Recess Sub-committee - 11/07/2005

At a MEETING of the RECESS SUB-COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 11th July, 2005.

Present:-

BAILIE

Bruce MACKIE

COUNCILLORS

Councillor Jill SHIMI, Convener, in the Chair.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I TENDERS RECEIVED BY CITY ENGINEER

The City Engineer submitted Report No 413-2005 giving details of offers received for the undernoted contracts:-

(a) NORTH COMMERCIAL STREET BUS STOPS

The Sub-Committee agreed to accept the lowest offer by Land and Building Services Ltd amounting to 23,330.23, together with the undernoted allowances:-

making a total expenditure of 34,830.23.

(b) DURA STREET ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENTS 2005-2006

The Sub-Committee agreed to accept the lowest offer by Land and Building Services Ltd amounting to 145,375.58, together with the undernoted allowances:-

making a total expenditure of 195,000.00.

II BELL STREET MULTI-STOREY CAR PARK

There was submitted Agenda Note AN285-2005 advising that customers, particularly of Bell Street Car Park, had requested the re-introduction of a mid-range parking tariff for those working part-time and the Director of Planning and Transportation had recommended the addition of a mid-range parking tariff of four to six hours at 3.00 applying only to Bell Street Multi-Storey Long Stay Car Park.

The Sub-Committee approved the above variation and authorised the relevant public notification.

III DUNDEE CENTRAL WATERFRONT - NETWORK RAIL - BASIC SERVICES AGREEMENT

There was submitted Agenda Note AN286-2005 advising that as part of the Dundee Central Waterfront Development and the current projects to strengthen the Dock Street Tunnel and remove the Union Street Footbridge, Network Rail required Dundee City Council to enter into a legal Basic Service Agreement for them to provide interface activities relating to the rail network, health and safety, industry standards, regulations and necessary approvals. This would allow Network Rail to recognise the project and recharge Dundee City Council for agreed staff costs incurred in providing these services at an estimated cost of 74,000.

The Sub-Committee authorised an agreement with Network Rail to allow these critical projects to progress.

IV TENDERS - HARRIS ACADEMY - RESURFACING

The City Architectural Services Officer submitted Report No 436-2005 giving details of a partnership offer with Dundee Contract Services to resurface the west driveway at Harris Academy for the sum of 17,261, together with an allowance of 2,589 for professional services, making a total expenditure of 19,850.

The Sub-Committee agreed to accept the offer.

V COMMUNITY REGENERATION FUND SMALL GRANTS ALLOCATION 2005/2006

The Assistant Chief Executive (Community Planning) and Head of Communities submitted Report No 433-2005 detailing the Community Regeneration Small Grants Fund 2005-2008 and making recommendations on allocation to projects.

The Sub-Committee noted the process for allocating small grants through the Local Community Regeneration Forums as agreed by the Dundee Partnership and endorsed the funding proposals detailed in Section 8 of the report.

VI COMMUNITY REGENERATION FUND ALLOCATION OF RESOURCES 2005-2006

The Assistant Chief Executive (Community Planning) and Head of Communities submitted Report No 434-2005 detailing the Community Regeneration Funding available to the Dundee Partnership for 2005-2008 and making recommendations on allocation to projects.

The Sub-Committee noted the process for allocating funding through Local Community Regeneration Forums as agreed by the Dundee Partnership and endorsed the funding proposals contained in Section 8 of the report.

VII COMMUNITIES DEPARTMENT - DUNDEE ENVIRONMENTAL MAPPING INITIATIVE (DEMi) - ESTABLISHMENT OFA FIXED TERM POST

The Head of Communities and Assistant Chief Executive (Management) submitted Report No 435-2005 recommending the establishment of a fixed term part-time post of Community Development Worker for a one year period to deliver the Dundee Environmental Mapping initiative (DEMi).

The Sub-Committee agreed to support the Sustain Dundee DEMi project and approved the establishment of a part-time (18 hours per week) post of Community Development Worker, grade CEW (17,853 - 23,058), for a period of one year.

VIII ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT - REVIEW OF ESTABLISHMENT

The Director of Economic Development and Assistant Chief Executive (Management) submitted Report No 437-2005 seeking approval to make changes to the establishment of the Economic Development Department following a review by the Director of Economic Development and the Assistant Chief Executive (Management).

The Sub-Committee approved:-

(a) the regrading of one post of Team Leader (Information/Support) from PO7 (31,068 - 33,423) to PO8-11 (31,860 - 34,173);

(b) the establishment of one post of Information Officer, grade AP5/PO4 (23,739 - 28,632); and

(c) the establishment of two posts of Property Services Officer, grade AP5 (23,739 - 25,857).

IX ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT - CHANGES TO ESTABLISHMENT

There was submitted Agenda Note AN287-2003 advising that at the request of the Director of Economic Development, the Assistant Chief Executive (Management) had reviewed the staffing requirements of the Property Maintenance Section of the Economic Development Department.

The Sub-Committee approved:-

(a) the establishment of one post of Building Surveyor, grade AP5/PO4 (23,739 - 28,632); and

(b) the deletion of the post of Assistant Building Surveyor, grade AP1/AP5 (15,063 - 25,857).

X PLANNING AND TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT - ESTABLISHMENT OF FIXED TERM POSTS

There was submitted Agenda Note AN281-2005 advising that a review of staffing levels had recently been carried out within the City Engineers Division where there was significant pressure in meeting ongoing workload demands specifically on the 57m Central Waterfront Development Infrastructure Project and the 19m Tay Road Bridge Bearing Replacement Contract.

The Sub-Committee approved the establishment of two Engineer posts, graded AP2-PO4 (16,515 - 28,632) for a fixed term period of three years.

XI LEISURE AND ARTS DEPARTMENT - ESTABLISHMENT OF FIXED TERM POSTS

There was submitted Agenda Note AN282-2005 advising that agreement had been reached between the Leisure and Arts Department, the Forestry Commission Scotland, Greenspace Scotland and Scottish Natural Heritage to set up the Dundees Trees, Woods and Green Space Partnership Project.

The Sub-Committee approved to the establishment of the post of Woodland and Green Space Development Officer, graded AP4 (20,808 - 23,034) for a fixed term period until 31st March, 2009.

XII COMMUNITIES DEPARTMENT - ESTABLISHMENT OF PART-TIME POST

There was submitted Agenda Note AN283-2005 advising that the Community Capacity Project, previously funded by the Social Inclusion Partnership Fund was now funded by the Community Regeneration Fund and had secured match funding from the European Regional Development Fund for the Community Capacity Project.

The Sub-Committee approved the establishment of one part-time post (20 hours) of Community Capacity Worker, graded AP3/4 (18,381-23,034) pro rata until 30th November, 2006.

XIII RIVERSIDE LANDFILL SITE AFTERCARE AND CLOSURE PLAN

The Head of Waste Management submitted Report No 443-2005 advising of the progress and timescales associated with the Aftercare and Closure Plan for Riverside Landfill Site.

The Sub-Committee authorised the Head of Waste Management to implement and complete all necessary final remediation works following approval of the Aftercare and Closure Plan by the Scottish Environment and Protection Agency (CEPA).

XIV ARDLER COMPLEX - CAFI BAR EXTENSION

On a reference to Article II of the minute of meeting of the Communities Committee of 18th April, 2005, the City Architectural Services Officer submitted Report No 441-2005 giving details of an offer by Aspect Contracts (Asbestos) Ltd, East Kilbride, a specialist contractor, to carry out an asbestos survey at the Ardler Complex Cafi Bar Extension for the sum of 4,100.

The Sub-Committee agreed to accept the offer.

The Sub-Committee resolved under Section 50(A)(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 that the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the undernoted item of business on the grounds that it involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 6 and 9 of Part I of Schedule 7A of the Act.

XV LEISURE AND ARTS DEPARTMENT - EARLY RETIREMENT

There was submitted Agenda Note AN284-2005 advising the Sub-Committee that an employee in the Leisure and Arts Department be retired with effect from 31st July, 2005 in the interests of the efficiency of the service.

The Sub-Committee approved the early retirement on the grounds of the efficiency of the service having noted the financial implications.

This retirement would be in accordance with the Local Government Pension Scheme (Scotland) Regulations 1998 and would be with enhancement in accordance with the Local Government (Discretionary Payments and Injury Benefits) (Scotland) Regulations 1998 (as amended) and in accordance with the decision of the Personnel Committee of 14th March, 2005.

The Sub-Committee also noted that these savings would be partially utilised in a forthcoming restructure of the Leisure and Arts Department.

JILL SHIMI, Convener.