Policy And Resources Committee - 08/03/2004

At a MEETING of the POLICY AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 8th March 2004.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Councillor JILL SHIMI, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 12th February 2004 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I FINANCIAL REGULATIONS - SUPERANNUATION FUNDS

The Committee agreed that Standing Orders be suspended to enable consideration to be given to this item.

There was submitted Report No 94-2004 by the Depute Chief Executive (Finance) updating Section 24 of the Council's Financial Regulations relating to Superannuation Funds.

The Committee approved the revisions as follows:-

24 Superannuation Funds

24.1 The Finance Committee (or delegated Sub-Committee) shall be responsible for the supervision and control of the Tayside Superannuation Fund and the Tayside Transport Superannuation Fund, including the review of investments and the investments of new funds. This will include ensuring full compliance with The Local Government Pension Scheme (Management and Investment of Funds) (Scotland) Regulations 1998.

24.2 The Finance Committee shall provide a full remit to the Superannuation Sub-Committee detailing the powers delegated to it regarding the supervision and control of the operations and investments of the Superannuation Funds.

24.3 The Depute Chief Executive (Finance) shall ensure the proper and safe custody of the Superannuation Funds investments.

24.4 The Depute Chief Executive (Finance) shall provide regular reports to the Superannuation Investment Sub-Committee (including quarterly review of performance) on all areas covered by its remit.

24.5 The Depute Chief Executive (Finance) shall ensure that in respect of the Superannuation Funds all expenditure is in accordance with the conditions of the Finance Committee (or delegated Sub-Committee) and all income is correctly received.

II TAXI CONTRACT - TENDERS

This item was withdrawn.

III TIMETABLE OF MEETINGS - LICENSING COMMITTEE

It was proposed that meetings of the Licensing Committee be held at 10.00 am instead of 10.15 am to facilitate the efficient disposal of business of the Committee. The dates scheduled for meetings would remain the same.

The Committee approved accordingly.

IV CORPORATE HEALTH IMPROVEMENT DEVELOPMENT

There was submitted Report No 158-2004 by the Assistant Chief Executive (Community Planning) advising the Council of the Health Improvement Development Work carried out by departments to ensure maximum health gain with local authority resources.

The Committee:-

(i) approved the Corporate Health Improvement Development Work reflecting local authority corporate priorities and areas of joint responsibility with partner organisations and health alliances;

(ii) noted the programme of departmental health improvement initiatives; and

(iii) remitted to the Assistant Chief Executive (Community Planning) to produce an updated report in March 2005 confirming the local authority's health improvement priorities and stating the progress made in achieving agreed targets with partner organisations.

V LOCAL GOVERNMENT (SCOTLAND) BILL CONFERENCE

It was reported that the above Conference hosted by Mackay Hannah, in association with Napier University, would be held in Edinburgh on 1st April 2004.

The Committee authorised the attendance of one member of the Administration, one member of the SNP Group and one member of the Conservative Group at an estimated cost, excluding travel and subsistence, of 164 per delegate.

VI THE BETTER NEIGHBOURHOOD SERVICES FUND - CAR PARKING IN KIRKTON

There was submitted Report No 153-2004 by the Assistant Chief Executive (Community Planning) and Head of Communities Department seeking approval for a funding proposal to improve car parking in Kirkton.

The Committee approved the funding proposal set out in the report.

VII NORTH CARR LIGHTSHIP - APPLICATION FOR GRANT FUNDING

After considering Report No 220-2004 by the Chief Executive relative to the above, the Committee agreed to make a grant of 3,000 to the Maritime Volunteer Service towards the cost of a project to restore the appearance and structural integrity of the North Carr Lightship above the waterline.

VIII DRAFT NATIONAL SEXUAL HEALTH AND RELATIONSHIPS STRATEGY

There was submitted Report No 193-2004 by the Assistant Chief Executive (Community Planning) outlining the Scottish Executive's draft National Sexual Health and Relationships Strategy.

The Committee endorsed the response set out in the Appendix to the report and agreed that the feedback from the Corner Project be forwarded to the Scottish Executive.

IX CENTRAL WATERFRONT PROJECT - ORGANISATION AND MANAGEMENT

On a reference to Article IX of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 8th September 2003 there was submitted Report No 187-2004 by the Director of Planning and Transportation proposing the creation of a public sector partnership to manage the overall development of the Central Waterfront and the establishment of appropriate officer groups to organise its implementation.

The Committee approved the proposals set out in the report and agreed to seek the agreement of Scottish Enterprise Tayside and the Tay Road Bridge Joint Board.

X REVIEW OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT FINANCE

Councillor Shimi, seconded by Councillor Dick, moved approval of the undernoted resolution:-

"The Council agrees to write to the Scottish Executive, Minister for Finance and Public Services and the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities -

(1) urging that the Independent Review into Local Government Finance, promised in the Partnership Agreement, A Partnership for a Better Scotland, following consultation with COSLA, be commenced as soon as practicable;

(2) asking COSLA to place this item as a matter of urgency at the next meeting with the Minister for Finance and Public Services;

(3) indicating that this Council is keen to participate in any review;

(4) reaffirming that any change in local taxation should be directly related to the ability to pay in order to promote social inclusion; and

(5) indicating that until such time as the Review is completed the Council will continue to seek additional funding from the Scottish Executive in order to contain further increases in Council Tax."

As an amendment, Councillor Sawers, seconded by Councillor Barrie, moved approval of the undernoted resolution:-

"Dundee City Council believes that the current system of local government finance is unsustainable and that decisions by the Scottish Executive are responsible for a funding framework which has increased the burden on Council Tax payers in Dundee by over 65% since 1996, calls on the Scottish Executive to scrap the Council Tax and replace it with an equitable and fair system of locally controlled taxation, based on the individual's ability to pay, and instructs the Chief Executive to write to the Scottish Executive to call for this urgent reform of local taxation."

On a division, there voted for the motion - Bailies Powrie and Mackie and Councillors Shimi, Keenan, Regan, Sturrock, Grant, Morrow, Macpherson, Dick, Wallace, Webster and Scott (13); and for the amendment - Councillors Don, Duncan, Beattie, Sawers, FitzPatrick, Roberts, Barrie, Will Dawson, Fordyce and Bailies Corrigan and Borthwick (11) - Bailie Farquhar being absent when the vote was taken - whereupon the motion was declared carried.

The Committee agreed that the undernoted item be considered as a matter of urgency in terms of Standing Order No 17(b) in view of the timescales involved.

XI PROPOSED POST OFFICE CLOSURE - 56 TORRIDON ROAD, BROUGHTY FERRY, DUNDEE

It was reported that a letter dated 2nd March 2004 had been received from Post Office Limited.

After discussion, the Committee approved the undernoted resolution:-

"(1) In view of the crucial importance of this Post Office to the local community, particularly the large number of elderly in the area, the closure of this Post Office should be resisted and strong objections be made to the Post Office;

(2) 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 of the local community who rely on this service; and

(3) Dundee City Council calls upon the Post Office to support the City Council's efforts to prevent this closure."

In addition, it was agreed to inform Postwatch accordingly.

JILL SHIMI, Convener.