Policy And Resources Committee - 11/03/2002

At a MEETING of the FINANCE COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 11th March, 2002.

Present:-

COUNCILLORS

Councillor George REGAN, Convener, in the Chair.

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

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I MINUTE OF AUDIT AND RISK MANAGEMENT SUB-COMMITTEE

The minute of meeting of the Audit and Risk Management Sub-Committee of 18th February, 2002, a copy of which is appended hereto, (Appendix 1), was submitted for information and record purposes.

II MINUTE OF SUPERANNUATION AND INVESTMENT SUB-COMMITTEE

The minute of meeting of the Superannuation and Investment Sub-Committee of 20th February, 2002 (Appendix 2), a copy of which is appended hereto, was submitted for information and record purposes.

III CAPITAL MONITORING

After considering Report No. 182-2002 by the Director of Finance appraising members on the latest position regarding the Council's expenditure programme for 2001/02 the Committee noted the contents of the report.

IV REVENUE MONITORING

There was submitted Report No. 188-2002 by the Director of Finance providing the Committee with an analysis of the 2001/2002 Projected Revenue Outturn as at 31st January, 2002 monitored against the adjusted 2001/2002 revenue budget. The Committee:-

(i)noted that the overall General Fund 2001/02 Projected Revenue Outturn as at 31st January 2002 showed an overspend of 953,000 against the adjusted 2001/02 Revenue Budget.

(ii)noted that the Housing Revenue Account Projected Outturn was in line with the approved 2001/2002 Final Revenue Budget.

(iii)instructed the Director of Finance to take every reasonable action to eliminate the projected overspend referred to in (a) above.

(iv)instructed the Director of Finance, in conjunction with all Chief Officers of the Council to continue to monitor the Council's 2001/02 Projected Revenue Outturn.

V RELIEF ON RATES - CHARITY RELIEF

Councillors Rolfe and Grant declared an interest and took no part in the discussion.

There was submitted Report No. 164-2002 by the Director of Finance seeking authorisation to grant charity relief on the undernoted non-domestic properties.

The Committee approved accordingly.

VI TREASURY POLICY STATEMENT

On a reference to Article V of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 13th March, 2000 there was submitted Report No. 141-2002 by the Director of Finance relative to the above.

The Committee approved the procedures appended to the report entitled "Treasury Policy Statement" and noted that it was the Council's responsibility to review and approve the Treasury Policy Statement every three years or earlier in the event of a major policy change.

VII TREASURY MANAGEMENT STRATEGY 2002/2003

On a reference to Article VI of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 12th March, 2001 there was submitted Report No. 142-2002 by the Director of Finance introducing the Dundee City Council's Treasury Management Strategy for 2002/2003.

The Committee:-

(i)noted that in terms of the Treasury Policy Statement, the Director of Finance was obliged to present the annual Treasury Management Strategy at the start of each financial year.

(ii)approved the strategy proposed by the Director of Finance for 2002/2003 as set out in the document appended to the report entitled "Treasury Management Strategy 2002/2003".

VIII ELECTED MEMBERS' TELEPHONE EXPENSES

The Committee agreed that allowances for telephone expenses be revised by 2.6% in line with inflation, bringing in a revised allowance for 2002/2003 to 300, it being noted that members can only claim the telephone allowance if they had a telephone in their home which was accessible by the public and therefore an ex-directory number did not satisfy this requirement.

In addition it was noted that mobile telephones were now available to all elected members on the basis that they purchased "pay as you go" cards. If a member claimed a telephone allowance then they would not be reimbursed for any business calls. If however a member does not claim a telephone allowance then they may claim for any business calls.

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 1 of Schedule 7(A) of the Act.

IX RELIEF OF NON-DOMESTIC RATES ON THE GROUNDS OF HARDSHIP

After considering Report No. 170-2002 by the Director of Finance relative to the above the Committee refused the applications detailed therein.

GEORGE REGAN, Convener.

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