Policy And Resources Committee - 08/09/2003

At a MEETING of the POLICY AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 8th September 2003.

 

Present:-

 

Lord Provost John R LETFORD

 

 

 

BAILIES

 

C D P FARQUHAR

John CORRIGAN

Neil I C POWRIE

Helen WRIGHT

 

Bruce D MACKIE

 

COUNCILLORS

 

Jill SHIMI

Helen DICK

Christina ROBERTS

Kevin KEENAN

Nigel DON

Jim BARRIE

George REGAN

Bob DUNCAN

Will DAWSON

Fiona M GRANT

Richard BEATTIE

Elizabeth F FORDYCE

Christopher HIND

Willie W SAWERS

Roderick A J WALLACE

Joe MORROW

Joe FITZPATRICK

Charles A WEBSTER

Fraser MACPHERSON

 

Derek J SCOTT

 

Councillor Jill SHIMI, Convener, in the Chair.

 

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 18th August, 2003 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-Committees of 19th August 2003, a copy of which is appended hereto, was submitted for information and record purposes.

 

II PUTTING OUR COMMUNITIES FIRST - SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE STRATEGY FOR TACKLING ANTI-SOCIALBEHAVIOUR

 

There was submitted Report No 597-2003 by the Assistant Chief Executive (Community Planning) outlining the Scottish Executive's proposals as described in "Putting our Communities First - A Strategy for Tackling Anti-Social Behaviour".

 

The Committee approved the response detailed in Appendix I of the Report.

 

In addition, the Committee agreed that the undernoted be added to the response.

 

"In answer to Question 33 "Is the scope of the present regulations governing the removal of vehicles causing an obstruction" sufficient?

 

Local authorities should be given powers to remove untaxed abandoned vehicles immediately and should be able to remove vehicles which have been abandoned on private land without the vehicle owner's consent.

 

In answer to Question 38 "Do local authorities require further powers to deal with graffiti?"

 

Additional powers are required to ensure the removal of graffiti on non-council property such as telephone boxes and telecommunication joint boxes. Local authorities should be given the powers to force owners of such property to remove the graffiti, or for the local authority to remove the graffiti and recharge owners accordingly.

 

In answer to Question 39 "Should we require or enable local authorities to implement a night-time noise nuisance service and implement additional powers to enable local authority Environmental Health Officers and/or community wardens to issue Fixed Penalty Notices of 100 to curb domestic noise nuisance?"

 

Local authorities should be given powers to issue Fixed Penalty Notices as proposed and issued by relevant officers designated by the Council. This will result in a practical response to the most common complaint from communities in relation to noise nuisance."

 

III UPDATE ON THE FINANCIAL STATUS OF THE PPP FOR SCHOOLS PROJECT

 

Councillor Wallace declared a non-financial interest as he had grandchildren who attended Forthill Primary School.

 

On a reference to Article III of the minute of meeting of the Education Committee of 8th September 2003 there was submitted Report No 548-2003 by the Director of Education and the Depute Chief Executive (Finance) updating the Committee on the financial status of the PPP for Schools Project and seeking approval for a revised Project.

 

The Convener, seconded by Councillor Regan, moved that the Committee agree to:-

 

(i)note the contents of the PPP for Schools Project as at the Education Committee on 31st March 2003 and the then affordability gap of 387,000 per annum;

 

(ii)note the increase in the capital and revenue costs of the PPP for Schools Project in the period since 31st March 2003 and, in particular, the increase in the affordability gap from 387,000 to 880,000 per annum;

 

(iii)delete Barnhill Primary School and Forthill Primary School from the PPP Project and to undertake these projects as outlined in Appendix C of the report from capital receipts and prudential borrowing and the City Architectural Services Officer to design and invite tenders for the refurbishment and extension of Forthill Primary School; and

 

(iv)approve the revised PPP Project as outlined in Appendices A and C of the report and instruct the Chief Executive to submit the revised PPP for Schools Project to the Scottish Executive.

 

As an amendment, Bailie Corrigan, seconded by Councillor Sawers, moved that the report be approved apart from Appendix C which should be deferred for further consultation and clarification.

 

On a division, there voted for the motion - the Convener, Lord Provost, Bailies Farquhar, Wright, Powrie and Mackie, Councillors Shimi, Keenan, Regan, Grant, Hind, Morrow, Dick, Wallace, Webster and Scott (16); and for the amendment - Bailie Corrigan and Councillors Don, Duncan, Beattie, Sawers, FitzPatrick, Roberts, Barrie, Will Dawson and Fordyce (10) - whereupon the motion was declared carried.

 

IV BUILDING STRONG, SAFER ATTRACTIVE COMMUNITIES - GUIDANCE TO LOCAL AUTHORITIES AND THEIRCOMMUNITY PLANNING PARTNERS

 

On a reference to Article VI of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 9th June 2003 there was submitted Report No 571-2003 by the Assistant Chief Executive (Community Planning) advising members of an outline submission on wardens and other community based initiatives to tackle anti-social behaviour to be sent to the Scottish Executive.

 

The Committee approved the proposals and timetable for submission as detailed in Section 6 of the Report as this Council's outline submission to the Scottish Executive.

 

V FUTURE OF TAYSIDE HOUSE AND CITY CENTRE OFFICE ACCOMMODATION

 

There was submitted Report No 586-2003 by the Depute Chief Executive (Finance) providing elected members with an appraisal of the Council's long-term requirement of city centre office accommodation and the future of Tayside House.

 

The Committee approved the undernoted recommendations:-

 

(i)to relocate from Tayside House to new office accommodation at North Lindsay Street;

 

(ii)that the Director of Economic Development be authorised to purchase from Castleview Developments Limited the 0.4ha (1 acre) or thereby site and buildings at North Lindsay Street and thereafter instruct the Depute Chief Executive (Support Services) to conclude the necessary legal formalities;

 

(iii)that the Director of Economic Development be authorised to negotiate the purchase of the premises, comprising 26-36 North Lindsay Street either by agreement or by compulsory purchase;

 

(iv)that Tayside Police be requested to vacate their premises in the Podium Block at an agreed date;

 

(v)that the Depute Chief Executive (Finance) be instructed to establish a Capital Fund as outlined in paragraph 11.2 of the report;

 

(vi)that the Depute Chief Executive (Finance) be authorised to establish a "Best Value Working Group" to oversee the occupation of the new office accommodation, including office layouts, hot-desking and working from home;

 

(vii)the City Architectural Services Officer be authorised to commence the initial design work for the new offices and to report back to Committee on the feasibility of involving recognised local architecture/planning experts in the design process on a voluntary basis;

 

(viii)that a further report be submitted to Committee when the Capital Fund had reached 10.5m or 31 March 2007, whichever was the earliest, at which time the Committee would be requested to invite tenders and approve the final design; and

 

(ix)that the Assistant Chief Executive (Management) be instructed to commence consultation with the Trade Unions on the issues of home-working and hot-desking.

 

VI DRAFT LOCAL GOVERNMENT (SCOTLAND) BILL - CONSULTATION

 

On a reference to Article VI of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 10th June 2002 there was submitted Report No 538-2003 by the Assistant Chief Executive (Community Planning) providing a summary of the Draft Local Government (Scotland) Bill and recommending a draft response to the consultation based on previous Council decisions and consideration of any legal and financial issues raised.

 

The Convener, seconded by Councillor Macpherson, moved approval of the report subject to the undernoted:-

 

"(i)agree to recommend to the Single Transferable Working Group that Ward size in Dundee for any proposed electoral division be on a 4 member basis in order to promote proportionality and retain the Ward/Member link as best as possible and that the number of elected members in Dundee be increased to 32;

 

(ii)agree to recommend that the Local Government Elections due in 2007 be deferred for one year to allow for more comprehensive and clearer electoral education regarding the new voting system and to allow Local Government a separate date from National Elections;

 

(iii)agree to recommend that the age for standing as Councillor should be reduced from 21 to 18 and that similar reductions for the age of eligibility for MSPs and MPs should be examined with a view to lowering the age;

 

(iv)agree that a one-off severance payment be made to retiring Councillors in proportion to length of service and provision be made for pension arrangements for Councillors;

 

(v)agree to recommend that Dundee City Council reverts to the original District Council Boundary pre-organisation."

 

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

 

"(i)Paragraph 7.1.1Dundee City Council supports the introduction of the Single Transferable Vote system of Proportional Representation for Local Government;

 

(ii)Paragraph 7.1.3Dundee City Council agrees that the eligible age to stand for election to Local Government should be reduced to 18 at the next Council elections;

 

(iii)Paragraph 7.1.6Dundee City Council agrees that the restrictions on former Councillors seeking employment with the Council after their period of office comes to an end should remain;

 

(iv)Paragraph 7.1.7Dundee City Council agrees that a new system of remuneration should be introduced, which would be determined by an Independent National Committee in order to remove the situation of Councillors determining their own income;

 

(v)Paragraph 7.1.9Dundee City Council agrees that severance pay should not be payable to retiring Councillors;

 

(vi)Paragraph 7.10Dundee City Council agrees with the establishment of such a Committee;

 

(vii)Paragraph 7.11Dundee City Council agrees that Councillors should be salaried with pension rights;

 

(viii)Paragraph 7.2.3Dundee City Council agrees that a new system of remuneration should be introduced, which would be determined by an Independent National Committee in order to remove the situation of Councillors determining their own income;

 

(ix)Paragraph 7.2.5Dundee City Council agrees that the Local Government Boundary Commission should be obliged to consider joint agreed proposals."

 

On a division, there voted for the motion - Lord Provost Letford, Bailies Farquhar, Wright, Powrie and Mackie, Councillors Shimi, Keenan, Regan, Grant, Hind, Morrow, Macpherson, Dick, Wallace, Webster and Scott (16); and for the amendment - Bailie Corrigan, Councillors Don, Duncan, Beattie, Sawers, FitzPatrick, Roberts, Barrie, Will Dawson and Fordyce (10) - whereupon the motion was declared carried.

 

VII NEW OFFICE BUILDING - CLAVERHOUSE INDUSTRIAL PARK EAST

 

There was submitted Report No 598-2003 by the Director of Economic Development appraising members on the proposed development by the City Council of a 2,322 sq m or thereby new office building at Claverhouse Industrial Park East, Dundee to replace the existing Social Work offices at Balmerino Road and Kirkton Road.

 

The Committee:-

 

(i)authorised the appropriate technical officers to carry out an evaluation process with appropriate contractors with a view to entering into a partnership agreement with the successful contractor;

 

(ii)noted that the Director of Economic Development would formally report back to this Committee prior to contracts for the project being let;

 

(iii)noted that the project would be funded through borrowing under the new Prudential Code for Capital Finance, on terms set out in the report;

 

(iv)agreed that this project be included in the 3-year Capital Plan at its next revision.

 

VIII PROPOSED CLOSURE OF THE WEST FERRY POST OFFICE

 

There was submitted a letter dated 26th August, 2003 from the Post Office relative to the above

 

The Committee remitted to the Chief Executive to write to the Post Office expressing Dundee City Council's concern about the proposed closure of the West Ferry Branch and requesting that consideration be given to looking for an alternative arrangement that would ensure that the Post Office facility was maintained within West Ferry on the grounds that the proposed closure would disadvantage the most vulnerable members of the community.

 

The Convener agreed that Article IX below be considered as a matter of urgency in terms of Standing Order No 52(3)(b) in view of the timescales involved.

 

IX DUNDEE CENTRAL WATERFRONT PROJECT

 

On a reference to Article II of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 19th May 2003 there was submitted Report No. 612-2003 by the Director of Planning & Transportation relative to the above.

 

The Committee approved the initial project plan outlined in Section 6 of the report and remitted to the Director of Planning & Transportation to report back to the Committee on detailed proposals for the establishment of the Central Waterfront Development Trust.

 

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, 8 and 9 of Part 1 of Schedule 7(A) of the Act.

 

X SITE AT NORTH LINDSAY STREET

 

On a reference to Article V above there was submitted Agenda Note AN415-2003 intimating that the Director of Economic Development had provisionally agreed to purchase 0.4 ha or thereby at North Lindsay Street for proposed new office accommodation.

 

The Committee approved the terms and conditions negotiated by the Director of Economic Development and remitted to the Depute Chief Executive (Support Services) to conclude the necessary legal formalities.

 

 

JILL SHIMI, Convener.

APPENDIX