Leisure, Arts And Communities Committee - 28/01/2008

At a MEETING of the LEISURE, ARTS AND COMMUNITIES COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 28th January, 2008.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Councillor Richard McCREADY, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 14th January, 2008 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I LEISURE AND COMMUNITIES DEPARTMENT SERVICE PLAN 2007/2011

There was submitted Report No 70-2008 by Director of Leisure and Communities seeking approval for the Leisure and Communities Service Plan for 2007/2011.

The Committee approved the Service Plan appended to the report.

II PARKS RESURFACING WORKS

There was submitted Agenda Note AN9-2008 advising the Committee that on the instruction of the Director of Leisure and Communities, proposals had been prepared for resurfacing work within Camperdown Country Park and other parks.

It was agreed that the City Engineer be instructed to include this work within the existing Partnership Agreement with Tayside Contracts for delivering the road maintenance and minor road works service.

Approval was also given to extend the Partnering Agreement with Tayside Contracts for this work up to a value of 40,000, including professional fees. The Depute Chief Executive (Finance) advised that the expenditure could be met from the Leisure and Communities Capital Programme 2007/2008 and the Quality of Life Fund.

III McMANUS GALLERIES REDEVELOPMENT

There was submitted Agenda Note AN19-2008 asking the Committee to note the following update in respect of the McManus Galleries Redevelopment Project.

Site Progress

The main contractor for the restoration of the galleries, Muirfield Contracts (Dundee) Ltd, was given possession of the site on 14th August , 2006. During the early stages of this high risk project, several major obstacles to progress were encountered. These included a change to the slating specification which required Listed Building Consent (a process that took three months), the identification of extensive additional underpinning work, and the discovery that the lead work to the three roof spires required to be renewed. As a result of these and other events outwith the control of the main contractor, they requested and were awarded extensions to the contract period. It was still anticipated that major building works would be complete before the end of 2008.

It was considered that, with the possible exception of inclement weather, all of the major obstacles to progress had now been addressed, and works were moving forward in accordance with the revised programme. Barring particularly inclement weather between now and the end of April 2008, when all areas of the building are scheduled to be wind and water tight, completion of the works should be achieved by the revised date allowing the fit out contractors access to carry out their works.

Environmental improvements to the areas of Albert Square surrounding the galleries were being carried out in parallel with the restoration works. For programming reasons, completion of these works would follow shortly after completion of the galleries.

Fundraising Progress

An application for a grant increase award in respect of additional works totalling 2,045,000 was considered by the Heritage Lottery Fund in December 2007, however, this had been unsuccessful. Every effort was being made by the Council to raise additional funds through the Scottish Government and corporate benefactors. Perhaps, understandably, Trusts and benefactors wish to contribute to specific projects/acquisitions as opposed to the physical reconstruction works. To date, a total of 270,000 in external grants to enable acquisitions, conservation and the delivery of educational programmes had been secured. The public fundraising total is 28,520.

The Committee noted accordingly.

Richard McCREADY, Convener.