Senior councillors are welcoming the community asset transfer of a former city council nursery building.
The old Fintry Nursery has lain empty for over a decade since the creation of a new school, and is now set to be transformed into a modern facility by Flexible Childcare Services Scotland (FCSS).
Under essential business arrangements due to coronavirus, the council agreed to a community asset transfer of the property for £1.
FCSS have a plan to bring the building back in to use as flexible childcare setting. FCSS’s vision is of a Centre of Excellence, delivering accessible, affordable, high-quality early learning, childcare & associated services.
Depute policy and resources convener Cllr Willie Sawers said: “This is tremendous news and will breathe new life into this empty building.
“It is fitting that it will be transformed into a modern childcare facility that is designed to meet the all-round needs of families in a joined-up way.
“This is a sensible decision to allow the transfer of the building so it can become a useful asset for the community.”
Neighbourhood resources depute convener Cllr Steven Rome added: “This is an exciting development for everyone involved. I look forward to hearing how FCSS will take forward their vision for the building.”
FCSS intend to use the facility as an exemplar when encouraging other providers across the country to adopt a more flexible model. The need for flexible childcare was identified when families were unable to take up employment due to lack of high quality, flexible, accessible & affordable childcare. The intention is also to provide wraparound services for families with services for employability, health and housing,
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FCSS also plan to bring their HQ to Dundee to support this project bringing a mix of high quality jobs and employment opportunities in childcare to the city.
In view of the timescales involved the community asset transfer report was approved by the Head of Housing and Communities in consultation with the Convener of the Policy & Resources Committee, Labour Group Spokesperson, Conservative Group Spokesperson, Liberal Democrat Group Spokesperson, the Independent Member and the Lord Provost.
Dundee City Council
Dundee draws skilled workers from a 60-minute catchment population of 640,000 and has a local population of over 140,000. The availability of a large pool of highly skilled labour is a key feature in the Dundee economy. Flexibility in the labour force is currently more prevalent in Dundee than in Scotland as a whole. All forms of labour market flexibility - part-time, temporary employment, self-employment and shift work - are widely operational within the city. Labour force stability in the city is excellent, enabling companies to plan with confidence. Labour turnover levels are less than 5% and absenteeism averages 2%.
