Policy And Resources Committee - 13/05/2002

At a MEETING of the PERSONNEL AND MANAGEMENT SERVICES COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 13th May, 2002.

Present:-

COUNCILLORS

Lord Provost LETFORD, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 15th April, 2002 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I MINUTE OF MEETING OF PERSONNEL APPEALS SUB-COMMITTEE OF 15TH APRIL, 2002

The minute of meeting of the above Sub-Committee, a copy of which is appended hereto (Appendix I), was submitted for information.

II HOUSING DEPARTMENT - CENTRAL AREA OFFICE - STAFFING STRUCTURE

There was submitted Joint Report No 289-2002 by the Directors of Housing and Personnel and Management Services proposing a revision of the Central Area Housing Office staffing structure in light of operational experience since the Area Office restructure in December 2001.

The Committee approved:-

(a) the establishment of one post of Estate Supervision Officer, graded AP2 (14,984 - 16,217);

(b) the deletion of one post of Assistant Housing Officer, graded GS1/2 (9,680 - 12,899); and

(c) the deletion of one part-time post of Assistant Housing Officer, graded GS3 (13,124 - 13,664 pro rata).

III OUTDOOR ADVENTURE ACTIVITIES - TRANSFER FROM LEISURE AND ARTS DEPARTMENT TO NEIGHBOURHOODRESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT

There was submitted Joint Report No 446-2002 by the Directors of Neighbourhood Resources and Development, Leisure and Arts and Personnel and Management Services seeking approval for the transfer of outdoor adventure activities, personnel and activity bases at Ancrum and Grassy Beach Centres from the Leisure and Arts Department to the Neighbourhood Resources and Development Department.

The Committee approved:-

(a) the transfer of outdoor activities instruction and support personnel servicing Ancrum and Grassy Beach Centres from the Leisure and Arts Department to the Neighbourhood Resources and Development Department together with the relevant budget provision as detailed in the report;

(b) the renaming of centres to Ancrum Outdoor Centre and Grassy Beach Outdoor Centre;

(c) the deletion of the following posts from the establishment of the Leisure and Arts Department -

(d) the establishment of the following posts within the Neighbourhood Resources and Development Department -

IV LEISURE AND ARTS DEPARTMENT - URBAN PARK RANGERS FOR BAXTER PARK - ESTABLISHMENT OF POSTS

There was submitted Joint Report No 296-2002 by the Directors of Leisure and Arts and Personnel and Management Services seeking the Committee's approval for the establishment of new posts to assist in the implementation of the Baxter Park Restoration Plan over the next five years.

The Committee approved the establishment of the undernoted new posts on a fixed term basis until 30th June, 2008:-

(a) one post of Urban Park Ranger, graded Tech 3 (16,217 - 18,296) for a fixed term of five years;

(b) one post of Assistant Urban Park Ranger, graded GS3 (13,124 - 13,664) for a fixed term of four years and one month; and

(c) one post of Seasonal Assistant Urban Park Ranger, graded GS3 (13,124 - 13,664) over the period April to October for three years starting in 2004.

V EDUCATION DEPARTMENT - NEW COMMUNITY SCHOOL INITIATIVE - BALDRAGON CLUSTER - ESTABLISHMENT OF POST

Reference was made to the minute of meeting of this Committee of 14th May, 2001 wherein the establishment of a small team of multi-disciplinary staff to work with early years and primary school establishmentswithin the Baldragon cluster wasapproved. Therewas submitted Agenda Note  AN51-2002 advising that the clerical support required for the staff had been given on an ad hoc basis and was restricting the team's ability to deliver services.

It was therefore agreed to establish an 18.5 hour post of Clerical Officer, graded GS1/2, currently 9,680 to 12,899 per annum (pro rata) on a fixed term basis until 31 March, 2004, it being noted that the cost of this proposal is 7,150 in financial year 2002/2003 and 7,450 in 2003/2004 and can be contained in the Scottish Executive funding available for this initiative.

VI SOCIAL WORK DEPARTMENT - PROPOSAL TO FUND A SOCIAL CARE SUPPORT SERVICE - DELETION OF POSTS

Reference was made to the minute of meeting of the Social Work Committee of 22nd April, 2002 wherein the Director of Social Work was authorised to commission a Family Support Service from Aberlour Child Care Trust, a voluntary sector organisation, as an alternative to Council provision.

There was submitted Agenda Note AN52-2002 advising that as a consequence of this decision it was proposed to delete the undernoted posts:-

(a) one post of Senior Social Care Officer, residential grade SCP27-30 (18,878 - 20,897);

(b) three posts of Social Care Officer, residential grade SCP16-23 (13,976 - 16,673); and

(c) one part-time post of Domestic Assistant, grade MW1;

these employees to be redeployed to other posts within the Social Work Department.

The Committee approved accordingly.

VII SOCIAL WORK DEPARTMENT - SOCIAL WORK ASSISTANTS AND OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY ASSISTANTS

Reference was made to the minute of meeting of this Committee of 12th June, 2000 wherein the Committee approved Report No 391-2000, Review of Social Work Assistants/Occupational Therapy Assistants. This report introduced a qualification bar at the maximum of GS3 (SCP15), progression beyond which would be dependent upon employees having the appropriate SVQ level 2 qualification.

There was submitted agenda note AN53-2002 advising that the Director of Social Work was of the view that it was no longer necessary to request such a qualification for employees to progress. However, before permitting an employee to progress, the Director of Social Work must be satisfied that the required experience and expertise had been attained to allow the employee to carry out the full range of duties appropriate to the grade.

The Committee therefore approved the removal of the qualification bar in the grade for Social Work Assistants and Occupational Therapy Assistants having noted that the cost of implementing the above recommendations would be 8,500, inclusive of employer's costs, in a full financial year.

VIII PLANNING AND TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT - TRANSFER OF POST FROM LEISURE AND ARTS DEPARTMENT

There was submitted Agenda Note AN54-2002 advising that in line with Dundee City Council's ICT Strategy to establish a Customer Contact Centre it had been agreed that the administration of a range of initiatives for the Leisure and Arts Department should now be undertaken by the Customer Services Section based on Floor 2, Tayside House which is managed by the Planning and Transportation Department.

Accordingly, the Committee approved the transfer of a Customer Services Assistant, graded GS1/3 (9,680 - 13,664), from the Leisure and Arts Department to the Planning and Transportation Department.

IX ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT - CHANGES TO ESTABLISHMENT

There was submitted Agenda Note AN55-2002 advising that the Director of Economic Development and the Director of Personnel and Management Services had undertaken a review of the Property Management Section of the Economic Development Department and recommended that:-

(i) one post of Apprentice/Trainees Surveyor, GS1/AP1 (9,680 - 14,618), be established; and

(ii) one post of Surveyor, AP5/PO4 (21,536 - 25,976), be redesignated Senior Surveyor and be regraded to PO5-10 (26,801 - 30,323) to reflect additional duties and responsibilities allocated to the postholder.

The Committee approved accordingly.

X EDUCATION AND SOCIAL WORK DEPARTMENTS - SURE START STRATEGY - EXTENSION OF FIXED TERM POSTS

Reference was made to the minute of meeting of the Education and Social Work Committees of 22nd April, 2002 wherein Report No 269-2002, Continuation of Sure Start Strategy and Implementation, was approved.

There was submitted Agenda Note AN56-2002 proposing the extension of the undernoted fixed term posts until 31st March, 2004:-

Based in Education Department:

Based in Social Work Department:

The Committee approved accordingly, having noted that the financial implications of these proposals were 371,150 in a full financial year and would be met from the Scottish Executive Sure Start Funding.

LORD PROVOST JOHN R LETFORD, Convener.

APPENDIX I