Neighbourhood Services Committee - 12/06/2023

At a MEETING of the NEIGHBOURHOOD SERVICES COMMITTEE held remotely on 12th June, 2023.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Councillor Heather ANDERSON, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 15th May, 2023 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I DECLARATION OF INTEREST

There were no declarations of interest.

II CEMETERY HEADSTONE SAFETY

There was submitted Agenda Note AN17-2023, whereby reference was made to Article VII of the minute of meeting of the Environment Committee of 29th October, 2012, whereby the cemetery headstone inspection and testing programme was introduced. Significant progress had been made in the last few years in both the recording and making safe headstones within cemeteries throughout Dundee.

Headstones were regularly inspected by the staff from Neighbourhood Services. Any stones which required attention and were below 1.5 metres in height would be made safe by the staff. However, for headstones over 1.5 metres a specialist Contractor was required to make dangerous headstones safe and carry out restoration works as required.

Further reference was made to Article III of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 27th September, 2021 (Report 261-2021 refers), wherein it was agreed to accept a tender through the Councils Procurement Team and appoint Vermicon to carry out this specialist work. The contract was for a two year period with an option to extend by a further two years up to a maximum value of 100,000.

The Committee agreed to approve the contract extension to the value of 100,000 (50,000 per annum). The Executive Director of Corporate Services had confirmed that the cost for the above was available through the Capital Plan 2023-2028/Design a Modern Council/Cemeteries and could be met from 2023/2024 and 2024/2025 allowances.

III NEIGHBOURHOOD SERVICES SERVICE PLAN 2023/2027

There was submitted Report No 116-2023 by the Executive Director of Neighbourhood Services, presenting the Service Plan for Neighbourhood Services for the period 2023/2027.

The Committee agreed to approve the Service Plan appended to the report.

IV REVIEW OF DUNDEES SCHEME FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMUNITY COUNCILS

There was submitted Report No 151-2023 by the Executive Director of Neighbourhood Services, seeking approval to publish a Public Notice of Review of Dundees Scheme for the Establishment of Community Councils 2010 as approved by Committee in 2010 (Article I of the minute of meeting of the Leisure, Arts and Communities Committee of 25th October, 2010, Report No 608-2010 refers), informing the Committee of the timescales and steps for review as set out in s53 of the Local Government Act (Scotland) 1973 and informing of the proposed reviewed Scheme for the Establishment of Community Councils.

The Committee agreed:-

(i) to approve the publishing of the Public Notice of Review set out in Appendix I of the report;

(ii) to note the proposed changes to existing community council boundaries;

(iii) to note the proposed changes to the methodology for calculating the electorate in a community council area and the subsequent changes to the number of community councillors which certain community councils were entitled to;

(iv) to note the proposed changes to the funding formula for the administration grant to which community councils were entitled;

(v) to note the ability of the Neighbourhood Services Committee to suspend or dissolve a community council not adhering to the scheme;

(vi) to note the timescales and steps required to undertake the review and the subsequent intention to bring further reports to the Neighbourhood Services Committee as set out in the report; and

(vii) to note that any changes to the Scheme would also affect neighbourhood representative structures due to their having common boundaries and being entitled to the same administrative grants as community councils.

V PURCHASE OF BINS AND CONTAINERS

There was submitted Report No 156-2023 by the Executive Director of Neighbourhood Services, seeking authorisation to purchase the annual quantity of wheeled bins, Euro containers, skips and specialist containers for neighbourhood recycling points which were estimated to be required during 2023/2024.

The Committee agreed to approve the purchase of the bins, containers and skips required through the Scotland Excel framework.

VI LAWN TENNIS ASSOCIATION PARKS INVESTMENT PROGRAMME

There was submitted Report No 157-2023 by the Executive Director of Neighbourhood Services, providing an update on the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) Parks Investment Programme and seeking approval to enter into a Partnership Agreement with Tennis Scotland in order to allow further refurbishment of Dundees external tennis courts city-wide.

The Committee agreed:-

(i) to approve the progression of a Partnership Agreement between Dundee City Council and Tennis Scotland to support the upgrade of the Councils external tennis courts through direct funding provided by LTA; and

(ii) to remit the Executive Director of Neighbourhood Services to progress to the next stage of the process, to allow the programme to be taken forward.

VII BIODIVERSITY ACTION PLAN - DUNDEE - ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT

There was submitted Report No 158-2023 by the Executive Director of Neighbourhood Services, presenting an update on the progress made on the implementation of Dundees Biodiversity Action Plan, and reporting on actions progressed during 2022/2023.

The Committee agreed to note the achievements and progress of the Biodiversity Action Plan.

VIII TENDERS RECEIVED BY HEAD OF DESIGN AND PROPERTY

There was submitted Report No 164-2023 by the Executive Director of City Development, detailing tenders received and requesting a decision thereon:-

(a) WEST MARCH DEVELOPMENT - DOORS AND SCREENS

The Committee agreed to accept the negotiated offer from Construction Services in the sum of 257,246.41, together with allowances of 65,000, giving a total expenditure of 322,246.41.

(b) GLENESK AVENUE COMMUNITY COMPLEX - BOILER REPLACEMENT

The Committee agreed to accept the negotiated offer from Construction Services in the sum of 17,159.10, together with allowances of 8,000, giving a total expenditure of 25,159.10.

(c) 6 CRAIGIE STREET - VERY SHELTERED COMPLEX - BOILER REPLACEMENT

The Committee agreed to accept the negotiated offer from Construction Services in the sum of 12,977.76, together with allowances of 7,000, giving a total expenditure of 19,977.76.

(d) HOUSING CONCRETE REPAIRS PROGRAMME 2023/2024 WORKS

The Committee agreed to accept the lowest offer from Concrete Repairs Ltd (CRL) in the sum of 136,375.70, together with allowances of 92,624.30, giving a total expenditure of 229,000.

(e) 54 BEAULY AVENUE/12 CRAIGMORE STREET - EMERGENCY WORKS

The Committee agreed to make a direct award to Dundee Plant Ltd in the sum of 10,055.96, together with allowances of 2,700, giving a total expenditure of 12,755.96.

Heather ANDERSON, Convener.