Policy And Resources Committee - 08/12/2003

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

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Councillor SHIMI, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 17th November, 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-Committee of 12th November 2003, a copy of which is appended hereto, was submitted for information and record purposes.

II JOINT PROTOCOL RELATING TO CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE AT RISK OF SEXUAL EXPLOITATION

There was submitted Report No 742-2003 by the Chief Executive relative to a protocol which had been developed and agreed between the representatives of Tayside Police, Dundee City Council, NHS Tayside, The Corner, Carolina House Trust and Barnardos, acting together as the Sexual Exploitation Group under the auspices of the Dundee Committee for Child Protection.

The Committee:-

(i) noted and approved the Joint Protocol Relating to Children and Young People at Risk of Sexual Exploitation appended to the report; and

(ii) agreed that the protocol be implemented from 1st January 2004.

III UNIT RATE CONTRACT FOR INVESTIGATION OF POTENTIALLY CONTAMINATED LAND

Reference was made to Article II of the minute of meeting of the Environmental and Consumer Protection Committee of 17th September 2003 wherein the Strategy for Contaminated Land was agreed.

After considering Agenda Note AN534-2003 the Committee approved the Unit Rates submitted by the undernoted:-

Aitken Laboratories Limited, Castlehill House, Slamannan

Ritchies, Glasgow Road, Kilsyth, Glasgow

Soil Mechanics Limited, Askern Road, Carcroft, Doncaster.

IV DOMESTIC WATER AND SEWERAGE REDUCTION SCHEME

There was submitted Report No 794-2003 by the Depute Chief Executive (Finance) updating members on the current position regarding the Domestic Water and Sewerage Reduction Scheme.

The Committee agreed to support the recommendations of the Water Customer Consultation Panel to (a) extend the current Water and Sewerage Reduction Scheme beyond 2004, and (b) request that a further study be undertaken to address the impact of increasing water charges on vulnerable households.

V DRAFT WATER SERVICES (SCOTLAND) BILL

There was submitted Report No 778-2003 by the Assistant Chief Executive (Community Planning) informing the Committee that the Scottish Executive had issued a consultation document on the proposed provisions of the Draft Water Services (Scotland) Bill.

The Committee agreed to:-

(i) welcome the proposed prohibition of "common carriage" on the public water and sewerage networks in the interests of safeguarding public health and the environment;

(ii) welcome the proposed prohibition of retail competition for domestic water customers and deplore the maintenance of charging arrangements which take no account of the ability to pay,

(iii) support the introduction of a robust licensing regime to ensure that any competition in the market for non-domestic water was well regulated and that all retailers and customers contributed fairly and proportionately to the costs of the public networks on which they would still rely for service.

VI BUILDING STRONG, SAFE AND ATTRACTIVE COMMUNITIES: GUIDANCE TO LOCAL AUTHORITIES AND THEIR COMMUNITY PLANNING PARTNERS

On a reference to Article IV of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 8th September 2003 there was submitted Report No 795-2003 by the Assistant Chief Executive (Community Planning) advising the Committee of the final submission on wardens and other community based initiatives to tackle anti-social behaviour.

The Committee approved the proposals outlined in the report and agreed that the Manager (Communities) and the Assistant Chief Executive (Management) bring forward a detailed report on the staffing implications of this initiative to an early meeting of the Personnel Committee.

VII INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DIVISION SERVICE PLAN 2003-2007

After considering Report No 800-2003 by the Head of Information Technology the Committee approved the Information Technology Division Service Plan 2003-2007.

VIII CORPORATE PLANNING DIVISION SERVICE PLAN 2003-2007

After considering Report No 812-2003 by the Assistant Chief Executive (Community Planning) the Committee approved the Corporate Planning Division Service Plan 2003-2007.

IX REVIEW OF SUMMARY JUSTICE

There was submitted Report No 824-2003 by the Depute Chief Executive (Support Services) seeking views on the Scottish Ministers' Review of Summary Justice.

The Committee agreed to advise COSLA that, for the reasons given in paragraphs 6.2 and 6.3, Dundee City Council did not believe that the District and Sheriff Courts should be unified, that lay magistrates should be abolished or that there should be a new national agency dedicated to the enforcement of fines in default. It was noted, however, for the reasons give in paragraph 6.4 it may be helpful to consider special prosecution arrangements for offences reported by local authorities and that Dundee City Council would wish to take part in further consideration of this matter.

X PROPOSED CLOSURE OF POST OFFICES - BARNHILL BRANCH, UNIT 3 CAMPFIELD SQUARE AND KINGSWAYBRANCH, 242 KINGSWAY

There was submitted a letter dated 25th November 2003 from the Post Office regarding the proposed closure of post offices.

After discussion, the Committee approved the undernoted resolution:-

"(i) In view of the crucial importance of these Post Offices to the local communities, particularly the large number of elderly in the areas, the closure of these Post Offices should be resisted and strong objections be made to the Post Office;

(ii) Dundee City Council calls upon the Post Office to ensure that the public consultation exercise is a genuine and meaningful one and to give assurances that they will pay heed to the views ot the local communities who rely on this service; and

(iii) Dundee City Council calls upon Postwatch to support the City Council's efforts to prevent these closures;"

In addition, it was agreed to again express deep concern over the proposed closure of the Victoria Road and Hilltown Branches and to advise Postwatch accordingly.

JILL SHIMI, Convener.

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