Policy And Resources Committee - 27/06/2016

At a MEETING of the POLICY AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 27th June, 2016.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Councillor Ken GUILD, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 13th June, 2016 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I DECLARATION OF INTEREST

No declarations of interest were made.

II TAY CITIES DEAL - PROGRESS REPORT

On a reference to Article XXI of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 9th March, 2015, there was submitted Report No 223-2016 by the Executive Director of City Development seeking to update the Committee on the Council's participation in a City Deal with the neighbouring authorities of Angus, Perth and Kinross and Fife.

The Committee:-

(i) noted that officers were continuing to work in partnership with the neighbouring authorities of Angus, Perth and Kinross and Fife to prepare a bid for a Tay Cities Deal that would assist in bringing forward Fair Economic Growth in the Tayside area;

(ii) agreed to allocate a further 50,000 towards the future shared cost of advancing the City Deal proposal and to facilitate negotiations with government and other public and private sector partners; and

(iii) remitted to officers to investigate the formation of a new Joint Committee structure with Angus, Perth and Kinross and Fife Councils to provide suitable governance for a Tay Cities Deal.

III V & A MUSEUM OF DESIGN - PROGRESS REPORT

On a reference to Article XI of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 9th November, 2015, there was submitted Report No 224-2016 by the Executive Director of City Development updating the Committee on progress towards the delivery of the V & A Museum of Design Project.

The Committee noted the progress being made on the construction of the V & A Museum of Design and noted that officers would continue to closely manage and monitor its delivery to ensure a successful outcome.

IV FESTIVALS AND EVENTS

There was submitted Report No 225-2016 by the Executive Director of City Development and Director, Leisure and Culture seeking support for Dundee to work with partners in the neighbouring authorities and EventScotland to develop a major events strategy.

The Committee agreed to:-

(i) the creation of a Major Events Strategy Working Group with representatives from the four authorities and EventScotland to prepare a Major Events Strategy;

(ii) extend the current contract secured by Creative Services Scotland to advise on the development of the Major Events Strategy and Dundees potential European Capital of Culture bid;

(iii) Dundee City Council endorsing and supporting Perths Bid to become UK City of Culture for 2021;

(iv) the principle of a Dundee City bid to be European Capital of Culture for 2023;

(v) further soundings being taken on the formation of a Major Events Strategy for the Tay Cities area, informed by the European Capital of Culture scoping work to date;

(vi) the creation of a Festival and Events Team under the Executive Director of City Development to attract, co-ordinate and promote activities in the City with a new post of Lead Events Officer to be established within this Team; and

(vii) allocate 125,000 over a three year period to enable the creation of a Dundee Partnership Festivals and Events Fund to support activities of scale that would have a positive economic impact on the City.

V CORPORATE PROCUREMENT - COMMUNITY BENEFITS AND THE LIVING WAGE - UPDATE

There was submitted Report No 235-2016 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services providing a mid-term update of the activities on the Community Benefits programme and proposed amendments in light of the Procurement Reform Act and other policy changes.

The Committee:-

(i) noted progress made within the area of Community Benefits and its compliance with Procurement Reform Act requirements;

(ii) noted the contribution made by Corporate Procurement to encourage the use of the Living Wage; and

(iii) noted use of Dundee Central Waterfront Living Wage Agreements in future Central Waterfront Developments detailed in Appendix 5 of the report.

The Convener agreed that the undernoted item be considered as a matter of urgency in terms of Standing Order No 17(b) in view of the timescales involved.

VI IMPLICATIONS OF THE EU REFERENDUM IN SCOTLAND

The Committee approved the undernoted resolution:-

That the Committee welcomes the overwhelming vote of the people of Scotland to remain in the European Union; affirms to citizens of other EU countries living in Dundee that they remain welcome and that their contribution is valued; welcomes moves by the Scottish Government to have discussions with the UK Government, other devolved administrations, the EU institutions and member states to explore options for protecting Scotland's relationship with the EU, Scotland's place in the single market and the social, employment and economic benefits that come from that.

That the Committee instructs the Chief Executive to bring forward a report outlining the possible impacts of Brexit on the City and the people of Dundee.

Ken GUILD, Convener.