Leisure, Arts And Communities Committee - 10/05/2004

At a MEETING of the COMMUNITIES COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 10th May, 2004.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Councillor Kevin KEENAN, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 19th April, 2004 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I WELLGATE CENTRAL LIBRARY - HEATING AND VENTILATION UPGRADE AND RELOCATION OFCOMMUNITIES HQ OFFICES (PARTNERING) (03-619)

There was submitted Joint Report No 308-2004 by the Head of Communities and the City Architectural Services Officer seeking approval for the provision of a Communities office suite within the Wellgate Central Library and essential upgrading of the library heating and ventilation.

The Committee approved the following recommendations:-

(a)to make alterations to form an Office Suite for the Communities Department within the Wellgate Central Library together with Phase 3 of the upgrading of the heating and ventilation system and upgrading the lighting at level 4 at an estimated total cost of 836,000 inclusive of professional fees;

(b)to authorise the City Architectural Services Officer to negotiate a contract within the overall allowance under a partnering arrangement with Torith Limited, Dundee and the Depute Chief Executive (Support Services), in conjunction with the Head of Communities, to accept the offer recommended by the City Architectural Services Officer.

II EVALUATIONS - SOCIAL INCLUSION PARTNERSHIP 3 XPLORE PARTNERSHIP

There was submitted Report No 331-2004 by the Head of Communities asking the Committee to note the recommendations and actions arising from the two positive external evaluations of the Social Inclusion Partnership No 3 The Xplore Partnership received in 2004.

The Committee noted the two evaluation reports, approved the management action undertaken on the recommendations contained therein and referred the report to the Dundee Partnership for their attention.

III SUPPLY OF TWO X5 DOOR HATCHBACK VEHICLES

There was submitted Report No 336-2004 by the Head of Communities seeking approval to obtain tenders and for the Depute Chief Executive (Support Services), in conjunction with the Head of Communities, to accept these tenders for the supply of two x5 door hatchback vehicles up to a total cost of 20,000.

The Committee approved the following recommendations:-

(a)that the Head of Communities be authorised to obtain tenders for the supply of two x5 door hatchback vehicles;

(b)that the Depute Chief Executive (Support Services), in conjunction with the Head of Communities, be authorised to accept the tenders for the aforementioned vehicles.

IV NEIGHBOURHOOD REGENERATION FUND II 2004/2005 - COMMUNITY COUNCILS SPECIALPROJECTS

There was submitted Report No 330-2004 by the Head of Communities making a recommendation for a grant award from the Neighbourhood Regeneration Fund.  The recommended grant award would be met from the Department's revenue budget 2004/2005.

The Committee approved payment of the recommended grant of 200 to the Broughty Ferry Community Council.

V PLANNED MAINTENANCE 2004/2005 - PHASE 2

There was submitted Report No 314-2004 by the Head of Communities seeking approval for the City Architectural Services Officer to obtain offers, tenders or negotiate partnerships and for the Depute Chief Executive (Support Services), in conjunction with the Head of Communities, to accept these offers/tenders/partnership agreements for planned maintenance up to a total cost of 10,000 as detailed in the appendix to the report.

The Committee approved the following recommendations:-

(a)that the City Architectural Services Officer be authorised to obtain offers, tenders or partnership agreements for the planned maintenance work as detailed in the appendix to the report;

(b)that the Depute Chief Executive (Support Services), in conjunction with the Head of Communities, be authorised to accept the offers, tenders/partnership agreements as recommended by the City Architectural Services Officer for works to be undertaken by Dundee Contract Services and other Contractors

VI ROOFING REPAIRS

There was submitted Report No 309-2004 by the Head of Communities seeking approval for the carrying out of urgent roofing works up to a total of 60,000 as part of the Capital Roofing Works Programme for 2004/2005.

The Committee approved the following recommendations:-

(a)that the City Architectural Services Officer be authorised to obtain offers, tenders, or partnership agreements for the roofing work;

(b)that the Depute Chief Executive (Support Services), in conjunction with the Head of Communities, be authorised to accept the offers, tenders/partnership agreements as recommended by the City Architectural Services Officer for works to be undertaken by Dundee Contract Services and other Contractors.

VII DUNDEE COMMUNITY SAFETY PARTNERSHIP GRANT AWARDS UP TO £500 2003/2004

Councillor Wallace declared a non-financial interest having been involved in the Balgillo Park Community Safety Fayre.

There was submitted Report No 326-2004 by the Co-Chairpersons, Dundee Community Safety Partnership, detailing awards up to the value of 500 that had been made during the financial year 2003/2004.

The Committee noted the payments as detailed.

VIII DUNDEE COMMUNITY SAFETY PARTNERSHIP SMALL AND COMMISSIONED GRANTS

There was submitted Report No 311-2004 by the Head of Communities making recommendations for the allocation of grant awards and seeking consent to bid for further external funding 2004/2005.

The Committee approved the allocations of grant outlined in Appendix I of the Report and authorised the Convener of the Communities Committee and the Chief Executive to approve the provisional Dundee Community Safety Partnership bid submissions 2004/2005 for Youth Activities resources to the Scottish Executive as per paragraph 6.2 of the Report.

IX ADMINISTRATIVE GRANTS TO COMMUNITY COUNCILS AND NEIGHBOURHOOD REPRESENTATIVESTRUCTURES 2004/2005

There was submitted Report No 325-2004 by the Head of Communities seeking approval for the payment of Administrative Grants for the financial year April 2004 to March 2005 to Community Councils and Neighbourhood Representative Structures in existence or established during the year and to confirm the formulae for payment.

The Committee approved the following recommendations:-

(a)that administrative grants be awarded to all Community Councils currently in existence or established during 2004/2005 in accordance with the Council's Revised Scheme for the Operation of Community Councils;

(b)that administrative grants be awarded to other Neighbourhood Representative Structures which meet the eligibility criteria;

(c)that grants be awarded according to the following formulae:-

a lump sum of 330 per Community Council/Neighbourhood Representative Structure plus 1.2 pence per resident in each area (Appendices I and II refer).

(d)that an administration grant of 440 be awarded to the Association of Dundee Community Councils.

X ADULT EDUCATION SUPPORT FIND 2003/2004

Reference was made to the Policy and Resources Committee on 14th December 1998 (Article I(b) refers) when authority was given to the Director of Neighbourhood Resources and Development to make awards up to the value of 500 to individuals and voluntary/community organisations.

There was submitted Agenda Note AN198-2004 advising that during the period April 2003 to March 2004 a total of 6,611.89, from an allocated budget of 7580.00, had been awarded to support adult learning in the community.

The Committee noted the awards made which were as follows:-

(a)support to Adult Education Associations (2 Associations) - 3,197.90

(b)support to Community Groups to maintain local learning initiatives (7 Groups) - 1,882.26

(c)support to 50 individuals undertaking part-time accredited vocational courses of study where funding assistance was unavailable from other sources - 719.30

(d)Adult Learner's Week Fund (2203) - 812.43

XI NATIONAL VOLUNTEERS WEEK 1ST TO 7TH JUNE, 2004

There was submitted Agenda Note AN199-2004 asking the Committee to note that National Volunteers Week would take place from Tuesday, 1st June to Monday, 7th June, 2004.

The theme for the week this year was "20:20 Vision".  The emphasis was on the sustainability of volunteering and encouraging young people to volunteer.

A Volunteer Recruitment Fair would be held on Wednesday, 2nd June, in Meadowside St Paul's Church halls. A Young Volunteer Photographic competition would also be held and options were being identified for high profile volunteering during the week.  Departmental staff were working closely with staff from the Volunteer Centre and would be collaborating on the production of a "What's On" Guide to be available during May.

The Committee noted the terms of the agenda note.

XII OFFICER APPROVAL - BROOKSBANK EXTENSION AND ALTERATIONS

There was submitted Agenda Note AN197-2004 reporting for the information of the Committee that the City Architectural Services Officer, after consultation with the Convener and Spokespersons of Other Groups, had agreed to accept the offer from Dundee Contract Services for the sum of 106,779 together with allowances of 23,221 in view of the timescales involved.

The Committee noted accordingly.

KEVIN KEENAN, Convener.