LEISURE AND CULTURAL SERVICES COMMITTEE

 

THURSDAY  26 NOVEMBER 1998 - 3.00pm

 

Present:-  Provost Allan, Councillors Robertson (A), Jackson, Roach, Robertson (Y), Mulholland, Sir Simpson Stevenson, Finnie and Hunter, Councillor Robertson (A), Vice-Convener, in the Chair.

 

In attendance:- The Executive Director Community and Protective Services, Mr C McCrone (for the Executive Director Resource Services), Mr C Clelland (for the Executive Director Legal, Information and Support Services), Miss J Monteith (for the Executive Director Education Services), the Director of Leisure and Recreation, Mr A Grant (for the Director of Central Services) and Mr A Gerrard (for the Head of Property  Services).

 

Apologies for absence were intimated on behalf of Councillors Calvert and Morrison (M).

 

The following paragraphs are submitted for information only, having been dealt with under the powers delegated to the Committee.

 

1261      LIBRARY SAVINGS 1998/99                                                                                                              1261

 

The Chairman referred to a report by the Executive Director Education Services on Library Savings.  He recommended that this item be withdrawn from the Agenda of this meeting and that the report be submitted to the Education Services Committee at the appropriate time and this was unanimously agreed.

 

1262      REVENUE BUDGET 1998/99                                                                                                              1262

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 11 November 1998 by the Executive Director Resource Services on the current position of the Revenue Budget as at 14 October 1998.

DECIDED:

(a)  That the projected overspend of £9,010 within the Leisure Management budget be noted;

(b)  That it be remitted to the Director of Leisure and Recreation to submit a report to the next meeting of the Committee detailing the outcome of discussions with the Scottish Office regarding trunk roads verge cutting; and

(c)  That it be remitted to the Executive Director Education Services to submit a report to the Education Services Committee at the appropriate time requesting virement with regard to Library savings.

 

1263      CAPITAL PROGRAMME 1998/99:  FINANCIAL POSITION                                                           1263

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 4 November 1998 by the Executive Director Resource Services detailing the financial position on the current and proposed projects included in the 1998/99 Capital Programme.

NOTED

 

1264      GIBSHILL COMMUNITY CENTRE ALTERATIONS - PERMISSION TO GO TO TENDER          1264

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 6 November 1998 by the Head of Technical Services on proposed alterations to the Gibshill Community Centre and seeking authority for the invitation and acceptance of tenders for the alterations to incorporate existing shop units into the community centre, to upgrade toilet facilities and to make improvements to the stage area.  It was noted that the total revised cost of the project including fees was £85,000, the cost being £11,000 in excess of the allowance msade in the Capital Programme but that the additional funding would be found by making savings elsewhere within the Leisure and Cultural Services Capital Programme 1998/99.

After discussion Councillor Robertson (A) moved that tenders be sought for the Gibshill Community Centre alterations and authority be delegated to the Director of Central Services in consultation with the appropriate Officers and after consultations with the Convener, Vice-Convener and a Member of the Minority Groups to accept the lowest tender received provided it is no more than 10% greater than the new budget estimate of £85,000 and that the Chief Executive and Executive Director Resource Services agree that acceptance will not breach the Scottish Office Capital Expenditure Guidelines.  As an amendment Councillor Finnie moved that the recommendation be approved but if the tender return is above the revised estimated cost of £85,000 it be remitted to the Head of Technical Services to report back to Committee for consideration.  On a vote 2 Members voted for the amendment and 7 for the motion which was declared carried.

DECIDED:  That approval be given to proceed to tender for alterations to the Gibshill Community Centre and that authority be delegated to the Director of Central Services in consultation with the appropriate Officers and after consultation with the Convener, Vice-Convener and a Member of the Minority Groups to accept the lowest tender provided that is no more than 10% greater than the new budget estimate of £85,000 and that the Chief Executive and the Executive Director Resource Services agree that acceptance will not breach the Scottish Office Capital Expenditure Guidelines.

 

1265      BINNIE STREET COMMUNITY EDUCATION CENTRE, GOUROCK - ALTERATIONS:            1265

              PERMISSION TO GO TO TENDER                                                                                                           

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 6 November 1998 by the Head of Technical Services on proposed alterations to Binnie Street Community Education Centre and seeking authority for the invitation and acceptance of tenders for alterations to provide new toilets, upgrade the kitchen, carry out roof repairs and internal and external decoration.  It was noted the total estimated cost of the project was £70,000 including an allowance for professional fees.

DECIDED:  That approval be given to proceed to tender for alterations to Binnie Street Community Education Centre and that authority be delegated to the Director of Central Services in consultation with the appropriate Officers and after consultation with the Convener, Vice-Convener and a Member of the Minority Groups to accept the lowest tender provided it is no more than 10% greater than the budget estimate of £70,000 and that the Chief Executive and the Executive Director Resource Services agree that acceptance will not breach the Scottish Office Capital Expenditure Guidelines.

1266      DEVOL TENANTS HALL - ALTERATIONS: PERMISSION TO GO TO TENDER                         1266

 

SUBMITTED:  Amended report dated 20 November 1998 by the Head of Technical Services on proposed alterations to Devol Tenants Hall and seeking authority for the invitation and acceptance of tenders for alterations to repair the external walls, brick cladding to the external walls and the provision of a new pitched roof structure with a metal tile covering over the existing flat roof.  The report advised that the total estimated cost of the project was £100,000 including an allowance for professional fees, the cost being £10,000 in excess of the allowance in the Capital Programme but that the additional funding would be found by making savings in the Leisure and Cultural Services Capital Programme 1998/99.

Councillor Clocherty was present as Ward Councillor and with the consent of the Committee indicated his support of the proposed alterations to the Tenants Hall.

DECIDED:  That approval be given to proceed to tender for alterations to Devol Tenants Hall and that authority be delegated to the Director of Central Services in consultation with appropriate Officers and after consultation with the Convener, Vice-Convener and a Member of the Minority Groups to accept the lowest tender provided that it is no more that 10% greater than the budget estimate of £100,000 and that the Chief Executive and Executive Director Resource Services agree that acceptance will not breach the Scottish Office Capital Expenditure Guidelines.

 

1267      WATERFRONT LEISURE COMPLEX REVENUE BUDGET 1998/99                                               1267

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 4 November 1998 by the Director of Leisure and Recreation seeking approval from the Committee for the virement of finances within the Waterfront Leisure Complex Revenue Budget 1998/99.

DECIDED:  That the virement of money as detailed within Appendix 1 of the report be approved.

 

1268      WATERFRONT LEISURE COMPLEX - UPDATE                                                                             1268

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 4 November 1998 by the Director of Leisure and Recreation advising of the action taken to promote and develop the Complex.

NOTED

 

1269      PARKS CLIENT REPORT                                                                                                                   1269

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 2 November 1998 by the Director of Leisure and Recreation advising of the Ground Maintenance Contractors performance, identifying ongoing works and forecasting items which require to be addressed in the forthcoming period.

DECIDED:  That the contents of the report be noted and that the actions taken to manage the Grounds Maintenance Contract be approved.

 

1270      BEST KEPT GARDEN COMPETITION                                                                                              1270

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 3 November 1998 by the Director of Leisure and Recreation advising of the Best Kept Garden Competition 1998.

DECIDED:

(a)  That the contents of the report be noted and that the principles of the competition be supported; and

(b)  That a policy of continuous improvement of the event be supported subject to revenue budget restraints.

 

1271      LEISURE MANAGEMENT STATISTICAL INFORMATION                                                            1271

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 5 November 1998 by the Director of Leisure and Recreation advising of the number of users of facilities run under the Leisure Management Contract and the Department of Leisure and Recreation for the period from 21 September 1998 to 1 November 1998.

DECIDED:  That the contents of the report be noted and that the actions taken to ensure target attendances be approved.

 

1272      RESOLUTION:  EXCLUSION OF PUBLIC AND PRESS                                                                  1272

 

On the motion of the Chairman it was agreed unanimously that, in terms of Section 50(A)(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 as amended, the public and press be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the undernoted items of business on the grounds that consideration of the items involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in the respective paragraphs of Part I of Schedule 7(A) of the Act as are set opposite each item.

 

Item                                                                                                                 Paragraph(s)

Leisure Management DSO Revenue Budget 1998/99 - Income Figures            9

Leisure Management DSO Revenue Budget 1998/99                                       8

Leisure Management Facilities Income Information                                           9

 

1273      LEISURE MANAGEMENT DSO REVENUE BUDGET 1998/99 - INCOME FIGURES                    1273

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 11 November 1998 by the Director of Leisure and Recreation advising of the action taken by the Director of Leisure and Recreation to address the shortfall in the projected income within the Leisure Management DSO.

DECIDED:

(a)  That the projected shortfall in the DSO surplus of £97,300 be noted;

(b)  That the action taken by the Director of Leisure and Recreation to make efficiency savings of £30,000 from staffing costs be noted; and

(c)  That it be remitted to the Director of Leisure and Recreation to submit a report to the February Committee meeting giving details of any further action which may be necessary to address the shortfall in projected income and provide updated income projections as a result of his actions.

 

1274      LEISURE MANAGEMENT DSO REVENUE BUDGET 1998/99                                                        1274

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 10 November 1998 by the Executive Director Resource Services on the position of the DSO Revenue Budget 1998/99 as at 17 December 1998.

DECIDED:

(a)  That the projected shortfall of £97,300 in the DSO Revenue Budget be noted; and

(b)  That the contents of the report be otherwise noted.

 

1275      LEISURE MANAGEMENT FACILITIES INCOME INFORMATION                                               1275

 

SUBMITTED:  Report dated 5 November 1998 by the Director of Leisure and Recreation advising of the income from facilities run under the Leisure Management Contract and the Department of Leisure and Recreation for the period from 21 September 1998 to 1 November 1998.

DECIDED:  That the contents of the report be noted and that the action taken to ensure target incomes achieved be approved.