Environment Committee - 09/06/2014

At a MEETING of the ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 9th June, 2014.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Councillor Craig MELVILLE, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 19th May, 2014 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I DECLARATION OF INTEREST

No declarations of interest were made.

II TENDERS RECEIVED

There was submitted Report No 235-2014 by the Director of Environment detailing tenders received in respect of the undernoted projects:-

(a) PROVISION OF ELECTRICAL DISTRIBUTION AND LIGHTING FOR DUNDEE FLOWER AND FOOD FESTIVAL

The Committee agreed to accept an offer from Northern Light Stage and Technical Services in the sum of 19,982.60.

(b) SUPPLY OF FIREWORKS DISPLAYS AT BAXTER PARK AND LOCHEE PARK ON 5TH NOVEMBER, 2014

The Committee agreed to accept an offer from Reaction Fireworks in the sum of 19,000.

III CONTAMINATED LAND STRATEGY - SITE INVESTIGATION CONTRACTS

There was submitted Report No 236-2014 by the Director of Environment seeking approval for the on‑going site investigation work associated with the Council's statutory contaminated land responsibilities and updating the Committee on the projects undertaken in 2013/2014.

The Committee agreed to note the content of the report and authorised the City Engineer to instruct the required site investigation works up to the value of 100,000 in financial year 2014/2015, through the existing Unit Rate Contract.

IV SUPPLY OF PLANT AND VEHICLES 2014/2015

There was submitted Report No 237-2014 by the Director of Environment seeking approval for the purchase of plant and vehicles to ensure the Corporate Fleet Asset is managed to continue to meet operational needs and ongoing efficiency.

The Committee approved the purchase of the plant and vehicles listed in Appendix 1, at a total cost of 839,154.

V RIVERSIDE 11-A-SIDE FOOTBALL PITCHES

There was submitted Report No 238-2014 by the Director of Environment updating the Committee on a recent review of the condition of the eleven-a-side football pitches at Riverside Drive and seeking authority to undertake the proposed remediation works.

The Committee agreed the recommended remediation works and remitted the Director of Environment to implement the proposed works on a phased basis.

VI CEMETERY HEADSTONE SAFETY

There was submitted Agenda Note AN164-2014, whereby reference was made to Article VII of the minute of meeting of this Committee of the 29th October, 2012, when a pilot scheme utilising capacity within the Construction Division of the Environment Department to undertake inspection, testing and making safe of headstones was approved.

The pilot had been running for two years and over that time good progress had been made. All headstones in the Eastern Cemetery had been inspected while Barnhill and Balgay were substantially complete. A full record of the condition of the headstones had been recorded in a database and any dangerous stones up to 1.5 metres were dealt with during the inspection process. Dangerous larger stones were being sub-contracted to a specialist contractor to have these made safe. A key benefit of the scheme was to properly record the condition of headstone and by dealing with dangerous stones during the inspection process the risk in the cemeteries had been substantially reduced. While the scheme had been successful there were still ongoing problems of dangerous headstones within cemeteries and there was a need from a health and safety perspective to continue the inspection and action programme.

It was proposed to continue with the current approach and instruct the Construction Division of the Environment Department to continue to undertake the inspection, testing, recording and making safe of stones up to approximately 1.5m in height. It was intended that, where possible, such headstones would be made safe on a more permanent basis. Any headstones in excess of 1.5m would be referred to the specialist contractor who would be appointed using Quick Quote under the Councils E‑procurement system.

The Committee approved the above works and authorised the Director of Environment to undertake these works. The Director of Corporate Services advised that the above expenditure of 60,000 would be met from allowances within the Councils Budget 2014/2015 (p23) - Open Space - Headstone Safety Programme.

VII TSI CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND TRADING STANDARDS CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION 2014

There was submitted Agenda Note AN165-2014 advising the Committee that the Annual Conference of the Trading Standards Institute would take place at The Harrogate International Centre from Monday, 30th June to Thursday, 3rd July, 2014.

The Conference fee would be 165 + VAT per delegate, however the Trading Standards Institute had offered a free delegate pass for an elected member, but travel and subsistence would be payable.

The Committee agreed that the Convener attend this conference.

Craig MELVILLE, Convener.