Leisure, Arts And Communities Committee - 08/11/2004

At a MEETING of the COMMUNITIES COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 8th November 2004.

 

Present:-

 

Lord Provost John R LETFORD

 

 

 

BAILIES

 

C D P FARQUHAR

John CORRIGAN

Bruce D MACKIE

Helen WRIGHT

Neil I C POWRIE

Ian BORTHWICK

 

COUNCILLORS

 

Jill SHIMI

Joe MORROW

Joe FITZPATRICK

Kevin KEENAN

Fraser MACPHERSON

Jim BARRIE

George REGAN

Nigel DON

Elizabeth F FORDYCE

Julia M STURROCK

Bob DUNCAN

Roderick A J WALLACE

Fiona M GRANT

Richard BEATTIE

Charles A WEBSTER

Christopher HIND

Andrew DAWSON

Derek J SCOTT

 

Willie W SAWERS

 

 

 

Councillor Hind, Convener, in the Chair.

 

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 18th October, 2004 was held as read.

 

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

 

I REVIEW OF REFERENCE SERVICE PROVISION IN CENTRAL LIBRARY

 

There was submitted Report No 736-2004 by the Head of Communities seeking approval to implement changes to the delivery of reference and information services in the Central Library as highlighted in the review which would be fully responsive to the needs of the community.

 

The Committee approved the contents of the report and supported the implementation of the changes to the Reference Services of the Central Library as detailed in Section 6.3 of the report.

 

II COMMUNITY COUNCILS SPECIAL PROJECTS FUND

 

Councillor Fraser Macpherson declared a non-financial interest in the following item being a member of the West End Community Council.

 

There was submitted Report No 727-2004 by the Head of Communities making a recommendation for a grant award from the Neighbourhood Regeneration Fund. The grant award would be met from the Department's Revenue Budget 2004/05.

 

The Committee approved payment of the recommended grant award of 500 to the West End Community Council.

 

III DUNDEE COMMUNITY SAFETY PARTNERSHIP: ALLOCATION OF LOCAL ACTION FUND 1

 

There was submitted Report No 718-2004 by the Head of Communities seeking approval for the allocation of grant awards from the Local Action Fund. The grant awards would be met from external funding from the Scottish Executive under the Community Safety Local Action Fund Programme 2004/05.

The Committee approved the allocation of grants as detailed in Appendix I of the report and noted the criteria used to evaluate applications as outlined in Appendix II.

 

IV SOCIAL INCLUSION PARTNERSHIP ALLOCATION OF RESOURCES - SMALL GRANTS 2004/05

 

There was submitted Report No 726-2004 by the Head of Communities noting the allocation of funding for Social Inclusion Partnerships I from Communities Scotland and making recommendations for the allocation of Social Inclusion Partnerships 1/2 funding for the financial year 2004/05.

 

The Committee noted the transfer of 48 from SIP 2 Core Fund to SIP 2 Small Grants and the allocations from SIP I Small Grants allocation outlined in Appendix A of the report and SIP 2 Small Grants allocation outlined in Appendix B.

 

V DYNAMIC DUNDEE - HISTORY OF THE CITY

 

There was submitted Agenda Note AN411-2004 pointing out that for many years staff in libraries and Education Department had been aware of the lack of local history material aimed at young people. Two members of the Communities Department together with a colleague from the Education Department, recently submitted a Heritage Lottery Fund Application for funding to produce the history of Dundee which was of high quality, accessible to young people and fun. The bid was successful and a grant of 50,000 had been awarded.

 

The book has a working title of Dynamic Dundee and the team were aiming for something similar to the Horrible Histories series of books which are hugely popular with young people because of their fun approach to history.

 

In addition to a book, the project aimed to produce a CD-rom complementing the contents of the book and containing worksheet and related activities which would meet the requirements of the 5-14 year-old curriculum and would be used by Education and Communities staff. Also, extracts from the book and information about the project would be available on the Council website.

 

The book and the CD-rom would be made available free to libraries and schools but would also be sold in bookshops and local heritage sites both locally and further afield.

 

The Committee noted and approved the proposals.

 

VI TAY SAIL TRAINING ASSOCIATION

 

There was submitted Agenda Note AN412-2004 requesting Committee approval for the transfer of two Buzz sailing dinghies from the Communities Department to Tay Sail Training Association. These dinghies were originally purchased by Tayside Region with assistance from the Sports and Arts Foundation.

 

The Tay Sail Training Association was prepared to take on the costs of insurance and maintenance of the boats and this would ensure that they were used for the purposes intended whilst relieving Dundee City Council of ongoing costs of maintaining the boats. The economic value of the two boats concerned was estimated at 2,400.

 

The Committee approved the transfer of the sailing dinghies.

 

VII SCOTLAND'S HEALTH AT WORK

 

There was submitted Agenda Note AN416-2004 advising that following submission of a portfolio of evidence and assessment visits held on 7 and 13 October 2004, the Communities Department had been successful in achieving the bronze standard with effect from 15 October 2004.

 

It was the aim of Scotland's Health at Work to make the active promotion and good health an integral part of Scottish corporate culture and the Communities Department had contributed to this in a positive manner. The award was valid for 3 years during which time it was expected that the Department would maintain its bronze activity. The Communities Department would now work towards the silver award. The silver criteria would build on the Department's existing good practice and would help target activity in line with needs.

 

The Committee noted the Communities Department's achievement.

 

VIII VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS TRAINING GRANTS FUND 2004/05

 

There was submitted Report No 730-2004 by the Head of Communities making recommendations for grant awards from the Voluntary Organisations Training Grants Fund. The grant awards would be met from the Department's Revenue Budget 2004/05.

 

The Committee approved payment of the following recommended grants:-

 

The City of Dundee Girl Guide Association

 

1,000

 

Youth Link - Kids Unlimited Group Work Project

535.

 

IX NATIONAL ORGANISATIONS GRANT FUND IV 2004/05

 

Councillor Webster declared a non-financial interest in the following item as he was employed at Dundee University.

 

There was submitted Report No 733-2004 by the Head of Communities making a recommendation for a grant award from the National Organisations Fund. The grant award would be met from the Department's Revenue Budget 2004/05.

 

The Committee approved payment of the recommended grant of 1,431 to the University of Dundee Continuing Education Department.

 

The Convener had agreed to include the undernoted items as a matter of urgency under Standing Order 17(b) in view of the timescales involved.

 

X THE REDEVELOPMENT OF CHARLESTON NEIGHBOURHOOD CENTRE

 

There was submitted Report No 763-2004 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 the refurbishment and extension of Charleston Neighbourhood Centre up to a total cost of 784,000.

 

The Committee agreed that the City Architectural Services Officer be authorised to obtain offers, tenders or partnership agreements for the redevelopment of Charleston Neighbourhood Centre and 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.

 

XI DEVELOPMENT OF THE ARDLER COMPLEX CAFE BAR EXTENSION

 

There was submitted Report No 764-2004 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 the development of the Ardler Complex, Cafe Bar Extension up to a total cost of 440,000.

 

The Committee authorised the City Architectural Services Officer to obtain offers, tenders or partnership agreements for the Ardler Complex Cafe Bar Extension and the Depute Chief Executive (Support Services), in conjunction with the Head of Communities, 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.

 

 

 

 

 

CHRIS HIND, Convener.