City Development Committee - 25/01/2021

At a MEETING of the CITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE held remotely on 25th January, 2021.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Councillor Mark FLYNN, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 7th December, 2020 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Councillor McCready declared a non-financial interest in respect of Article III by virtue of being the Chair of TACTRAN.

Depute Lord Provost Campbell declared a non-financial interest in respect of Article VIII by virtue of the employment of a family member.

Councillor Rendall declared a non-financial interest in respect of Article IX by virtue of being a member of Dundee Civic Trust.

Councillor Marra declared a non-financial interest in respect of Article XVII by virtue of his employment with the University of Dundee.

II INSTALLATION OF A PEDESTRIAN REFUGE ON JOHNSTON AVENUE

This item was withdrawn.

III THE FUTURE OF BUS SERVICES IN DUNDEE

It was reported that this item had been placed on the agenda at the request of Councillor McCready.

The Committee:-

(i) thanked all public transport workers for working during the pandemic and commended them for their efforts to keep the city moving;

(ii) recognised the important role that buses play in public transport in Dundee. Buses are the main mode of public transport in the city and should play a key role in promoting modal shift and an improved environment in Dundee;

(iii) noted that for good public health reasons the message had been only use public transport when essential;

(iv) instructed the Council to write to the Scottish Government asking that once the pandemic is over that they co-ordinate a campaign to encourage bus usage. Such a campaign should include Councils, Regional Transport Partnerships, Transport Scotland, the UK Government, bus operators and passenger groups;

(v) recognised that buses have the ability to make a significant contribution to the economic and environmental well-being of the city;

(vi) noted recent changes to bus routes in the city and called for a report on subsidised bus services to be produced to allow the Committee to consider whether the needs of the city were being met; and

(vii) called on the Executive Director of City Development to bring forward a report to this Committee on the impact of the Transport (Scotland) Act 2019 on the Councils ability to change policy with regard to buses.

IV SUSPENSION OF PARKING CHARGES

There was submitted Agenda Note AN5-2021 wherein it was reported for information and record purposes that, following the First Minister's announcement on Saturday, 20th December, 2020, that all of mainland Scotland would move to Covid Protection Level 4 on 26th December, 2020 and in view of the timescales involved, the Executive Director of City Development, in consultation with the Convener, Labour Group Spokesperson, Conservative Group Spokesperson, Liberal Democrat Group Spokesperson, the Independent Member and the Lord Provost, had suspended all parking charges at Dundee City Council car parks with effect from Boxing Day, 26th December, 2020.

V COVID-19 SCHOOL TRANSPORT RETROFIT FUND

There was submitted Agenda Note AN4-2021 advising that the Scottish Government Learning Directorate had created a new emergency capital fund to support school transport providers meet the cost of Covid-19 related modifications to the vehicles that take young people to and from school.

All local authorities had been given a capital grant award and Dundee City Councils allocation was 26,963.

The instruction from the Scottish Government was that local authorities should open a dialogue with transport providers to help identify which eligible modifications had been or would be made to vehicles and then establish a fair and transparent process for distributing the funding at a local level.

The fund was being administered by the Sustainable Transport Team and all school bus contractors had been contacted, including Dundee City Councils Fleet Manager. Once eligible costs had been agreed, transport providers would be invited to claim the funding, and in turn Dundee City Council would make a claim to the Learning Directorate.

The Committee noted the above and delegated authority to the Executive Director of City Development to administer the fund and distribute monies.

VI VARIATION OF WAITING RESTRICTIONS 2021

There was submitted Report No 29-2021 by the Executive Director of City Development detailing proposed Traffic Regulation Order variations utilising the powers of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984. The variations proposed in the report were promoted to prevent impediments to traffic flow and obstruction to visibility sightlines, and administer changes to parking restrictions.

The Committee approved the preparation of a Traffic Regulation Variation Order to affect changes to the waiting restrictions in the relevant Traffic Regulation Orders for Dundee.

VII SAFER SCHOOL STREETS TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT POLICY

There was submitted Report No 30-2021 by the Executive Director of City Development setting out the Councils policy of road traffic management around Dundees primary school estate and seeking approval to implement measures that would create an environment for safer and more active journeys to school.

The Committee:-

(i) approved the policy of implementing School Streets interventions at appropriate primary schools; and

(ii) remitted the Head of Sustainable Transport and Roads to progress Traffic Regulation Orders and undertake complementary measures that would support the required traffic prohibitions.

VIII FINTRY PRIMARY SCHOOL - PART TIME PROHIBITION OF DRIVING

The Committee acceded to a request for a deputation to address the Committee relative to this item. After the deputation had stated their case they were thanked for their attendance and withdrew.

On a reference to Article III of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 9th March, 2020, there was submitted Report No 27-2021 by the Executive Director of City Development providing a summary of the responses received to the Traffic Regulation Order consultation on the proposal for a part-time prohibition of driving around Fintry Primary School.

The Committee considered the points of objection and support received during the consultation and approved the implementation of the Traffic Regulation Order, subject to a modification as set out in the report.

Councillor Murray moved that no action be taken in relation to the recommendations contained in the report but failed to find a seconder, whereupon they asked for their dissent to be recorded.

IX DISPOSAL OF SURPLUS PROPERTY - DUDHOPE CASTLE

On a reference to Article II of the minute of the meeting of the Policy and Resources Committee of 25th February, 2016 and Article II of the minute of the meeting of this Committee of 28th October, 2019, there was submitted Report No 39-2021 by the Executive Director of City Development seeking approval for the marketing of Dudhope Castle, subject to the restrictions and guidance contained within the report.

The Convener, seconded by Councillor Alexander, moved that the Committee:-

(i) note the previous decision of the Council where members approved the closure of Dudhope Castle, which was now closed and surplus to operational requirements; and

(ii) remit the Head of Design and Property to market the subjects, as shown on Appendix 1 of the report for disposal, subject to the restrictions set out in the report.

As an amendment, Councillor McCready, seconded by Councillor Marra, moved that the Committee:-

(i) note the contents of the report and resolves to seek further information prior to taking any further action;

(ii) remit the Executive Director of City Development to bring forward a further report which detailed the Councils office requirements in light of the coronavirus pandemic; and which detailed expenditure on Dudhope Castle since February, 2016; and

(iii) remit the Executive Director of City Development to contact the National Trust for Scotland, Historic Environment Scotland and any other appropriate heritage charities to ascertain whether there is a possibility of Dudhope Castle being developed into a heritage attraction reflecting its important place in the history of Dundee and Scotland. The Executive Director of City Development to report to the Committee outlining the outcome of these approaches.

On a division, there voted for the motion - the Convener, Depute Lord Provost Campbell, Bailies Roberts and Sawers, Councillors Alexander, Cordell, Dawson, Hunter, Lynn, Rendall, Rome, Ross, Short, Smith and Murray (15); and for the amendment - Bailies Keenan, Wright and Scott, Councillors Cruickshank, McCready, McIrvine, Malone, Marra, Richardson, Hay and Scott (11) - Bailie Macpherson and Councillor Duncan declining to vote - whereupon the motion was declared carried.

Thereafter, following further discussion, the Committee agreed:-

(i) to note the previous decision of the Council where members approved the closure of Dudhope Castle, which was now closed and surplus to operational requirements;

(ii) to remit the Head of Design and Property to market the subjects as shown in Appendix 1 of the report for disposal or lease, subject to the restrictions set out in the report; and

(iii) further remitted the Head of Design and Property to bring back to Committee details of any offers to purchase or lease, with recommendations, before any disposal took place.

X SURFACE WATER DRAINAGE - BROWNFIELD SITES

There was submitted Report No 32-2021 by the Executive Director of City Development providing an update on progress made by Dundee City Council and Scottish Water to help reduce flood risk across the city, and free up capacity in the public combined sewer system.

The Committee noted progress made by Dundee City Council and Scottish Water in implementing measures and developing surface water management strategies to reduce flood risk and provide capacity in the public combined sewer network to assist with future development of Brownfield sites.

XI WATERFRONT PLACE UPDATE AND INTERACTIVE PARK TENDER

On a reference to Article III of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 7th September, 2020, there was submitted Report No 48-2021 by the Executive Director of City Development updating members on progress made to date at Waterfront Place, detailing the tender received and seeking approval on acceptance thereof.

The Committee:-

(i) noted the progress made with construction of Waterfront Place and the Active Travel Hub; and

(ii) approved the acceptance of the tender submitted by Morgan Sindall Construction & Infrastructure Ltd as set out in the report, with the total amount, including allowances detailed at Appendix 1 of the report.

XII SUPPLY OF PLANT AND VEHICLES

There was submitted Report No 28-2021 by the Executive Director of City Development seeking approval for the purchase of plant and vehicles as required by Dundee City Council to ensure ongoing operational efficiency and to support the delivery of frontline services.

The Committee approved the purchase of the plant and vehicles listed in Appendix 1 of the report.

XIII SUPPLY OF ZERO EMISSION VEHICLES

There was submitted Report No 36-2021 by the Executive Director of City Development seeking approval for the purchase of electric vehicles as required by Dundee City Council to ensure ongoing operational efficiency and to support the delivery of frontline services utilising zero emission vehicles.

The Committee approved the purchase of the vehicles listed in Appendix 1 of the report.

XIV TENDERS RECEIVED BY HEAD OF DESIGN AND PROPERTY

There was submitted Report No 31-2021 by the Executive Director of City Development detailing tenders received and seeking approval on acceptance thereon:-

(i)                            DUNDEE HOUSE REPLACEMENT OF LOW TEMPERATURE HOT AND CHILLED WATER MAIN PIPEWORK

The Committee agreed to accept the lowest offer from Scan Building Services Ltd in the sum of 278,888.10, together with allowances of 72,000, giving a total expenditure of 350,888.10.

(ii)                           SOUTH ROAD ELECTRIC VEHICLE POP-UP CHARGER INSTALLATION

The Committee agreed to accept a negotiated offer from Tayside Contracts in the sum of 13,530.03, together with allowances of 7,469,97, giving a total expenditure of 21,000.

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.

XV SALE OF PROPERTY, LOCHEE, DUNDEE

There was submitted Report No 34-2021 by the Executive Director of City Development seeking approval for the sale of property in Lochee, Dundee.

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

XVI SALE OF LAND, WHITFIELD DRIVE, DUNDEE

There was submitted Report No 35-2021 by the Executive Director of City Development seeking approval for the sale of land at Whitfield Drive, Dundee.

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

XVII SALE OF LAND, TECHNOPOLE, DUNDEE

There was submitted Report No 33-2021 by the Executive Director of City Development seeking approval for the sale of land at Technopole, Dundee.

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

Mark FLYNN, Convener.