Leisure, Arts And Communities Committee - 15/12/2003

At a MEETING of the LEISURE AND ARTS SERVICES COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 15th December, 2003.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Councillor FARQUHAR, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 17th November, 2003 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I MAJOR PROJECT GRANTS AND SMALL PROJECT GRANTS

The Director of Leisure and Arts submitted Report No 817-2003 seeking approval to award a grant of 200 as detailed in the Appendix to the Report.

The Committee agreed to authorise the grant.

II REMOVAL OF SUNBEDS FROM LEISURE AND ARTS FACILITIES

The Director of Leisure and Arts submitted Report No 818-2003 seeking approval for the proposal to remove six sunbeds from Olympia Leisure Centre, one sunbed from Lochee Leisure Centre and one sunbed from Douglas Sports Centre by the end of 2004.

The Committee agreed that sunbed use be discontinued by the end of 2004 in Council leisure facilities and that Olympia facilities be re-configured as outlined in Section 7 of the Report.

III TREATMENT OF CEMETERY HEADSTONES

On a reference to Article I of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 18th August, 2003 the Director of Leisure and Arts submitted Report No 820-2003 informing the Committee of the current situation regarding dangerous headstones in cemeteries and giving options to resolve the public safety issues which dangerous headstones presented in the Eastern, Balgay, Barnhill and Western Cemeteries.

The Committee

(a) noted the current situations outlined in the Report;

(b) agreed to an immediate plan of action including:-

(i) in the event of a situation where an immediate public safety issue is identified the offending headstone is laid flat or set in the ground;

(ii) a comprehensive survey on all susceptible headstones is carried out and, depending on the risk category, the respective action outlined in 6.2 and Appendix 1 is taken;

(iii) a temporary memorial safety team to carry out inspection of headstones and implement any actions is created as outlined in 6.5.1;

(iv) approval is given to spend the balance of the capital monies of 3,800 identified in 2003/04 budget for the purpose of dealing with additional headstones which have been identified as dangerous, this work to be carried out by the lowest tenderer agreed within Report No 534-2003, A & J Robertson (Granite) Ltd, Aberdeen: in addition the offer from Teleshore UK Ltd of 4,500 for the purchase of inspection equipment and safety gantry be approved: this can be funded from the balance of this allowance;

(v) it be remitted to the Director of Leisure and Arts to erect appropriately worded and clear public information signs at the main entrance to the cemetery;

(c) remitted to the Director of Leisure and Arts to investigate enhanced security proposals for the City's cemeteries and report back to this Committee; and

(d) remitted to the Director of Leisure and Arts to review current administration, funding and maintenance of cemetery provision and report back to this Committee.

IV SUPPLY OF ITEMS OF GROUNDS MAINTENANCE MACHINERY

The Director of Leisure and Arts submitted Report No 821-2003 requesting approval for the purchase of various items of Grounds Maintenance Machinery for the Leisure and Arts Department.

The Committee agreed that after careful consideration of the tenders submitted which included an evaluation from site trials, quality assessment and price, the offers identified in Appendix A of the Report as undernoted be accepted as the most advantageous:-

V ETCHING IN DUNDEE - CONTEMPORARY AND HISTORIC PRINTS

The Director of Leisure and Arts submitted Report No 822-2003 informing the Committee of the forthcoming exhibition "Etching in Dundee: Contemporary and Historic Prints" and its supporting programme.

The Committee noted the contents of the Report.

VI PARKS AND CEMETERIES - ROAD REPAIRS

The City Engineer submitted Report No 814-2003 requesting authorisation to appoint a contractor and incur expenditure on the above project.

The Committee agreed to accept the most advantageous offer by Tayside Contracts to carry out the works up to a value of 63,000 to which required to be added an allowance of 7,000 for professional fees and contingencies making an overall expenditure of 70,000.

VII TENDERS RECEIVED

The City Architectural Services Officer submitted Report No 807-2003 giving details of offers received for the undernoted contracts:-

(a) VARIOUS LEISURE AND ARTS PROPERTIES - ALTERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE

The Committee agreed to accept the offer under the Schedule of Rates from Dundee Contract Services amounting to 10,300 to which required to be added an allowance of 1,737.00 for professional services making a total expenditure of 12,037.

(b) EASTERN AND WESTERN CEMETERIES - REPAIRS TO GATES

The Committee agreed to accept the offer from a specialist contractor currently undertaking major railing works for the Council at Baxter Park, Ballantine Boness Iron Co. Ltd, Bo'ness amounting to 9,090 to which required to be added allowances of 1,000 for contingencies and 1,700 for professional services making a total expenditure of 11,790.

(c) VARIOUS LEISURE AND ARTS PROPERTIES - INSPECTION AND TESTING OF ELECTRICAL INSTALLATIONS

The Committee agreed to accept the lowest offer by McGill Electrical Ltd adjusted down to 27,000 in terms of the finance available to which required to be added an allowance of 2,995 for professional services making a total expenditure of 29,995.

(d) CLATTO BARNS - ALTERATIONS

The Committee agreed to accept the offer under the Schedule of Rates from Dundee Contract Services amounting to 7,600 to which required to be added allowances of 100 for Building Warrant and 1,290 for professional services making a total expenditure of 8,990.

VIII CAMPERDOWN CAR PARK

On a reference to Article II(a) of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 20th October, 2003 there was submitted Agenda Note AN538-2003 advising that the Director of Leisure and Arts Services proposed to extend the existing contract with Tayside Contracts to include the undernoted:-

(a) improving the cycle path access south of the main drive; this will also allow for access by low loader display/delivery vehicles to the south side of the park;

(b) installation of a small car park alongside this access to prevent trespass by vehicles on the grass verges or blocking the new access; and

(c) resurfacing of the existing car park at the former kiosk site.

At an additional cost including fees and contingencies of 27,000.

The Committee approved accordingly.

IX SECURITY ENHANCEMENT AT BROUGHTY CASTLE MUSEUM

There was submitted Agenda Note AN545-2003 advising that an offer had been received from the current maintenance contractor, Chubb Fire & Security Plc, for additional enhancements to the intruder alarm system at a cost of 2,208.

The Committee agreed that the offer be accepted.

The Committee resolved under Section 50(A)(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 that the public and press 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 Part I of Schedule 7(A) of the Act.

X DUNDEE ICE ARENA GENERAL MANAGER

There was submitted Agenda Note AN539-2003 reporting for the information of the Committee, that the Director of Leisure and Arts, after consultation with the Convener and other spokespersons, had entered into a Compromise Agreement for the mutually agreeable release of the General Manager from his contract, the costs being met by the Council.

XI PROPOSAL FOR FURTHER DEVELOPMENT AT VERDANT WORKS BY DUNDEE INDUSTRIAL HERITAGE LIMITED

Reference was made to Article I of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 17th February, 2003 and Article V(xi) of the minute of meeting of the Finance Committee of The City of Dundee District Council of 15th February, 1993. There was submitted Agenda Note AN546-2003 giving details of a request from Dundee Industrial Heritage for the release of part of the site from the Standard Security to allow the exploration of options for the development of the site.

The Committee agreed to the request to restrict the scope of the Security and instructed the Depute Chief Executive (Support Services) to conclude the necessary legal formalities.

CHARLES FARQUHAR, Convener.