City Development Committee - 09/01/2006

At a MEETING of the PLANNING AND TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 9th January 2006.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Councillor Kevin KEENAN, Vice-Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 12th December 2005 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I MODERNISING THE PLANNING SYSTEM - THE NEW PLANNING BILL

This item was withdrawn.

II STOBSWELL ROAD AND CATHERINE STREET, DUNDEE - STOPPING UP

There was submitted Report No 9-2006 by the Director of Planning and Transportation advising that in order to facilitate an adjacent development it would be necessary to stop-up the lengths of Stobswell Road and Catherine Street.

The Committee approved the preparation of an Order under the powers of the Town and Country (Planning) Scotland Act 1997 to stop-up lengths of Stobswell Road and Catherine Street and to delete them from the List of Public Roads as depicted on the plans appended to the report.

III AMBASSADOR ROUTES - RIVERSIDE ESPLANADE WEST ENTRY

This item was deferred.

IV VACANT AND DERELICT LAND FUND: BLOCK 23 KILSPINDIE ROAD, DUNSINANE INDUSTRIAL ESTATE

There was submitted Agenda Note AN2-2006 whereby reference was made to Article VII of this Committee of 16th May, 2005 which outlined the programme of works proposed under the Vacant and Derelict Land Fund for 2005/06. This included an allowance to remove some dereliction in Dunsinane Industrial Estate.

The revitalisation of Dunsinane Industrial Estate for employment purposes was a key objective of the Dundee Local Plan Review, adopted on 1st August, 2005. As part of this, the principal land and property owner within the Estate was undertaking works to demolish and clear derelict factories and create sites for potential inward investment opportunities. Reference was also made to Article IV of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 12th December, 2005 wherein a grant of 97,500 under the Vacant and Derelict Land Fund was approved.

Dundee City Council owns land and property north of Kilspindie Road and had previously undertaken works to demolish part of the vacant factory at Block 23, Kilspindie Road using funding from the Scottish Executive. The amount of funding available was insufficient to demolish the whole of the property and it was agreed that the demolition be completed using money available under the Vacant and Derelict Land Fund.

Accordingly, the Committee approved acceptance of an offer from Trojan, in the sum of 37,300 together with an allowance of 15,000 for fees and contingencies, giving a total expenditure of 52,300.

V NEW ROADS

There was submitted the undernoted application for road construction consent.

The Committee approved the application subject to conditions which had been agreed with the applicant:

It was further agreed that, on satisfactory completion of this road and, if so requested by the applicant, it be entered on the List of Public Roads for the purposes of management and maintenance in terms of the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984.

VI DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL (20 MPH AROUND SCHOOLS) (VARIATION) ORDER 2006

There was submitted Agenda Note AN7-2006 whereby reference was made to Article IX of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 26th January, 2004 instructing and authorising the preparation of an Order to create a safer environment around schools that will encourage children to walk and cycle to school.

It was reported that the proposed Order was duly drafted and during the statutory consultation period, no adverse comments were received. Thereafter, the Order was duly advertised and there were no objections.

The Committee therefore agreed to make the Order as advertised.

VII ASSISTANCE WITH PARKING - DISABLED PERSONS

There was submitted Joint Report No 721-2005 by the Director of Social Work and Director of Planning and Transportation seeking to establish a Council position regarding the provision of parking facilities for disabled persons.

The Committee agreed:-

(i) to transfer the responsibility for implementation of parking facilities from the Social Work Department to the Planning and Transportation Department;

(ii) to instruct the Director of Social Work, Director of Planning and Transportation and Depute Chief Executive (Support Services) to put in place arrangements for public access through the central Corporate Customer Services Team;

(iii) the limits on provision in areas of high demand outlined by the Director of Planning and Transportation; and

(iv) that with regard to the revision of criteria, it be remitted to the Director of Planning and Transportation to investigate practice in other Local Authorities with a view to ensuring that criteria were sufficiently inclusive.

VIII TENDERS RECEIVED

(a) TENDERS RECEIVED BY CITY ENGINEER

There was submitted Report No 8-2006 by the City Engineer detailing tenders in respect of the undernoted contracts:-

(i) HILLTOWN PARK ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENTS

The Committee agreed to accept the lowest offer by Land and Building Services amounting to 277,786.30 to which required to be added allowances of 58,227.50 for Tree Planting, 20,000 for Street Lighting, 33,986.20 for Contingencies amounting to 112,213.70 for non contract allowances. 34,500 for Professional Fees and 500 for Planning Supervisor, amounting to 35,000 for fees.

(ii) ALBERT SQUARE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENTS (STREET LIGHTING)

The Committee agreed to accept the lowest offer by Tayside Contracts amounting to 27,000.00.

(iii) CITY CENTRE IMAGE 05/06

The Committee agreed to accept the lowest offer by Tayside Contracts amounting to 31,000, to which required to be added allowances of 4,366 for Bollards and Street Furniture, 3,000 for Tree Enhancements, 2,634 for Contingencies, 4,000 for Public Utilities, amounting to 14,000 for non contact allowances, and 4,500 for Professional Fees and 500 for Planning Supervisor, amounting to 5,000 for fees, making a total expenditure of 50,000.

The Committee also noted that Tayside Contracts had listed the undernoted sub-contractor;-

(b) TENDERS RECEIVED BY CITY ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES OFFICER

There was submitted Report No 18-2006 by the City Architectural Services Officer detailing tenders received in respect of Gellatly Street - Decriminalisation of Parking - Alterations and Extension to Existing Offices.

The Committee agreed to accept the lowest offer by Muirfield Contracts amounting to 42,690.69 to which required to be added allowances of 700 for Building Warrant, 507 for Planning Supervisor and 7,316 for Professional Services amounting to 8,523.00, making a total expenditure of 51,213.69.

The Committee also noted that Muirfield Contracts had listed the undernoted sub-contractors:-

IX CONFERENCE - THE NEW PLANNING BILL

It was reported that the abovementioned Conference would be held in Edinburgh on 16th January 2006 on the subject of the New Planning Bill.

The Committee authorised the attendance of one member of the Administration, one member of the SNP Group and one member of the Conservative Group at an estimated cost, excluding travel and subsistence, of 225 per delegate.

KEVIN KEENAN, Vice-Convener.