, subject to the costs being contained within the Department's overall Capital Plan, the additional costs of having the vehicle adapted to make it fully accessible for disabled users, should be approved. The original quotation for the vehicle was 19,250. The costs of full conversion, including Ratcliffe underfloor tail-lift based on the specification previously approved for the Leisure and Arts Department, was 23,800.

The Committee approved the additional expenditure of 4,550 which would be contained within the Neighbourhood Resources and Development Department's Capital Plan for the current financial year.

KEVIN KEENAN, Convener.