Leisure, Arts And Communities Committee - 15/03/2004

At a MEETING of the LEISURE AND ARTS SERVICES COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 15th March, 2004.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Councillor FARQUHAR, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 16th February, 2004 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I GRANT SCHEMES AND PAYMENTS TO THIRD PARTIES - SHORT COURSES

The Director of Leisure and Arts submitted Report No 204-2004 informing the Committee of Short Courses Grants awarded during the period November 2003 to March 2004 to Leisure and Arts individuals.

The Committee noted the payment of 150 for the granted detailed in the appendix to the report.

II WHITEHALL THEATRE REFURBISHMENT

Lord Provost Letford declared a non-financial interest by virtue of his Council appointment as a Director.

The Director of Leisure and Arts submitted Report No 205-2004 informing members of the proposed refurbishment of the Whitehall Theatre and its development as a community facility within the cultural sector.

The Committee agreed the sum of 50,000 be awarded to the Whitehall Theatre from the Common Good Fund towards the First Phase development of the auditorium.

III DUNDEE GUITAR FESTIVAL

The Director of Leisure and Arts submitted Report No 206-2004 requesting that the Committee award a grant to Dundee Guitar Festival to develop and stage the festival at the Caird Hall during the period 19th and 20th July, 2004.

The Committee approved support of 4,000 for the Dundee Guitar Festival programme of activities throughout the year.

IV GREEN CIRCULAR - MAINTENANCE

On a reference to Article I of the minute of meeting of the Leisure Services Committee of 20th September, 1999, the Director of Leisure and Arts submitted Report No 132-2004 identifying the actions required with costs to maintain the Green Circular to an acceptable standard as the premier Cycle Route of Dundee.

The Committee agreed that:-

(a) the Leisure and Arts Department take responsibility for the annual maintenance of all the non-adopted lengths of the Green Circular;

(b) the Planning and Transportation Department and Waste Management Department retain maintenance responsibilities for adopted footpaths and roadways which form part of the Green Circular;

(c) the Leisure and Arts Department be provided with an annual revenue budget to undertake and instruct maintenance works on the non-adopted lengths of the Green Circular; and

(d) the Leisure and Arts Department enter into discussion with Angus Council about the maintenance of the Green Circular in their ownership.

V McMANUS GALLERIES

On a reference to Article IV of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 17th February, 2003, the Director of Leisure and Arts submitted Report No 208-2004 providing updated information on the current position regarding the McManus Galleries and the Stage One funding application to the Heritage Lottery Fund.

The Committee noted the submission of the Stage One application to the Heritage Lottery Fund and that a decision was anticipated during July 2004 and agreed to the utilisation of the vacant building, formerly Barrack Street Museum/Ward Road Library, as a Collections Unit to house collections displaced by the development.

VI OLYMPIA LEISURE CENTRE

On a reference to Article VI of the minute of meeting of the Leisure Services Committee of 15th October, 2001 the Director of Leisure and Arts submitted Report No 236-2004 outlining proposals for the continued provision of leisure swimming facilities in Dundee.

The Committee:-

(a) agreed to the medium term retention and development of Olympia as Dundee's regional leisure swimming facility as outlined in Section 7 of the report;

(b) noted the assessment of new build options outlined at Section 6; and

(c) remitted to the Director of Leisure and Arts to further review the provision requirements for swimming in Dundee, following the creation of the current PPP Programme of school and community pool developments.

VII VISUAL ARTISTS AWARD SCHEME

The Convener declared a non-financial interest by virtue of his Council appointment.

The Director of Leisure and Arts submitted Report No 223-2004 reviewing the Dundee Visual Artists Award Scheme 2003/2004.

The Committee noted the awards made during the year 2003/2004.

VIII DUNDEE REPERTORY THEATRE MAIN HOUSE, REVENUE SUPPORT 2004-2005

The Convener, the Lord Provost and Councillors Webster, Duncan and Hind declared a non-financial interest by virtue of their Council appointments as Directors.

The Director of Leisure and Arts submitted Report No 213-2004 requesting renewal of revenue funding to Dundee Repertory Theatre Main House for 2004-2005.

The Committee approved the level of grant funding amounting to 324,000 as set out in the report.

IX DUNDEE REPERTORY THEATRE COMMUNITY DRAMA DEPARTMENT - REVENUE SUPPORT 2004-2005

The Convener, the Lord Provost and Councillors Webster, Duncan and Hind declared a non-financial interest by virtue of their Council appointments as Directors.

The Director of Leisure and Arts submitted Report No 214-2004 requesting renewal of revenue funding to Dundee Repertory Theatre Community Drama Department for 2004-2005.

The Committee approved the level of grant funding amounting to 19,000 as set out in the report.

X SCOTTISH DANCE THEATRE, REVENUE SUPPORT 2004-2005

The Convener, the Lord Provost and Councillors Duncan and Hind declared a non-financial interest by virtue of their Council appointments as Directors.

The Director of Leisure and Arts submitted Report No 215-2004 requesting renewal of revenue funding to Scottish Dance Theatre 2004-2005.

The Committee approved the level of grant funding amounting to 22,200 as set out in the report.

XI DUNDEE FLOWER AND FOOD FESTIVAL 2004 - TENDER FOR THE HIRE, ERECTION AND DISMANTLING OF FRAME TENTS,MARQUEES, TABLES AND CHAIRS

The Director of Leisure and Arts submitted Report No 216-2004 requesting approval for the hire, erection and dismantling of frame tents, marquees and other items for the above Festival.

The Committee agreed to accept the most advantageous offers from the undernoted suppliers:-

(a) Field &Lawn (Marquees), Broxburn - 34,030

(b) Allison Gray - 3,578

The Committee also noted that the catering awnings would be re-charged to the mobile catering franchisee for the event.

XII SENSATION (DUNDEE SCIENCE CENTRE) - REVENUE SUPPORT 2004-2005

The Convener declared a non-financial interest by virtue of his Council appointment as a Director.

The Director of Leisure and Arts submitted Report No 235-2004 requesting renewal of revenue funding to Sensation (Dundee Science Centre) for the year 2004-2005.

The Committee approved the level of grant funding amounting to 28,350.

XIII SWIMMING LESSON PROVISION

There was submitted Agenda Note AN117-2004 recommending that following the removal of the external funding the swimming lessons charge be set at 2.00 per lesson (a reduction of 50p on the standard charge and a charge consistent with Communities Department provision).

The Committee approved the recommendation.

XIV THE OLD PIGGERY GARDEN CLUB

There was submitted Agenda Note AN116-2004 reporting for the information of the Committee that the Director of Economic Development, after consultation with the Director of Leisure and Arts, the Convener and Spokespersons for the Other Groups had granted a lease of a 0.882 acre site at Law Crescent, Dundee to The Old Piggery Garden Club for the purposes of a market garden for the cultivation of fruit, vegetables and flowers with ancillary retail only.

XV RIVERSIDE PARK - APPLICATION TO HOLD A STUNT SHOW

There was submitted Agenda Note AN118-2004 advising that a request had been received from Scott Mary's Daredevil Stunt Show, Penzance for permission to operate a stunt show on 6th and 7th May 2004 inclusive at Riverside Park, Dundee.

The Committee agreed that permission be granted for the lease of the ground subject to the necessary insurances being provided indemnifying the Council against damage to property, injury or loss of life etc to members of the public and in addition, meeting all other conditions required by the Council.

The Committee also remitted to the Director of Economic Development to negotiate a lease fee for the hire of the site.

XVI DCA CHILLER PLANT - NOISE REDUCTION MEASURES

The Convener and Councillors Webster and Hind declared a non-financial interest by virtue of their Council appointments as Directors.

There was submitted Agenda Note AN119-2004 advising that an offer had been received from Trane, a specialist contractor, for remedial noise reduction works to the existing Chiller Plant at Dundee Contemporary Arts (DCA) for the sum of 9,716.

The Committee agreed to accept the offer.

XVII TAYSIDE LEARNING AND ACCESS PARTNERSHIP

There was submitted Agenda Note AN121-2004 advising that Officers from Dundee City Council had met with colleagues at Perth and Kinross Council and Angus Council to prepare an application to fund a Tayside Learning and Access Partnership which would employ an officer, plus support, to develop the themes of learning, access, tourism or workforce development across the constituent Local Authority areas working with all Registered Museums.

The Committee noted that the first round of applications would be up to 31st March 2004 and it was proposed to lodge an application with a report to this Committee giving further details and the outcome in due course.

XVIII DCA MAIN GALLERY DOOR REFURBISHMENT

The Convener and Councillors Webster and Hind declared a non-financial interest by virtue of their Council appointments as Directors.

There was submitted Agenda Note AN122-2004 advising that an offer of 8,400 had been received from specialist contractor, Baydale Architectural Systems Ltd, in respect of extensive refurbishment work to the large double gate main gallery door at Dundee Contemporary Arts (DCA).

The Committee agreed to accept the offer.

CHARLES FARQUHAR, Convener.