Policy And Resources Committee - 12/02/2001

At a MEETING of the POLICY AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 12th February, 2001.

 

Present:-

 

COUNCILLORS

 

Lord Provost Helen WRIGHT

Willie W SAWERS

C D P FARQUHAR

George de GERNIER

Joe FITZPATRICK

Iain M LUKE

John R LETFORD

Allan PETRIE

Jim BARRIE

Betty WARD

George REGAN

Julia M STURROCK

Jill SHIMI

Bruce D MACKIE

Neil GLEN

Neil I C POWRIE

Roderick A J WALLACE

Elizabeth F FORDYCE

Robin PRESSWOOD

Derek J SCOTT

Fiona M GRANT

Richard BEATTIE

John CORRIGAN

David BOWES

Andrew DAWSON

Dave BEATTIE

Mervyn J ROLFE

 

Councillor Julia STURROCK, Convener, in the Chair.

 

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 22nd January, 2001 was held as read.

 

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

 

The Convener agreed that the undernoted item be considered as a matter of urgency in terms of Standing Order No 51(3)(b) in view of the timescales involved.

 

I TRUNK ROADS

 

Councillor Sturrock seconded by Councillor Rolfe moved approval of the undernoted:-

 

"This Council unanimously commends Councillor John R Letford for his Leadership in his role as Convener of Tayside Contracts Joint Committee during the current tendering crisis. Dundee City Council has, throughout CCT, and now under Best Value, successfully retained services in-house - proving that quality of provision as opposed to a cost only criteria is a critical factor when determining the level of public service required to meet local needs.

 

Therefore, this Council deplores the manner in which the current tendering process has been handled and firmly believe that a final decision on the award of Trunk Road Contracts should have been deferred until the findings of the Scottish Parliament's ongoing investigations become available.

 

Dundee City Council congratulates the staff, Trade Unions and Management of Tayside Contracts on their actions to date and will continue to support them in their efforts to reverse the Scottish Executive's decision. To that end this Council will write, as a matter of urgency, to Parliament's Transportation and Environmental Committee requesting that Council John R Letford, Convener of Tayside Contracts Joint Committee be heard during the Committee's deliberations."

 

As an amendment, Councillor Sawers, second by Councillor Corrigan moved approval of the foregoing subject to the addition that "Dundee City Council has no confidence in Sarah Boyack, the Transport Minister to continue in this role and that the Chief Executive sends a letter to the First Minister expressing this opinion".

 

On a division, their voted for the motion - Lord Provost Wright, Councillors, Sturrock, de Gernier, Ward, Shimi, Presswood, Regan, Farquhar, Luke, Glen, Grant and Rolfe (12); and for the amendment - Councillors Letford, Barrie, Richard Beattie, Dawson, Sawers, Fitzpatrick, Petrie, Corrigan, Dave Beattie, Fordyce, Bowes, Powrie, Mackie, Wallace and Scott (15) - whereupon the amendment was declared carried.

 

II NATIONAL GRID FOR LEARNING NETWORK

 

There was submitted Report No. 59-2001 by the Director of Information and Technology regarding the purchase of network communications equipment for schools.

 

The Committee approved acceptance of the Tender ITD/NET/2000/03 amounting to 39,761 from United Networks for the supply of equipment detailed in the appendix to the report.

 

III LOCAL GOVERNMENT INFORMATION UNIT

 

It was reported that the Scottish Local Government Information Unit were organising a conference entitled "Best Value: The Final Steps" in Dundee on 5th March 2001.

 

The Committee authorised the attendance of one member of the Majority Group, one member of the Major Opposition Group and one member of the Minority Group at an estimated cost, excluding travel and subsistence of 115.00 per delegate.

 

IV BLACKSHADE POST OFFICE

 

There was submitted a letter dated 10th January 2001 from the Post Office advising that the above Post Office would be closed from 18th April 2001.

 

After discussion the Committee approved the undernoted resolution:-

 

"That this Committee notes its grave concern about the proposed closure of Blackshade Post Office and instructs the Chief Executive to write to Post Office Counters Limited seeking an urgent meeting to review all alternatives for continuation of Post Office services in Ardler.

 

The continued provision of a Post Office in Ardler is important to the creation of the new village centre for the estate and the Council and its partner Sanctuary Housing Association have made provision for a new facility when the old shopping precinct is demolished.

 

The Committee notes that Ardler, as one of the four Social Inclusion Partnerships in Dundee has a significantly higher proportion of pensioners and benefit recipients than other parts of the City and a Post Office is therefore a vital community facility."

 

The Committee resolved under Section 50(A)(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act, 1973 that the public be excluded from the meeting for the undernoted item of business on the grounds that it involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 6 and 9 of Part I of Schedule 7(A) of the Act.

 

VTHE TECHNICAL BLOCK, DUNDEE CAMPUS, NORTHERN COLLEGE, GARDYNE ROAD

 

It was reported that the Information Technology Department leased the Technical Block at Northern College, Gardyne Road, Dundee and that the Director of Economic Development had negotiated a renewal of the lease.

 

The Committee approved the terms and conditions.

 

 

 

JULIA STURROCK, Convener

Style for Headings and is heading2, sub-headings is normalb - you may have to do Control T if they go into second line - Rest of document should be Normal