Leisure, Arts And Communities Committee - 26/06/2006

At a MEETING of the LEISURE AND ARTS SERVICES COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 26th June, 2006.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Bailie FARQUHAR, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 15th May, 2006 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I LEISURE AND ARTS DEPARTMENT SERVICE PLAN 2003-2007

The Director of Leisure and Communities submitted Report No 409-2006 advising the Committee of progress made in the year 2005-2006 on the Leisure and Arts Department Service Plan 2003-2007.

The Committee noted the contents of the report and progress made on the Department's Key Objectives, Projects and Reviews as described in Appendices 1 and 2 in relation to the Service Plan.

II DUNDEE PHYSICAL ACTIVITY STRATEGY FOR CHILDREN FROM BIRTH TO FIVE

The Director of Education and the Director of Leisure and Communities submitted Joint Report No 384-2006 informing the Committee of the partnership work being undertaken to develop, promote and deliver quality physical activity provision for children from birth to age 5 and requesting approval for the strategy and the principles contained therein.

The Committee approved the Dundee Physical Activity Strategy for Children from Birth to Five, supported the principles contained therein and remitted to the Council staff involved in the development of the strategy to continue to work with all existing partners and to develop additional partnership working to implement the action plan.

III BAXTER PARK

(a) RESTORATION PLAN - PLAY AREA

The Director of Leisure and Communities submitted Report No 383-2006 seeking approval for the construction of a new play area as part of the Baxter Park Restoration Plan.

The Committee agreed to accept the lowest offer by T & N Gilmartin Limited to carry out the works for the sum of 104,642 together with a contingency of 5,232 making a total expenditure of 109,874.

(b) USE BY BIBLE BAPTIST CHURCH

There was submitted Agenda Note AN223-2006 advising that an application had been received from the Pastor of Bible Baptist Church to hold an open air preaching meeting at Baxter Park on the evening dates between 7th - 11th August, 2006, making use of the lower half of the park from 4 pm to 9 pm each day.

The Committee approved the application subject to the Bible Baptist Church having the appropriate insurance indemnifying the Council and paying for any reinstatement costs or damage to the area and any other charges for services requested from the Council.

IV TENDERS RECEIVED

The City Architectural Services Officer submitted Report No 394-2006 giving details of offers received for the undernoted contracts:

(a) LYNCH SPORTS CENTRE - JOHN LYNCH HALL - REPLACEMENT FLOORING

The Committee agreed to accept the sole offer received from Veitchi (Scotland) Ltd, Edinburgh amounting to 66,828.40 together with an allowance of 11,268 for professional services making a total expenditure of 78,096.40.

(b) DUNDEE FLOWER SHOW AND FOOD FESTIVAL 2006 - ELECTRICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

The Committee agreed to accept the offer under the partnering project by Jaydee Heating and Electrical amounting to 23,500 together with an allowance of 3,760 for professional services making a total expenditure of 27,260.

V MCMANUS GALLERIES - ALTERATIONS AND REFURBISHMENT

The City Architectural Services Officer submitted Report No 395-2006 giving details of offers received for the above works.

The Committee agreed to accept the revised lowest offer from Muirfield (Contracts) Ltd amounting to 5,407,263.15 together with allowances amounting to 745,630 making a total expenditure of 6,152,893.15. The Committee also approved additional expenditure amounting to 622,000 required to fund the project.

VI HIRD BRIDGE, BALGAY PARK

Reference was made to Article VIII of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 20th February, 2006 when the City Engineer was appointed to develop and design the restoration work for this bridge and to seek tenders. There was submitted Agenda Note AN226-2006 advising that the City Engineer had invited tenders from three specialist consultants on a cost/quality basis for the role of Professional Advisor to carry out the first stage assessment and Gifford and Partners Ltd had submitted a very high quality bid.

The Committee approved the appointment of Gifford and Partners Ltd for the first phase of the project, the structural analysis and associated report at an estimated cost of 45,000 and noted that details of tenders for the works would be reported to a future Committee with a view to commencing on site in April 2007 and being completed by September 2007.

VII OFFICER'S APPROVAL - DISC OUTDOOR PITCH RESTORATION

There was submitted Agenda Note AN225-2006 reporting for the information of the Committee that the Director of Leisure and Communities, after consultation with the Convener and Spokespersons for the Other Groups, had agreed to accept an offer from the Specialist Contractor, Hunter Building and Civil Engineering Contractors, Aberdeen to carry out the above works in June 2006 for the sum of 10,140.

VIII LOCHEE SWIMMING AND LEISURE CENTRE - CLOSURE FOR ANNUAL MAINTENANCE

The Convener, Lord Provost Letford and Councillors Duncan and Wallace declared a non-financial interest by virtue of their Council appointment as Directors of Dundee Leisure. There was submitted Agenda Note AN224-2006 reporting that to enable the annual equipment and essential maintenance programme at Lochee Swimming and Leisure Centre to take place, permission was requested for the Centre to be closed from Tuesday, 15th August to Friday 25th August 2006 inclusive.

The Committee approved the closure request.

The 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 items of business on the grounds that they involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 6 and 9 of Part 1 of Schedule 7A of the Act.

IX SALE OF SITE AT THE DUNDEE INTERNATIONAL SPORTS CENTRE (DISC)

The Director of Economic Development submitted Report No 387-2006 seeking approval for the sale of a site within the grounds of DISC.

The Committee agreed to the sale of the site to an interested company on the terms and conditions detailed.

X GROUND AT RIVERSIDE DRIVE

There was submitted Agenda Note AN227-2006 advising that an interested party had requested to use an area of ground at the above site on Sunday afternoons and Thursday evenings.

The Committee noted that there were no objections to the proposal and agreed to enter into a lease with the interested party on the terms and conditions detailed.

XI GROUND AT CAIRD PARK STADIUM

There was submitted Agenda Note AN228-2006 advising that an interested organisation had applied to lease the football pitch at Caird Park Stadium.

The Committee agreed that following consultation with the Director of Leisure and Communities the Council enter into a lease on the terms and conditions detailed and instructed the Depute Chief Executive (Support Services) to conclude the necessary legal formalities.

CHARLES FARQUHAR, Convener.