Policy And Resources Committee - 11/02/2002

At a MEETING of the POLICY AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 11th February, 2002.

 

Present:-

 

COUNCILLORS

 

Lord Provost John R LETFORD

Willie W SAWERS

Dave BEATTIE

George de GERNIER

Joe FITZPATRICK

C D P FARQUHAR

Helen WRIGHT

Allan PETRIE

Fraser MACPHERSON

Betty WARD

George REGAN

Julia M STURROCK

Neil I C POWRIE

Bruce D MACKIE

Neil GLEN

Ian BORTHWICK

Roderick A J WALLACE

Elizabeth F FORDYCE

Robin PRESSWOOD

Kenneth J N GUILD

Fiona M GRANT

Richard BEATTIE

Derek J SCOTT

David BOWES

Andrew DAWSON

John CORRIGAN

Mervyn J ROLFE

 

 

Councillor Julia STURROCK, Convener, in the Chair.

 

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 28th January, 2002 was held as read.

 

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

 

I ETHICAL STANDARDS IN PUBLIC LIFE ETC (SCOTLAND) ACT, 2000

 

There was submitted Report No. 72-2002 by the Director of Support Services advising the Committee of the bringing into force of certain provisions of the Ethical Standards in Public Life Etc (Scotland) Act, 2000.

 

The Committee noted the contents of the Report.

 

II PURCHASE OF COMPUTER FACILITIES - E-MAIL FILE SERVERS - TENDER

 

There was submitted Report No. 114-2002 by the Head of Information Technology relative to the supply of replacement computer facilities for the City Council's Electronic Mail System and a storage area network to provide the data storage requirements.

 

The Committee

 

(i)approved acceptance of the Tender ITD/2002/01/3 amounting to 148,836 from Dell Computer Corporation Limited for the purchase of I.T. equipment detailed in Appendix 1 of the report.

 

(ii)approved the additional purchase of Microsoft Windows 2000 licences from the Council Select agreement at a cost of 2,408.

 

(iii)approved ongoing engineering maintenance costs of 11,906 per annum for the above purchases.

 

III SUPPORT FOR RESEARCH PROJECTS ON SUSTAINABILITY AND RECYCLING

 

After considering Report No. 115-2002 by the Chief Executive advising the Committee of a request from the University of Dundee to support research projects relating to sustainability and recycling, the Committee agreed to make a one-off contribution of 5,000 towards the cost of the research projects and authorise the Chief Executive to send letters of support for the projects.

 

IV HOUSING AND NON-HOUSING TERM CONTRACTS (SCHEDULE OF RATES)

 

Reference was made to Article VI of the minute of meeting of the Best Value Sub-Committee of 11th February, 1999 wherein the Sub-Committee approved the Best Value Review of Building Maintenance Works and recommended that the Housing Term Contract be extended for three years until 31st March, 2002. It was also recommended that the Council have an option to extend this contract for a further year if performance targets were met and customer satisfaction met the specified levels.

 

Similarly, the Non-Housing Term Contract was extended for three years with an option to extend for a further year with the same performance and customer stipulations.

 

It was reported that these stipulations had been met and therefore the Committee was asked to note that the options in respect of both these Term Contracts presently being carried out by Dundee Contract Services would now be implemented from April 2002.

 

V PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP - FEASIBILITY STUDY ON COMPANY STRUCTURES

 

There was submitted Report No. 126-2002 by the Director of Support Services and Director of Finance seeking authority to employ consultants to carry out a feasibility study of the suitability of different types of joint venture companies which could be utilised for the proposed Public Private Partnership (PPP) for schools.

 

The Committee approved the undernoted:-

 

(i)That the Director of Support Services be authorised to commission the Council's legal and financial PPP consultants to carry out a feasibility study.

 

(ii)The consultants should consider the advantages and disadvantages of the various possible structures, and the feasibility of the Council proceeding to utilise one of them for its PPP. The study should establish:

 

(a)That it is feasible for the Council to enter into a requirement for the PPP Bidders to enter into a Joint Venture with the Council. The consultants should advise on any legal issues and the financial costs of this to the Council by way of equity etc. in the Company.

 

(b)Whether it is possible for the Council to enter into a Joint Venture with other partners to bid for the PPP contract on the basis that the Council and Tayside Contracts would be sub-contracted to undertake various services for the Joint Venture Company and any profits generated by the Company would be returned to the Council or invested in Dundee's education services. The consultants should advise on any legal issues, the costs of equity in the Company, financial risks and rewards and the cost of preparing a bid for the PPP contract. The consultants should also advise on potential partners for this type of Joint Venture Company.

 

(c)Whether there would be any advantages or disadvantages if the Joint Venture Company was a non-profit distributing company, rather than a normal private company structure with profits distributed through a Shareholders Agreement.

 

(d)Areas to be considered also include value for money for the Council, and the financial and tax implications for the company; the potential for provision of services by the Council to the company and the consequential effect on risk transfer and subsequently on balance sheet treatment; the likely acceptability of the various structures to the Scottish Executive; and the "bankability" of the various structures for the financiers.

VI CONFERENCE - DELIVERING FOR SCOTLAND

 

It was reported that the above Conference produced by Neil Stewart Associates and supported by the Scottish Executive would be held in Glasgow on 1st March, 2002.

 

The Committee authorised the attendance of the Convener and the Chief Executive at an estimated cost excluding travel and subsistence of 199 per delegate.

 

VII CONFERENCE - THE FUTURE OF SCOTLAND'S COUNCILLORS

 

It was reported that the above Conference organised by Capital Conference Scotland would be held in Stirling on 4th March, 2002.

 

The Committee authorised the attendance of one member of the Majority Group, one member of the Major Opposition Group, one member of the Minor Majority Group and either the Liberal Democrat or Independent Labour member at an estimated cost excluding travel and subsistence of 65 per delegate.

 

 

 

 

JULIA STURROCK, Convener.