After attending today's meeting of the Best Value Review of Child Protection Services, I held my usual Monday surgeries at the Mitchell Street Centre and at Harris Academy, and I then took part in tonight's City Council committee meetings.At Education Committee, I asked questions about the latest report on the proposed Harris Academy rebuild. Following the written questions I made to the Director of Education last week, he responded as follows :
"Dear Fraser,
Front-loading of this project is not considered a possible option. Although the start date of 2013/14 - which is in line with the release of funding - seems distant, the Capital Projects Team considers that this is a realistic timescale given the complex design work for this project, and also given the protracted negotiations which our experience tells us to anticipate with Historic Scotland. I take your point about the current economic climate, but we do not anticipate being ready to be able to make a start any earlier than 2013/14.
Future expenditure on the present Harris Academy will ensure that the building remains wind and water tight, and safe for pupils and staff.
I am very happy to confirm that facilities at Harris, including those for community use, will be at least as good as those at Grove and St Paul's. Although the reference in the report is only to the two specific community facilities you mention, the community will of course have access to the school, with all its modern facilities, just as they do in all our schools. In fact, this provision is likely to be better than Grove, and I can cite one small but important aspect: whereas at Grove the design has allowed an average of 10.5m2 per pupil, SFT funding for Harris will allow 11.0. In addition, lessons regarding the effective use of circulation space have been learned by the Capital Projects team from our other new builds."
I am very happy to confirm that facilities at Harris, including those for community use, will be at least as good as those at Grove and St Paul's. Although the reference in the report is only to the two specific community facilities you mention, the community will of course have access to the school, with all its modern facilities, just as they do in all our schools. In fact, this provision is likely to be better than Grove, and I can cite one small but important aspect: whereas at Grove the design has allowed an average of 10.5m2 per pupil, SFT funding for Harris will allow 11.0. In addition, lessons regarding the effective use of circulation space have been learned by the Capital Projects team from our other new builds."
At tonight's meeting, and in response to the questions I raised at committee, the Director indicated 'everything necessary will be done' in terms on on-going maintenance at the school pending the rebuilding project commencing, and the Chief Executive advised that a project board will be established as soon as possible.
At City Development Committee, I spoke on the agenda item about the East Coast Main Line Rail Franchise pointing out that Scottish Government should move forward electrification of the rail line north of Edinburgh as it promised in its Strategic Transport Projects Review in 2008. I also queried the use of Rapid Rhino permanent repairs to potholes on Dundee roads - these have been successful and cost-effective and their use could be increased. I again highlighted the need for the council to move forward residents' parking improvements - and am concerned at the lack of progress on this. I also asked about the proposed use - for the third year - of an artificial Christmas Tree in the City Square and the need to consult on alternatives for future years.
At Policy and Resources Committee, I asked for assurances on timescale for improvements on staff absence levels and I also asked about how the council will approach improving public perception of the City Council.