Policy And Resources Committee - 19/05/2003

At a MEETING of the PERSONNEL AND MANAGEMENT SERVICES COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 19th May, 2003.

Present:-

COUNCILLORS

Lord Provost LETFORD, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 21st April, 2003, was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I PERSONNEL APPEALS SUB-COMMITTEE

There was submitted Agenda Note AN250-2003 relating to the formation of a Personnel Appeals Sub-Committee.

The Committee agreed to set up a Personnel Appeals Sub-Committee comprising of 2 members of the Administration, 2 members of the SNP Group and 1 member of the Conservative Group, so far as practicable.

II PERSONNEL APPOINTMENTS SUB-COMMITTEE

There was submitted Agenda Note AN251-2003 relative to the formation of a Personnel Appointments Sub-Committee.

The Committee agreed to set up a Personnel Appointments Sub-Committee comprising of 3 members of the Administration, 3 members of the SNP Group and 1 member of the Conservative Group.

III JOINT CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE

There was submitted Agenda Note AN252-2003 relative to the formation of a Joint Consultative Committee.

The Committee agreed to set up a Joint Consultative Committee comprising of 3 members of the Administration, 2 members of the SNP Group and 1 member of the Conservative Group.

IV LEISURE AND ARTS DEPARTMENT - ESTABLISHMENT OF FIXED TERM POST

There was submitted Joint Report No 309-2003 by the Director of Leisure and Arts and Director of Personnel and Management Services seeking approval to establish a fixed term post of Project Officer in the Leisure and Arts Department.

The Committee approved the establishment of the post of Project Officer (Strategic Change Fund), graded AP4 (19,632 - 21,732) for a fixed term period of 18 months from date of appointment, having noted that this post and associated Contractors and Project Workers, would be funded by a grant of 100,000 awarded by the Scottish Executive from the Strategic Change Fund administered by the Scottish Museums' Council.

V NEW OPPORTUNITIES FUND - PE AND SPORT INITIATIVE

There was submitted Joint Report No 271-2003 by the Director of Leisure and Arts, Director of Social Work, Director of Education and Director of Personnel and Management Services requesting approval for a PE and Sport Initiative, to be funded by the New Opportunities Fund.

The Committee approved:-

(a) the establishment of one post of Sports Development Officer, graded AP5 (22,398 - 24,396), five posts of Sports Officer, graded AP3 (17,340 - 19,029), one post of Sports Administrator graded AP1 (14,211 - 15,204), and one post of Clerical Assistant, graded GS3 (13,650 - 14,211), all for a three year fixed term period based within the Leisure and Arts Department; and

(b) the establishment of two posts of Sports Outreach Officer, graded AP3 (17,340 - 19,029) for a three year fixed term period based within the Education Department;

having noted that the total annual cost in 2003/04 of the above posts is 208,842 which would be funded externally by the New Opportunities Fund.

VI SOCIAL WORK DEPARTMENT - LEARNING DISABILITY SERVICES - ESTABLISHMENT OF POSTS

There was submitted Joint Report No 314-2003 by the Director of Social Work and Director of Personnel and Management Services seeking approval for the establishment of two Local Area Co-ordinator posts with the Learning Disability Services.

The Committee approved the establishment of two posts of Local Area Co-ordinator, AP4/5 (19,632 - 24,888) having noted that the cost of these posts would be funded from monies allocated to Dundee City Council from the Change Fund established by the Scottish Executive as part of the review of services for people with learning disabilities.

VII ENVIRONMENTAL AND CONSUMER PROTECTION DEPARTMENT - REGRADING OF POSTS

On a reference to Agenda Note AN220-2003, the Committee approved the regrading of the posts of Clerical Assistant (Special Collections) and Clerical Assistant (Skip Hire), both currently graded GS1/2 (10,068 - 13,416) to grade GS3 (13,650 - 14,211), following an evaluation of the grade of the post.

The Committee noted that the cost of the above proposal would be 531 in 2003/04 and 580 in a full financial year, which would be met from the existing Environmental and Consumer Protection Department Revenue Budget.

VIII NEIGHBOURHOOD RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT - BETTER NEIGHBOURHOOD SERVICES FUND -CHANGES TO ESTABLISHMENT

Reference was made to Article III of the minute of the meeting of the Policy and Resources Committee of 10th September, 2001, which approved proposals for the use of the Better Neighbourhood Services Fund. Reference was also made to the minute of the meeting of the Personnel and Management Services Committee of 10th March, 2003, which agreed the establishment of six posts of Youth Support Workers to provide a flexible staffing resource to work with young people and their families in the community outside of normal working hours. The proposals, known as "Connections", builds on the success of the Connect 5 off-site centre and encompasses the three BNSF schools and their communities.

There was submitted Agenda Note AN219-2003, proposing that one of the six posts be established at 'qualified' Youth Worker level in order to assist the team leader in support and supervision to the team managed by the Neighbourhood Resources and Development Department.

The Committee therefore approved the deletion of one post of Youth Support Worker, SCP16-23 (14,535 - 17,340), and the establishment of one post of Youth Worker CEW (17,340 - 22,398) for a fixed term to 31st March, 2005, having noted that this post would be fully funded from the Scottish Executive's Better Neighbourhood Services Fund.

IX SUPPORT SERVICES DEPARTMENT - ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES DIVISION - REDESIGNATION ANDREGRADING OF POST

There was submitted Agenda Note AN218-2003 advising that as a result of the increase in the introduction of new technology within the Architectural Services Division of the Support Services Department, there had been an additional requirement for support and assistance for Architectural employees on IT systems including computer aided design (CAD) systems. This had resulted in a change in the duties for one post, in particular, and this postholder was now generally involved in IT work for over 75% of working time.

The Committee therefore approved the redesignation of one post of Quantity Surveying Technician to Computer Systems Support Officer/Quantity Surveying Technician, and the regrading of this post from Tech 5 (22,398 - 24,396) to AP5-PO4 (22,398 - 27,015) having noted that the cost of this increase would be met from the Department's Revenue Budget.

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 I of Schedule 7(A) of the Act.

X FINANCE DEPARTMENT - REVENUES DIVISION - NEW RECOVERY INITIATIVE

There was submitted Joint Report No 335-2003 by the Director of Finance and Director of Personnel and Management Services seeking authorisation to implement a new debt recovery initiative to improve the collection of Council Tax and Community Charge.

The Committee approved:-

(a) the implementation of the new initiative immediately with full implementation from February, 2004 or as soon as practicable thereafter;

(b) the purchase of furniture and equipment as detailed in the report;

(c) the purchase of appropriate software, the development of interfaces with the Revenues Division's core systems to enable the new initiative to be undertaken, as well as the development of reports and management information;

(d) the establishment of twelve posts of Recovery Officer GS2/AP1 (12,789 - 15,204), and one post of Senior Clerical Assistant GS2/3 (12,789 - 14,211);

(e) the redesignation of all posts of Senior Clerical Assistant in the Recovery/Non Domestic Rates Section to Recovery Officer, and the regrading of these posts from GS2/3 (12,789 - 14,211) to GS2/AP1 (12,789 - 15,204).

Lord Provost John R Letford, Convener.