Policy And Resources Committee - 10/06/2002

At a MEETING of the POLICY AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 10th June 2002.

Present:-

COUNCILLORS

Councillor STURROCK, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 13th May 2002 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I BEST VALUE SUB-COMMITTEE

The minute of meeting of the Best Value Sub-Committee of 16th May 2002, a copy of which is appended hereto, was submitted for information and record purposes.

II PRIVATISATION OF THE POST OFFICE

It was reported that this item had been placed on the agenda at the request of Councillor Sawers who wished to discuss the implications of Post Office privatisation to the service provided to the Dundee public.

After discussion the Committee approved the undernoted:-

Dundee City Council condemns the proposals by Postcomm to involve any "private companies" in the collection and delivery of mail, notwithstanding Postcomm's deferment of the first phase, now deferred to January 2003. The Council asserts that this involvement of the "private sector" will undermine and damage rural and urban postal services, further jeopardise our Post Office network and threaten the jobs of postal workers.

Dundee City Council therefore:-

1.urges Postcomm not to proceed down the road of private postal services, to retain a mail delivery that must remain a public service and be affordable and uniform in price;

2.agrees to write to Westminster and the Scottish Executive condemning the Postcomm "privatisation" proposals, and requesting that Westminster and the Scottish Executive vigorously opposes these privatisation proposals and asks the Scottish Executive to demand a Scottish representative on the Postcomm Board and urges Westminster and the Scottish Executive to take all necessary steps to maintain a universal and integrated postal service;

3.agrees that any proposed changes in the mail handling provider be consider by this Committee, and

4.Dundee City Council confirms that the provision of sub-post offices within the City of Dundee is important for social inclusion. It is a quality of life issue for people in local neighbourhoods and is likely to be an essential part of any community regeneration project. Dundee City Council will oppose any closures which might result from future changes to the Post office.

III HOUSING CAPITAL BUDGET 2002/2003 AND FINANCIAL PLAN FOR 2003/2004 - 2004/2005

There was submitted Report No 471-2002 by the Director of Housing relative to the above.

The Committee:-

(i)approved the revised Housing Capital Budget for 2002/2003 and Financial Plan for 2003/2004 and 2004/2005;

(ii)approved the action detailed in paragraph 6 of the report;

(iii)instructed the City Architectural Services Officer and City Engineer to invite offers for the projects included in these Capital, Planned Maintenance and Renewal and Repairs Estimates;

(iv)authorised the Director of Housing to accept offers as detailed in paragraphs 6.3 of the report; and

(v)approved the Co-Op Bank plc as the Leasing Finance Company for the Leased Heating for Council Housing Initiative.

IV NHS TAYSIDE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC HEALTH'S ANNUAL REPORT 2001

On a reference to Article I of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 13th May 2002 there was submitted Report No 481-2002 by the Director of Corporate Planning acknowledging the key issues raised by the NHS Tayside Director of Public Health in his Annual Report and proposing the way forward for the Local Authority in helping to address these.

The Committee:-

(i)noted the recommendations of the Director of Public Health's Annual Report 2001 with implications for Dundee City Council Departments and Services; and

(ii)remitted to the Director of Corporate Planning to identify Dundee City Council's response as part of the development of corporate health improvement priorities.

V CORPORATE HEALTH DEVELOPMENT

On a reference to Article III of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 15th April 2002 and Article IV above there was submitted Report No 480-2002 by the Director of Corporate Planning advising of the health development work planned by departments and seeking approval for the process to develop corporate health improvement priorities.

The Committee:-

(i)approved the corporate health improvement objectives for health development work, reflecting Local Authority corporate priorities and areas of joint responsibility with partner organisations and health alliances;

(ii)noted the programme for departmental health improvement initiatives; and

(iii)remitted to the Director of Corporate Planning to produce an updated report in one year's time, confirming the Local Authority's health improvement priorities and stating the progress made in achieving agreed targets with partner organisations.

VI RESPONSE TO WHITE PAPER "RENEWING LOCAL DEMOCRACY - THE NEXT STEPS"

There was submitted Report No 500-2002 by the Director of Corporate Planning providing a summary of the White Paper "Renewing Local Democracy - The Next Steps" and recommending a draft response based on previous Council decisions and on Officers' consideration of legal and financial issues raised.

Councillor Sturrock, seconded by Councillor Grant, moved approval of the report subject to the undernoted:-

(i)agrees that the salary threshold for politically restricted posts should be abolished so that any restrictions are based on the duties of the post alone;

(ii)agrees that the existing blanket ban on Councillors seeking employment with the Council within a year of leaving office should be repealed. A three months restriction should apply to politically restricted posts, with no restrictions on other posts;

(iii)re-affirms that the remuneration for the additional duties should be decided locally by the Council from a global sum allocated by the Scottish Executive, and therefore opposes the suggestion of a national remuneration committee; and

(iv)agrees that the Councillors in Scotland should have severance pay arrangement based on the formula included in the Draft Guidance on Members' Allowances in Wales. This provides for payments to Councillors aged 60 or over who have served for more than one term but do not intend to stand from 2004 onwards. The maximum amount payable will be 750 for each complete year of service subject to a maximum of 20 years.

As an amendment, Councillor FitzPatrick, seconded by Councillor Fordyce, moved approval of the report subject to the undernoted:-

8.1(i)Bullet point 1 - replace with: The age for standing for a Councillor should be reduced to 18 at the earliest opportunity;

(ii) Bullet points 2 & 3 - as draft response;

(iii)Bullet point 4 - agrees that the salary threshold for politically restricted posts should be abolished so that any restrictions are based on the duties of the post alone; and

(iv)Bullet point 5 - the restriction of former Councillors seeking employment with the Council after their period of services comes to end should be maintained.

8.2Delete all and replace with:-

(i)Dundee City Council believes that STV is the most suitable form of electoral system for local government as it is the only system which delivers proportionally whilst maintaining the Councillor/Ward link;

(ii)Dundee City Council further believes that the introduction of STV will provide an opportunity to enhance community links. While the ratio of Councillors:Constituents should be roughly equal across the Council area the cohesion of communities should be the primary factor in deciding the boundaries of the new multi-member wards;

8.3(i)Bullet points 1, 2 and 3 as draft response;

(ii)Bullet point 4 - Dundee Council supports the introduction of national remuneration committees, independent of Councils; and

(iii)Bullet point 5 - Councillors should not receive severance pay.

On a division, there voted for the motion - Lord Provost Letford, Councillors Sturrock, Wright, Ward, Shimi, Presswood, Regan, Farquhar, Glen, Grant, Mackie and Scott, (12); and for the amendment - Councillors Barrie, Richard Beattie, Dawson, Sawers, FitzPatrick, Petrie, Guild, Corrigan, Dave Beattie, Fordyce, Bowes and Macpherson, (12), - Councillor Powrie declining to vote and Councillors Rolfe and Borthwick being absent when the vote was taken - whereupon there being a parity of votes the Convener gave her casting vote in favour of the motion - whereupon the motion was declared carried

VII RECESS SUB-COMMITTEE

There was submitted Agenda Note AN115-2002 intimating that the Council's Recess commenced on 29th June 2002 and ended on 17th August 2002 and to facilitate the smooth, continuous conduct of the Council's business it was proposed that a Recess Sub-Committee be set up to deal with matters of an urgent nature which the Chief Executive or Director of Support Services believed could not wait for the next ordinary meeting of the Committee concerned during that period and that its operating arrangements be as follows:-

(i)Membership - three members of the Majority Group, two members of the Major Opposition Group, one member of the Minority Group and the Independent Labour or Liberal Democrat member;

(ii)Chair - Leader of the Majority Group and Depute Chair - Deputy Leader of the Majority Group;

(iii)Substitutes - in terms of Standing Order No 44(3) it shall be competent for substitutions to be intimated and effected for individual meetings;

(iv)Quorum - three Members;

(v) Dates - to be arranged on a Monday when required;

(vi) Remit - to deal with any urgent business arising during the recess period; and

(vii) Power - full delegated powers to deal with any business laid before it.

The Committee approved accordingly.

VIII WELFARE MEALS SERVICE

There was submitted Report No 532-2002 by the Director of Social Work and the Director of Finance seeking authority to extend the current meals service provided to the Social Work Department to include meals currently prepared by home care workers in service users' homes.

The Committee:-

(i)agreed to discontinue the preparation of meals by Social Work staff in service users' own homes, to take effect when the new kitchen facility was fully operational;

(ii)approved capital expenditure of 200,000 for adaptations to an industrial unit at Claverhouse Industrial Estate for Tayside Contracts to use as a kitchen facility for the provision of a meals service to the Social Work Department;

(iii)remitted to the Director of Economic Development to enter into appropriate leasing arrangements with Tayside Contracts;

(iv)remitted to the Director of Social Work to conclude formal agreements for the full specification and conditions of contract including costs for the meals service to be provided by Tayside Contracts once the proposed new facility was available to provide the service;

(v)remitted to the Director of Social Work to bring forward a report to a future meeting of the Social Work Committee providing a detailed analysis of the budget and staffing implications of an extended meals service; and

(vi)remitted to the Director of Environmental and Consumer Protection to bring forward a report which recommended appropriate monitoring arrangements and the financial and staffing implications thereof to ensure that food safety procedures was adhered to throughout the Council.

IX SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE GREEN PAPER "COMMUNITY BUDGETING - A CONSULTATION DOCUMENT ONLOCAL SERVICES AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT"

There was submitted Report No 463-2002 by the Director of Corporate Planning outlining the Scottish Executive proposals as described in the Green Paper "Community Budgeting - A Consultation Document on Local Services and Community Engagement".

The Committee declined the offer to express an interest in the Community Budgeting Grant and approved the comments on the specific proposals set out in section 7 of the report.

X COUNCIL PLAN 1999/2002 - PROGRESS TOWARDS ACHIEVING TARGETS

There was submitted Report No 499-2002 by the Director of Corporate Planning advising members of progress towards meeting the targets set out in the Council Plan 1999/2002.

The Committee:-

(i)noted the contents of the report and progress to date on the targets set out in the Council Plan;

(ii)remitted to the Director of Corporate Planning to continue to monitor progress on these targets and report to Committee on an annual basis; and

(iii)agreed that, as part of the commitment to Public Information Reporting, information on progress towards the targets be added to the copy of the Council Plan which appeared on the Council website and copies of this report be made available to partner organisations and local groups on request.

XI TAXI/CAR HIRE SERVICE

Reference was made to Article I of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 11th June 2001 wherein the taxi contract administered by Support Services Department was awarded to Handy Taxis for an initial period of twelve months.

After considering Agenda Note AN113-2002, the Committee agreed to extend the existing contract for a further twelve month period on the existing terms and conditions and at the end of this period consideration be given to re-tendering the contract.

XII DERL WASTE MANAGEMENT LICENCE

There was submitted Agenda Note AN114-2002 relative to the above.

The Committee approved the provision of a 30,000 guarantee to SEPA associated with the granting of a Waste Management licence for the DERL Waste to Energy Plant.

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 paragraph 6 of Part I of Schedule 7(A) of the Act.

XIII RESTRUCTURING HOUSING SUPPORT SERVICES AND MAXIMISING TRANSITIONAL HOUSING BENEFIT

There was submitted Report No 493-2002 by the Director of Housing and the Director of Social Work relative to the above.

The Committee approved the recommendations detailed therein.

JULIA STURROCK, Convener.