Environment Committee - 20/08/2012

At a MEETING of the ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 20th August, 2012.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Councillor Craig MELVILLE, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 11th June, 2012 was held as read.

Items marked thus * stand delegated.

I DECLARATION OF INTEREST

The following declarations were made:-

The Convener, Bailies Sawers and Wright and Councillor Asif declared a non-financial interest in Article II by virtue of being members of the Dovetail Enterprises Board.

II DOVETAIL ENTERPRISES

There was submitted Agenda Note AN130-2012 whereby reference was made to Article XV of the Policy and Resources Committee of 25th June, 2012, when approval was given for the development of a partnership arrangement between Dundee City Council and Dovetail Enterprises. Dovetail Enterprises provides an assisted employment workshop facility for 56 staff, 36 of whom are registered disabled. The development of the partnership would provide significant assistance to Dovetail Enterprises in responding to the difficult trading conditions currently being experienced within the construction industry.

The partnership between the Environment Department's Construction Service Division and Dovetail Enterprises would:-

- combine the Dundee City Council workshop facilities at Clepington Road with the Dovetail workshop at Dunsinane Avenue;

- increase turnover for Dovetail, where appropriate, through the allocation of works through the Council's ongoing capital programme;

- seek joint working opportunities between Dovetail's manufacturing capabilities and construction services contracting activities; and

- share management and technical resources to deliver efficiencies to both organisations.

Plans were well advanced in the physical merging of the two workshops which was due to take place in October, 2012. Staff and trade unions involved from both organisations had been fully consulted and appropriate training was to be provided for those involved prior to the merger of the two facilities. In addition, meetings had taken place between senior management of both organisations and formal arrangements were being put in place to ensure the proper governance of the partnership.

The Committee noted the progress being made in the implementation of the partnership.

Craig MELVILLE, Convener.