Leisure, Arts And Communities Committee - 14/03/2005

At a MEETING of the COMMUNITIES COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 14th March 2005.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Councillor HIND, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 14th February 2005 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I THE STANDARDS FOR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PILOT PROJECT

There was submitted Report No 149-2005 by the Head of Communities reporting progress on the development of a Community Engagement Strategy for the Dundee North West area using the National Standards for Community Engagement as part of Communities Scotland's pilot programme.

The Committee approved the following recommendations:-

(a) to note the progress made to date on the development of a Community Engagement Strategy for the Dundee North West area using the National Standards for Community Engagement.

(b) to note the positive contribution made to the development of the Community Engagement Strategy by Dundee City Council Departments, Partner Agencies and Community Stakeholders.

(c) to remit the Communities Department to use the learning gained from the pilot project to role out the programme into each of the Dundee City Council's seven Decentralisation Areas and the Dundee (Community Planning) Partnership.

(d) to request the Head of Communities to report progress on the development of the Community Engagement programme by June 2006.

II GIVING VOICE TO COMMUNITIES: EXTENDINGRECOGNITION TO NEIGHBOURHOOD REPRESENTATIVES STRUCTURES IN DUNDEE

There was submitted Report No 146-2005 by the Head of Communities providing the Committee with a progress report on the development of Neighbourhood Representative Structures following the approval of Committee reports on 11th November 2002 and 8th March 2004.

The Committee approved the following recommendations:-

(a) to note that there were now eight Neighbourhood Representative Structures and Community Councils currently operating in Dundee.

(b) to note current development work which may result in a further seven Neighbourhood Representative Structures being established in Dundee.

(c) note the dissolution of the Association of Dundee Community Councils and establishment of the Community Neighbourhood Representatives Structures.

(d) to instruct the Head of Communities to return to Committee in twelve months with a report detailing further progress of this strategy.

III DUNDEE COMMUNITY SAFETY WARDENS INITIATIVE - PROVISION OF EXTERNAL EVALUATION SERVICES

There was submitted Report No 66-2005 by the Head of Communities detailing tenders received for the external evaluation by consultants of the Community Safety Wardens Initiative and requesting a decision on acceptance thereof.

The Committee approved acceptance of the tender submitted by Blake Stevenson Limited in the amount of 39,358.75 excluding VAT.

IV SOCIAL INCLUSION PARTNERSHIP - ALLOCATION OF RESOURCES 2004/2005

There was submitted Report No 165-2005 by the Head of Communities noting the allocation of funding for SIP1 from Communities Scotland and making recommendations for the allocation of SIP1 funding for the financial year 2004/2005.

The Committee noted the outcome of the SIP decision-making process and agreed the proposals contained in Section 6 of the report detailing the reallocation of slippage.

V OUTDOOR EDUCATION - ADVENTURE ACTIVITIES LICENSING - SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE PUBLICATION"GUIDANCE ON HEALTH AND SAFETY ON EDUCATION EXCURSIONS" DECEMBER 2004

There was submitted Agenda Note AN107-2005 pointing out that the Scottish Executive had provided to all Local Authorities guidance for consideration within operational practice related to the safety management of young people on educational excursions. These guidelines followed on from a series of high profile national incidents which had resulted in various forms of litigation.

The inter-departmental Outdoor Education Group had reviewed the guidance in light of the Council's existing Standard Operating Procedures for Outdoor Education and had incorporated the relevant changes therein. The current operating procedures could be viewed at http://intranet.dundeecity.gov.uk/outdoor-safety/docs.

The Directors of Education, Social Work, Leisure and Arts and Head of Communities were also reviewing departmental generic guidelines to comply with the guidance.

The Committee noted and approved the action taken in relation to Outdoor Education and Adventure Activities Licensing requirements.

VI DUNDEE COMMUNITY SAFETY PARTNERSHIP - DUNDEE COMMUNITY SAFETY AWARD GRANTS(COMMISSIONED SERVICES)

There was submitted Report No 80-2005 by the Head of Communities making a recommendation for two commissioned grant awards from the Community Safety Award Programme 2004/2005. The grant awards would be met from external funding from the Scottish Executive under the Community Safety Award Programme 2004/2005.

The Committee approved payment of the following recommended grant awards:-

Dialogue Youth - 10,000

Dundee Community Safety Partnership/Crimestoppers (Scotland) - Up to 15,000.

VII GUIDANCE AND LEARNING - ALLOCATION OF EUROPEAN SOCIAL FUND RESOURCES (ESF)

There was submitted Report No 179-2005 by the Head of Communities asking the Committee to note the approval of European Social Fund monies for the delivery of Adult Guidance and Learning for the period March 2005 - April 2006.

The Committee noted the allocation of continuation funding of 85,898 for the Learning Around Project from the Scottish European Social Fund Objective 3 Programme. Any changes to the establishment as a result of this implementation would be presented to the Personnel Committee in due course.

VIII LITERACIES ACTION PLAN - ALLOCATION OF RESOURCES 2005/2006

Councillor Fiona Grant declared a non financial interest in the following item being the Council representative on the Dundee College Management Committee.

There was submitted Report No 178-2005 by the Head of Communities making recommendations for the allocation of resources to deliver on the key elements contained in the Literacies Action Plan which was approved by the Scottish Executive in March 2004.

The Committee agreed the allocation of Literacies Action Plan funding 2005/2006 recommended by the Community Learning Partnership (Literacies Sub Group) on 23rd February 2005 as detailed in Appendix 1 of the Report.

IX HOMEWORK CLUB PROVISION IN COMMUNITY LIBRARIES

There was submitted Report No 171-2005 by the Head of Communities reporting on the development of homework support delivery in Community Libraries.

The Committee approved the introduction of Homework Clubs in Broughty Ferry, Coldside, Fintry, Hub and Kirkton Libraries.

X ADULT LEARNERS' WEEK 21ST - 27TH MAY 2005

There was submitted Agenda Note AN108-2005 seeking Committee approval to release 2,500 from the Communities Department's Adult Education Support Fund to be used as follows:-

7                                             1,000 as a contribution towards the cost of community events and local functions which relate to Adult Learners Week 2005.

7                                             1,500 to be used for the production of a Programme of Events.

A programme of events would, nearer the time, be placed in the Councillors' Lounge and sent to all group secretaries.

The theme of Adult Learners' Week 2005 was to be "We are what we Learn". This broad theme would provide an opportunity to highlight collaborative working both across the Department and with partner organisations and agencies.

Dundee's programme would be included in the national diary of events and the City would be represented at the Scottish Adult Learners' Week Award Ceremony to be held in Glasgow this year.

The Lord Provost would host a reception in the City Chambers for those who had achieved recognition and success through their Adult Learning endeavours in Dundee.

The Committee approved accordingly.

XI PROPOSED CHANGE OF NAME FOR MENZIESHILL, BALGAY, DENHEAD OF GRAY, BENVIE AND GOURDIECOMMUNITY COUNCIL

There was submitted Agenda Note AN109-2005 stating that the length of the above name had proved cumbersome since its introduction on 12th January 2004 and the Community Council had recently unanimously voted to change its name to Kingsway West Community Council.

The Committee approved the change of name.

XII NEIGHBOURHOOD REGENERATION FUND 111 2004/2005 - COMMUNITY COUNCILS SPECIAL PROJECT FUND

There was submitted Report No 58-2005 by the Head of Communities making a recommendation for a grant award from the Neighbourhood Regeneration Fund.

The Committee approved payment of the recommended grant of 500 to Broughty Ferry Community Council.

Chris HIND, Convener