City Development Committee - 27/09/2010

At a MEETING of the CITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 27th September, 2010.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Councillor Will DAWSON, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 23rd August, 2010 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I RESOURCING A HIGH QUALITY PLANNING SYSTEM - A CONSULTATION PAPER

There was submitted Report No 430-2010 by the Director of City Development seeking to confirm the views of the Council in response to the Consultation Paper issued by the Directorate for the Built Environment, Scottish Government, entitled "Resourcing a High Quality Planning System - A Consultation Paper".

The Committee:-

(a) endorsed Appendix A to the report as the Council's formal response to the Consultation Paper; and

(b) authorised the Director of City Development to issue the formal response to the Scottish Government by the deadline of 15th October, 2010.

II PERMITTED DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS FOR MICROGENERATION EQUIPMENT ON NON-DOMESTIC PROPERTIES

There was submitted Report No 582-2010 by the Director of City Development seeking to confirm the views of the Council in response to the Scottish Government Paper "Permitted Development Rights for Microgeneration Equipment on Non-domestic Properties".

The Committee:-

(a) agreed and approved Appendix A to the report as the Council's formal response to the Consultation Paper; and

(b) authorised the Director of City Development to issue the formal response to the Scottish Government by the deadline of 8th October, 2010.

III EAST COAST MAIN LINE RAIL FRANCHISE - POSSIBLE LOSS OF SERVICE NORTH OF EDINBURGH(REMOVAL OF DIRECT RAIL SERVICE FROM DUNDEE TO LONDON KING'S CROSS)

There was submitted Report No 442-2010 by the Director of City Development, advising the Committee of ongoing issues relating to possible changes to the East Coast main line rail services linking Dundee to London King's Cross.

The Committee:-

(a) noted the contents of the report; and

(b) authorised Dundee City Council, officers and members to engage with other local authorities and Regional Transport Partnerships similarly affected by these possible changes to direct rail services to and from London.

IV ROAD MAINTENANCE PARTNERSHIP PERFORMANCE FOR 2009/2010

There was submitted Report No 329-2010 by the Director of City Development providing an update on the progress and performance of the Road Maintenance Partnership between Dundee City Council and Tayside Contracts on the delivery of Road Maintenance and Minor Works Services to 31st March, 2010.

The Committee noted the content of this report and agreed that the Director of City Development be remitted to report back annually to the Committee with the ongoing progress and performance of the Partnership.

V ROAD ASSET CONDITION AND BACKLOG

There was submitted Report No 406-2010 by the Director of City Development advising the Committee of the current position and the background to the Statutory Performance Indicator used to measure carriageway condition as reported to the Scrutiny Committee, together with the condition of the road asset within Dundee City Council, and identifying the investment required to bring the asset up to an appropriate standard.

The Committee agreed to note the contents of the report and take account of it when setting future budgets.

VI MONITORING OF ROAD TRAFFIC REDUCTION ACT TARGETS

There was submitted Report No 557-2010 by the Director of City Development advising the Committee of the Council's progress towards Road Traffic Targets that had been set under the Road Traffic Reduction Act 1997.

The Committee noted the Council's progress towards the 2021 target which was to ensure that traffic did not increase in the city centre by 25% by 2021 compared to 1996 levels during the morning and afternoon peak periods. It also noted that the Council was on schedule to achieve this target by the year 2021 and that officers would continue to monitor traffic levels within the city.

VII TAXI RANKS

There was submitted Report No 444-2010 by the Director of City Development relative to a proposal to vary the traffic regulations to provide additional taxi ranks in the city centre.

The Committee approved the preparation of a Traffic Regulation Order to vary the taxi rank clearways to provide additional taxi ranks at the undernoted sites:-

(a) High Street (East Leg) between St Paul's Cathedral and Castle Street (three spaces);

(b) Meadowside between Panmure Street and Royal Exchange Lane (two spaces); and

(c) Nethergate adjacent to the DCA (three spaces). (This would be an evening only rank, as provision already existed for the daytime demand in South Tay Street).

VIII DISABLED PERSONS PARKING PLACES (SCOTLAND) ACT 2009

There was submitted Report No 443-2010 by the Director of City Development making reference to Article II of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 28th September, 2009 which outlined the procedures and timescales involved in making the existing advisory disabled spaces enforceable in order to satisfy the requirements of the above Act and providing detailed information on the number of spaces involved and the necessary consultation exercise.

The Committee approved the preparation of two Traffic Regulation Orders to enable enforcement of all on-street disabled parking spaces and those off-street disabled parking spaces where owners of the relevant car parks agreed to such measures.

IX WINTER MAINTENANCE REVIEW AND POLICY AND LEVEL OF SERVICE 2010/2011

There was submitted Report No 600-2010 by the Director of City Development outlining the winter maintenance review carried out following the severe winter in 2009/2010 and identifying proposed improvements to the service. It also explained winter maintenance operations and sought Committee approval of the proposed winter maintenance policy and level of service for winter 2010/2011 outlined in Appendix 1 to the report.

The Committee noted the proposed improvements to the winter service provision and approved the policy and level of service for winter 2010/2011 as outlined in the report.

X PROVISION OF WEATHER FORECASTING SERVICE FOR WINTER MAINTENANCE

There was submitted Agenda Note AN113-2010, advising that a consortium of Dundee City Council, Angus Council, Fife Council and Perth and Kinross Council had issued tenders for the winter maintenance forecasting service.

For winters 2010/2011 and 2011/2012, two providers were invited to tender on the basis of a one year contract with the option to extend by one further year subject to satisfactory performance in year 1, and based on the cost and quality assessment, the tender from Met Office in the sum of 51,990 was recommended as the most advantageous, with Dundee City Council's share being 9,537.64.

It was noted that if the contract was extended into the second year, the contract rates would be increased in accordance with any rise in Retail Price Index over the preceding 12 months.

The Committee authorised the acceptance of the tender from the Met Office and agreed to the one year contract being extended by one year to 2011/2012, subject to a satisfactory service being provided in the first year and no significant developments in other providers' technology.

XI DEMOLITION OF UNIT 2, FOUNDRY LANE

There was submitted Agenda Note AN114-2010, advising the Committee that the City Engineer had recently invited tenders for the demolition of Unit 2, Foundry Lane, and that tenders had been returned by three contractors. It was reported that due to vandalism, the Director of City Development, following consultation with the Convener and Group Spokespersons, authorised the acceptance of the lowest tender from Dundee Plant Company Ltd in the amount of 3,695. Allowances of 1,045 had been added for non-contract works, professional fees and contingencies, giving a total expenditure of 4,740.

The Committee noted accordingly.

XII PROPOSED NEW STREET NAME

There was submitted Agenda Note AN115-2010, asking the Committee to approve the undernoted proposed new street name:-

The Committee approved accordingly.

XIII DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL (MENZIESHILL, DUNDEE) (STOPPING-UP) ORDER 2010

There was submitted Agenda Note AN116-2010, making reference to Article II of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 28th June, 2010, wherein it was agreed to stop-up areas of roads, footpaths and footways at Ninewells Court/Balgay Court/Glamis Court area and Hillside Court/Gowrie Court area, Menzieshill.

It was reported that the Order was duly prepared and advertised in the Evening Telegraph and The Edinburgh Gazette, and the relevant statutory undertakers consulted, and no objections had been received.

The Committee therefore authorised and confirmed the Stopping-Up Order, and authorised formal publication of the confirmation, after which the Order would become operative.

XIV TENDERS RECEIVED BY CITY ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES OFFICER

There was submitted Report No 602-2010 by the City Architectural Services Officer detailing tenders received in respect of shopfront replacements at 1 and 11 Teviotdale Avenue.

The Committee agreed to accept the lowest offer from Muirfield (Contracts) Ltd in the sum of 48,459.36, to which required to be added allowances amounting to 9,194, giving a total of 57,653.36.

The Committee also noted the undernoted sub-contractors:-

XV CHRISTMAS LIGHTS 2010

There was submitted Report No 609-2010 by the City Architectural Services Officer outlining proposals for the erection and connection of the Christmas lighting equipment and features, including the erection of associated Christmas trees and garlands, at various venues throughout the city.

The Committee approved acceptance of a negotiated contract with Dundee Contract Services in the amount of 180,500 and allowances amounting to 38,500, giving a total cost of 219,000.

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 I of Schedule 7A of the Act.

XVI COMMERCIAL LEASES

There was submitted and noted Report No 579-2010 by the Director of City Development detailing commercial leases in respect of the undernoted premises:-

Unit 9, Alexander Street

229 Blackness Road

Unit 15, Alexander Street

0.67 ha, Barns of Claverhouse

Steading A, Barns of Claverhouse

Advance Factory Unit, 7 Miln Street

Unit 8, Alexander Street

XVII RENT REVIEWS

There was submitted Report No 578-2010 by the Director of City Development detailing rent reviews in respect of the undernoted premises:-

141 Kingsway East

Ascot Bar, 58-60 South Tay Street

The Committee approved accordingly.

XVIII LAND AT COX STREET, DUNDEE

There was submitted Agenda Note AN117-2010, advising that agreement had been reached for the sale of an area of land owned by the Council at Cox Street, and that this had been approved after consultation with the Convener and Spokespersons for the other groups.

The Committee noted accordingly.

XIX PROPOSED LEASE OF LAND AT 665 ARBROATH ROAD, DUNDEE

There was submitted Report No 561-2010 by the Director of City Development, seeking approval for the lease of land extending to 0.0118ha or thereby, to the East of 665 Arbroath Road, Dundee.

The Committee approved the lease on the terms and conditions detailed in the report.

XX ATTIC FLAT, 19 LORIMER STREET

There was submitted Agenda Note AN118-2010, advising that an attic flat at 19 Lorimer Street had been recently advertised for sale and detailing the offers received.

The Committee authorised acceptance of the highest offer on the terms and conditions detailed in the note.

XXI 595-599 CHARLESTON DRIVE

There was submitted Agenda Note AN119-2010 advising the Committee of the terms of an agreement in respect of a rent review of the above premises, and advising that this had been approved after consultation with the Convener and Spokespersons for the other groups.

The Committee noted accordingly.

Will DAWSON, Convener.