Policy And Resources Committee - 21/04/2003

At a MEETING of the POLICY AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 21st April 2003.

Present:-

COUNCILLORS

Councillor Julia STURROCK, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 31st March, 2003 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I REPLACEMENT AND CONSOLIDATION OF CORPORATE UNIX SERVERS

There was submitted Report No 270-2003 by the Head of Information Technology.

It was noted that the Head of Information Technology, in consultation with the Convener and the spokespersons from the Major Opposition Group and Minority Group, had authorised the purchase of hardware and software from IBM Limited which would allow the IT Division to consolidate a number of aging unix servers into one IBM eServer Z800 computer at an initial cost of 75,000 and an annual cost of 47,500 from 2003/04 onwards.

II TENDERS RECEIVED FOR ELECTRICITY AND GAS CONTRACTS

There was submitted Report No 281-2003 by the Director of Economic Development detailing the offers received for electricity and gas contracts.

The Committee agreed to renew the Agreement with Scottish & Southern Energy plc for supplies of electricity and accept the offer for supplies of natural gas from Vector Gas, trading under the name V-is-on Gas in accordance with the terms set out in the report.

III CONCRETE REPAIRS OF EXTERNAL CONCRETE ELEMENTS IN LOW RISE HOUSING

Reference was made to Article VIII of the minute of meeting of the Housing Committee of 16th September, 2002 wherein authority was given to appoint Castle Contracting Limited to carry out the above works.

There was submitted Agenda Note AN183-2003 intimating that in the interim, defects to the soffits of balconies at Ninewells Court were noted and reported by the Housing Department to the City Engineer and as a matter of urgency due to the public safety implications, it was considered necessary to have these specialist concrete repair works carried out and therefore additional works in the sum of 23,560 were instructed to be carried out as an extension to Castle Contracting Limited's contract which, together with an allowance of 2,356 for fees, gave a total additional cost of 25,916.

The Committee noted accordingly.

IV BETTER NEIGHBOURHOOD SERVICES FUND ? HILLTOWN CAR PARKING AND ENVIRONMENTALENHANCEMENT

Reference was made to Article XI of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 11th March, 2002 wherein inter alia the Committee approved proposals for Car Parking and Environmental Enhancement of former toilet block sites on the eastern and western sides of Hilltown.

There was submitted Agenda Note AN184-2003 intimating that the scheme had been substantially revised and advanced to detailed design stage.

The Committee approved the revised scheme and the revised estimated cost of 50,120.04.

V ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT AND PLANNING (PMP) - FOLLOW UP AUDIT

There was submitted Agenda Note AN185-2003 intimating that the Architectural Services Division of the Support Services Department were subject to a Performance Management and Planning Audit in 2001/2003.

It was further reported that the final Performance Management and Planning follow-up audit had been carried out and that Audit Scotland's report indicated that all improvement actions had been carried out, best value had been achieved in many areas, processes were evidence based and the service was making good progress in Best Value and Performance Management and Planning.

The Committee noted accordingly.

VI LOCAL PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT

On a reference to Article II of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 13th May, 2002 there was submitted Report No 303-2003 by the Chief Executive and Director of Social Work seeking approval to allow the further development of joint working in Community Care Services between Dundee City Council and NHS Tayside.

The Committee:-

(i) agreed the Local Partnership Agreement and authorised the Chief Executive and Leader of the Council to sign it on the Council's behalf;

(ii) instructed the Directors of Social Work and Personnel and Management Services to make arrangements to implement the Local Partnership Agreement in co-operation with other Chief Officers of the departments affected; and

(iii) instructed the Director of Social Work to report to this Committee any proposed changes or amendments to the Local Partnership Agreement.

JULIA STURROCK, Convener.