Policy And Resources Committee - 09/06/2003

At a MEETING of the POLICY AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 9th June 2003.

Present:-

COUNCILLORS

Councillor Jill SHIMI, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 19th May, 2003 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I BETTER NEIGHBOURHOOD SERVICES FUND - APPOINTMENT

After considering Agenda Note AN283-2003 the Committee agreed to appoint Scottish Economic Research, University of Abertay to carry out an external evaluation of the two Better Neighbourhood Services Fund initiatives at a cost of 12,100 excluding VAT.

II TAXI CONTRACT

There was submitted Report No 411-2003 by the Director of Support Services detailing offers received for the above contract.

The Committee agreed that the contract be awarded to Handy Taxis on the terms and conditions outlined in the report.

III HOUSING CAPITAL BUDGET 2003/04

There was submitted Report No 360-2003 by the Director of Housing.

The Committee

(i) approved the revised Housing Capital Budget for 2003/04;

(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 the budget; and

(iv)authorised the Director of Housing to accept offers detailed in paragraph 6.3 of the report.

IV IMPACT OF NEW WORKING TAX CREDIT ON COUNCIL GRANTS AND CONCESSIONS

There was submitted Report No 414-2003 by the Director of Finance detailing the changes in eligibility criteria required due to the introduction of the Working Tax Credit.

It was noted that in view of the timescales involved, the Director of Finance in consultation with the Convener, Councillor Sawers and Councillor Mackie had agreed that the eligibility criteria for School Clothing Grants, free Music Tuition fees and Leisure Concession Schemes be amended to include people in receipt of the new Working Tax Credit (up to a gross income limit of 13,230 per annum).

V RECESS SUB-COMMITTEE

There was submitted Agenda Note AN284-2003 reporting that the Council's Recess commenced on 4th July, 2003 and ended on 15th August, 2003 and to facilitate the smooth continuous conduct of the Council's business it was proposed that the Recess Sub-Committee of the Council 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 its operating arrangements be as follows:-

(1)Membership - 3 members of the Administration, 2 members of the SNP Group, one member of the Conservative Group.

(2)Chair - Leader of the Administration and Depute Chair - Deputy Leader of the Administration.

(3)Substitutes - in terms of Standing Order No 45(3) it shall be competent for substitutions to be intimated and effected for individual meetings.

(4)Quorum - 3 Members.

(5)Dates - to be arranged on a Monday when required.

(6)Remit - to deal with any urgent business arising during the recess period.

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

Councillor Shimi, seconded by Councillor Grant, moved approval of the foregoing note.

As an amendment, Councillor Sawers, seconded by Councillor Don, moved approval of the foregoing note subject to the membership of the Sub-Committee being three members of the Administration, three members of the SNP Group and one member of the Conservative Group.

On a division, there voted for the motion - Lord Provost Letford, Councillors Shimi, Keenan, Regan, Farquhar, Sturrock, Grant, Hind, Morrow, Wright, Dick, Macpherson, Mackie, Wallace, Webster and Scott (16); for the amendment - Councillors Don, Duncan, Beattie, Andrew Dawson, Sawers, FitzPatrick, Roberts, Corrigan, Barrie, Will Dawson and Borthwick (11) - whereupon the motion was declared carried.

VI SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE PROPOSALS ON WARDENS AND OTHER INITIATIVES TO TACKLE ANTI-SOCIALBEHAVIOUR

There was submitted Report No 354-2003 by the Director of Corporate Planning advising members of a Scottish Executive Consultation Document on wardens and other community-based initiatives to tackle anti-social behaviour.

The Committee:-

(i)welcomed the proposals set out in the consultation document and agreed the draft response to the specific questions for consultation as set out in paragraph 6.4.2; and

(ii)remitted to the Director of Corporate Planning to bring forward a further report on the use of the proposed additional resources once detailed guidance was available from the Executive, and, in particular, to bring forward proposals for a community warden scheme which addressed the issues of crime prevention and improving the local environment and for additional measures which complemented and strengthened the initiatives already under way in Dundee to tackle anti-social behaviour.

VII NUCLEAR FREE ZONES LOCAL AUTHORITIES AFFILIATION FEES

There was submitted Agenda Note AN216-2003 reporting that the City Council had been requested to pay the 2003/04 annual affiliation fees amounting to 1,529.00.

Councillor Shimi, seconded by Councillor Grant, moved that the affiliation fees be paid.

As an amendment, Councillor Mackie, seconded by Councillor Wallace, moved that no affiliation fee be paid.

On a division, there voted for the motion - Lord Provost Letford, Councillors Shimi, Keenan, Regan, Farquhar, Sturrock, Grant, Hind, Morrow, Wright, Dick, Macpherson, Don, Duncan, Beattie, Andrew Dawson, Sawers, FitzPatrick, Roberts, Corrigan, Barrie and Will Dawson (22); and for the amendment - Councillors Mackie, Wallace, Webster, Scott and Borthwick (5) - whereupon the motion was declared carried.

VIII TIMETABLE OF MEETINGS - LICENSING COMMITTEE

There was submitted Agenda Note AN276-2003 reporting that meetings of the Licensing Committee were previously held at 10 am and it was proposed that they now be held at 10.15 am to accord with the commencement time of meetings of the Licensing Board and that the dates scheduled for meetings remain the same.

The Committee approved accordingly.

JILL SHIMI, Convener.