Policy And Resources Committee - 28/01/2002

At a MEETING of the POLICY AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 28th January, 2002.

Present:-

COUNCILLORS

Councillor Julia STURROCK, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 14th January, 2002 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BILL

There was submitted Report No 89-2002 by the Director of Corporate Planning providing information on the Scottish Executive's proposals for the forthcoming Local Government Bill.

The Committee broadly welcomed the proposals for the Local Government Bill but asked that the Scottish Executive develop the legislation on the basis of genuine partnership with local government being trusted to act responsibly and deliver effective services and approved the specific proposals set out in Section 7 of the report with the further provision that:-

"The Bill as described is a lost opportunity to address the most pressing areas of concern with local government namely:-

Electoral Reform;

Local Government Boundaries;

The system for financing Local Government;

Therefore, this Council welcomes the Scottish Executive's announcement of the White Paper on Electoral Reform etc to be issued in April, calls for an early review of Local Government boundaries and an early review of the system of financing Local Government in Scotland taking into account most importantly people's ability to pay."

II DUNDEE COMMUNITY SAFETY AWARD PROGRAMME 2002-2005

On a reference to Article IV of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 15th October, 2002, there was submitted Report No 71-2002 by the Director of Neighbourhood Resources and Development seeking Committee approval for additional funding bids from the Scottish Executive for the period 2002-2005 under criteria outlined in the Revised Funding Arrangements Community Safety Award Programme.

The Committee approved the undernoted:-

(a)welcomed the formulated award to the Dundee Community Safety Partnership of 130,646 per annum for the three years 2002-2005 which would assist the advancement of community safety priorities identified within Dundee in Partnership - The Community Plan 2001/2006.

(b)approved the Annual Action Plan to the Executive for 2002-2003 for submission by 31st January, 2002 (Appendix 1 of the report).

(c)authorised the Community Safety Partnership to disperse allocated sums to meet the key themes identified by the Scottish Executive as outlined in Appendix 1 of the bid once the annual Action Plan was approved.

(d)agreed that a report be submitted annually to Committee on the dispersal of funds to commissioned and grant aided activities funded from the bid.

(e)approved the preparation of Annual Action Plans for the financial years 2003-2004 and 2004-2005 to meet timescales set by the Scottish Executive.

The Convener agreed that the undernoted item be considered as a matter of urgency in terms of Standing Order No 52(3)(b) in view of the timescales involved.

III REVENUE BUDGET 2002/2003 - HOUSING REVENUE ACCOUNT

There was submitted Report No 99-2002 by the Director of Finance seeking approval of the 2002/2003 Revenue Budget for the Housing Revenue Account.

The Committee agreed the 2002/2003 Revenue Budget for the Housing Revenue Account and remitted to the Housing Committee to set the 2002/2003 rent levels.

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