Policy And Resources Committee - 20/10/2003

At a MEETING of the POLICY AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 20th October 2003.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Councillor SHIMI, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 8th September, 2003 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I COUNCIL PLAN

After considering Report No 685-2003 by the Chief Executive the Committee approved the Council Plan 2003/2007 and agreed that sufficient copies of the Plan be printed for the purposes of external and internal communication of the Plan.

II PROPOSED CLOSURE - HILLTOWN AND VICTORIA ROAD POST OFFICES

There was submitted a letter dated 10th September 2003 which had been received from The Post Office relative to the above.

The Committee remitted to the Chief Executive to write to the Post Office seeking a deferral of the decision to close the Post Offices at Hilltown and Victoria Road so that more consideration can be given to alternative approaches that would maintain these facilities.

III COMMUNITY BENEFITS AND PROCUREMENT

There was submitted Report No 647-2003 by the Head of Communities and the City Architectural Services Officer giving details of the Scottish Executive Pilot Programme aimed at assisting local contracting authorities to obtain community benefits through their procurement activity.

The Committee agreed to take part in a two year Scottish Executive Pilot Programme.

IV ENERGY POLICY

After considering Report No 665-2003 by the Director of Economic Development the Committee approved the Council's Revised Energy Policy.

V DUNDEE SUN CITY INITIATIVE

There was submitted Report No 668-2003 by the City Architectural Services Officer informing the Committee that the City Council had become a partner in the Dundee Sun City Initiative in line with current policy on energy conservation and outlining the level of commitment proposed.

The Committee agreed that it be remitted to the City Architectural Services Officer to

(i)identify suitable sites to act as demonstration projects for this initiative;

(ii)continue with existing projects and offer these as a contribution to this initiative;

(iii)explore the possibility of adapting future projects to match the aims of the initiative; and

(iv)carry out risk assessments on all projects before proceeding with any of these initiatives to ensure that external funding could be maximised, revenue savings be achieved and that any new technology to be used had been fully researched and was sustainable.

VI RESPONSE TO CONSULTATION ON URBAN REGENERATION COMPANIES AND ESTABLISHMENT OF AREGENERATION DELIVERY VEHICLE FOR STOBSWELL

On a reference to Article II of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 9th May, 2003 there was submitted Report No 652-2003 setting out a draft response to the consultation paper issued by the Scottish Executive and seeking approval, in principle, for Stobswell to be put forward as a potential URC pathfinder pilot.

The Committee agreed that it be remitted to the Assistant Chief Executive (Community Planning) to respond to the Scottish Executive's Consultation Paper as outlined in Appendix I and to include an expression of interest in the Stobswell Regeneration Delivery Vehicle becoming a URC pathfinder pilot and that it be remitted to the Director of Planning and Transportation to bring back to Committee detailed draft proposals for the establishment of a URC for the Stobswell Area.

VII BLACK STREET ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENTS

There was submitted Report No 628-2003 by the Director of Dundee Contract Services outlining proposals for environmental improvements to the Black Street Open Space.

The Committee agreed that the proposed works be carried out by Dundee Contract Services at an estimated cost of 55,000 and approved a contribution of 10,000 from the Chief Executive's Health and Safety Capital Budget and a contribution of 20,000 from the Economic Development Department.

VIII FLEUCHAR STREET ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENTS

There was submitted Report No 629-2003 by the Director of Dundee Contract Services outlining proposals for environmental improvements to the Fleuchar Street Open Space.

The Committee agreed that the works be carried out by Dundee Contract Services at an estimated cost of 53,855 and approved a contribution of 20,000 from the Economic Development Department.

IX DUNDEE DISCOVERY CARD MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

On a reference to Article V of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 9th December 2002 there was submitted Report No 673-2003 by the Director of Planning and Transportation detailing tenders received for the Dundee Discovery Card Scheme's Core Card/Card Holder Management System.

The Committee agreed to accept the offer from Black Sea Consulting of Oxford Group for the sum of 31,450.

X TENDERS - SCOTTISH CITIZEN ACCOUNT SMARTCARD CONSORTIUM

On a reference to Article X of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 9th December 2002 there was submitted Report No 688-2003 by the Chief Executive giving details of a consultancy contract awarded by the Scottish Citizen Account Smartcard Consortium for whom Dundee City Council were acting as lead authority.

The Committee endorsed the decision to award the contract to Schlumberger Sema.

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 it involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 6 and 9 of Part I of Schedule 7(A) of the Act.

XI DUNDEE ICE ARENA - REVENUE SUPPORT 2003/04

The Lord Provost, Bailies Farquhar and Mackie and Councillor Fitzpatrick declared a non-financial interest in this item being Directors of the Dundee Ice Arena Board by virtue of their appointment by the City Council.

On a reference to Article X of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 10th March, 2003 there was submitted Report No 692-2003 by the Chief Executive relative to the above.

The Committee approved the recommendations detailed therein.

JILL SHIMI, Convener.