Policy And Resources Committee - 15/03/2004

At a MEETING of the PERSONNEL COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 15th March, 2004.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Lord Provost John R. LETFORD, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 8th March, 2004 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I EDUCATION DEPARTMENT - ACTIVE SCHOOLS PROGRAMME

There was submitted Joint Report No 161-2004 by the Director of Education and Assistant Chief Executive (Management) asking the Committee to note the continuation and extension of funding for the Active Schools Programme and to approve the establishment of a number of fixed term posts to take forward this initiative until March 2007.

The Committee agreed to approve the establishment of the following posts on a 3 year fixed term basis:

(i) Active Primary School Co-ordinators (7), grade AP5, 22,393 - 24,396 per annum;

(ii) Lead Active Primary School Co-ordinator, grade PO1-4, 24,888-27,015.

II HOUSING DEPARTMENT - ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR TEAM - STRUCTURE AND SERVICE DELIVERY

There was submitted Joint Report No. 171-2004 by the Director of Housing and Assistant Chief Executive (Management) seeking the Committee's approval to restructure the Anti-Social Behaviour Team following a review by the Director of Housing and the Assistant Chief Executive (Management).

The Committee approved the following recommendations:-

(i) the establishment of one post of Senior Investigation Officer, graded AP4 19,632 - 21,732;

(ii) one post of Senior Investigation Officer graded AP3, 17,340 - 19,029 be regraded to AP4, 19,632 - 21,732.

(iii) six posts of Investigation Officer, graded AP2, 15,582 - 16,866 be regraded to AP3, 17,340 - 19,029.

(iv) one post of Investigation Officer graded AP2 15,582 - 16,866 be deleted.

(v) the establishment of three Assistant Investigation Officers, graded AP1, 14,211 - 15,204 for a temporary period of two years.

III SOCIAL WORK DEPARTMENT - EAST PORT HOUSE PROBATION HOSTEL - STAFFING STRUCTURE

There was submitted Joint Report No 173-2004 by the Director of Social Work and the Assistant Chief Executive (Management) seeking approval for proposed changes to the staffing structure of East Port House.

The Committee agreed to approve:-

(i) The establishment of one post of Senior Social Care Officer, graded Residential Grade SCP27-30, 19,632 - 21,732

(ii) The redesignation of one post of Social Care Officer, graded Residential Grade SCP16-23, 14,535 - 17,340, to Senior Social Care officer, graded Residential Grade SCP27-30, 19,632 - 21,732

(iii) The establishment of one part-time (18.5 hours) post of Social Care Officer, graded Residential Grade SCP16-23, 14,535 - 17,340;

(iv) the revised structure as outlined in Appendix 2 of the report.

IV THE COUNCIL'S CORPORATE HEALTH AND SAFETY PLAN 2004-2005

There was submitted Report No 186-2004 by the Assistant Chief Executive (Management) seeking approval of the Corporate Health and Safety Plan for 2004 and 2005.

The Committee agreed to approve the plan which outlined the Council's approach to meeting the challenges of the Government's "Revitalising Health and Safety" strategy.

V ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND TRADING STANDARDS DEPARTMENT - ESTABLISHMENT OF POST

There was submitted Agenda Note AN128-2004 asking the Committee to approve the establishment of a post of Trading Standards Officer graded AP5-PO6 (22,398-28,578).

The post was required to meet additional work arising from the Enterprise Act 2002 which came into force in June 2003 and contained substantive consumer and competition reforms.

The cost of this post would be met substantially by a grant of 24,000 from the Department of Trade and Industry and any shortfall could be met from the Environmental Health and Trading Standards Department's budget.

The Committee approved the recommendation accordingly.

VI HOUSING DEPARTMENT - EXTENSION OF FIXED TERM POSTS, TENANCY SUPPORT SERVICE (HOUSINGSUPPORT UNIT)

There was submitted Agenda Note AN129-2004 advising the Committee that at its meeting on 13th January, 2003 the Committee approved the establishment of a number of fixed term posts for a period of 12 months to 31st March, 2004.

Funding for this service would be in place from the Supporting People Grant until 31st March, 2005 and accordingly the Committee was asked to approve the extension of the following temporary posts until that date:-

(i) One post of Housing Support Co-ordinator, graded AP5 (22,398 - 24,936);

(ii) Six posts of Housing Support Officers, graded AP2 (15,582 - 16,866); and

(iii) One post of Assistant Housing Officer, graded GS3 (13,650 - 14,211).

All costs would be met from Supporting People Grant. There would be no implications for the Housing Revenue Account or Council Tax.

The Committee approved the recommendation accordingly.

VII SOCIAL WORK DEPARTMENT - ESTABLISHMENT OF POSTS

There was submitted Agenda Note AN130-2004 advising the Committee that at its meeting of 10th February, 2003 the Committee approved the establishment of a number of temporary posts for a period of 12 months to assist with hospital discharge.

The Committee was asked to approve the establishment of these posts on a permanent basis as follows:-

(i) 3 posts of Social Care Organiser, graded Residential Grade SCP27-30, 19,632 - 21,732; and

(ii) 4 posts of Care Manager, graded AP4/5 + 1, 19,632 - 24,888.

The establishment of these posts would ensure an appropriate level of staff to maintain the process of assessment and service provision for people leaving hospital.

The cost of this would be met from resources allocated to Social Work to improve community care infrastructure.

The Committee approved accordingly.

VIII LEISURE AND ARTS DEPARTMENT - ESTABLISHMENT OF FIXED TERM POST

There was submitted Agenda Note AN108-2004 seeking approval for the establishment of a fixed term post of Landscape Architect, graded AP4, 19,632 - 21,732, until 31st March, 2005.

The post would be based within the Landscape Design Team of the Environmental Section of the Leisure and Arts Department.

It was noted that the post was required for the period of 1st April 2004 until 31st March 2005 to cope with the projected high workload of the Landscape Design Team in fulfilling the Department's capital spend in 2004/2005.

The cost of this post would be 24,744 and would be met from within the Department's existing revenue budgets in 2004/2005.

The Committee approved accordingly.

IX COMMUNITIES DEPARTMENT - REGRADING OF POST

There was submitted Agenda Note AN109-2004 advising the Committee that at the request of the Head of Communities, the Assistant Chief Executive (Management) had reviewed the duties and responsibilities of the post of Co-ordinator in the Xplore Social Inclusion Partnership Project.

As a consequence of this review, the Assistant Chief Executive (Management) recommended that to reflect the level of the duties and responsibilities, the post of Co-ordinator should be regraded from PO5-8, 27,873 - 30,060 to PO7-10, 29,313 - 31,536.

The cost of implementing these recommendations would be 162 inclusive of employer's costs, in the current financial year and 1,942 in a full financial year. These costs would be met from the department's Social Inclusion Partnership Fund administered by the Communities Department.

The Committee approved the recommendation detailed.

X COMMUNITIES DEPARTMENT - LITERACIES INITIATIVE - EXTENSION TO FIXED TERM POST

There was submitted Agenda Note AN110-2004, giving reference to the meeting of 19th August, 2002 where the Committee approved an extension to the hours of work of the Section Leader (Literacies) by 7.25 hours per week.

It was noted that the Communities Department had secured additional funding from the Scottish Executive in respect of their co-ordination role for this initiative. The Committee was therefore asked to approve the extension of the working arrangements for the Section Leader (Literacies) until 31st March 2006 with the option of allocating an additional 7.25 hours per week, subject to demand, it being noted that there would be financial implications arising from this proposal.

The Committee approved accordingly.

XI PERSONNEL DEPARTMENT - CHANGES TO ESTABLISHMENT

There was submitted Agenda Note AN111-2004 advising the Committee that at its meeting of 10th November, 2003 the Personnel and Management Services Committee considered Report No 669-2003, by the Assistant Chief Executive (Management) and approved changes to the establishment and a revised senior management structure for the Personnel Department.

Subsequent to that report being approved, a senior officer in the department submitted a request for flexible working in accordance with the Council's procedure.

Having considered the circumstances, the Assistant Chief Executive (Management) decided that the request could be accommodated but that the senior management structure would have to be changed. The proposed changes were the subject of consultation with all of the department's employees and the trade unions, and no adverse comments were received.

Accordingly, it was proposed to redesignate the post of Personnel Section Leader to Personnel Team Leader and to regrade the post from PO15-19, 35,343 - 37,933, to PO11-14, 32,244 - 34,554. It was further proposed to redesignate 2 posts of Senior Personnel Officer to Personnel Team Leader and to regrade these posts from PO8-11, 30,060 - 32,244 to PO11-14, 32,244 - 34,554.

These grade changes would result in a saving of 1,900 including employer's costs in a full financial year. This saving would be re-invested in staff resources within the department.

The Committee approved accordingly.

XII WASTE MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND TRADING STANDARDS DEPARTMENT- REDESIGNATION AND REGRADING OF POST

There was submitted Agenda Note AN131-2004 advising the Committee that at its meeting of 30th June, 2003, the Committee considered Report No. 437-2003 (Environmental and Consumer Protection - The Future) and agreed that the former Environmental and Consumer Protection Department should be split in two: Waste Management and Environmental Health & Trading Standards.

At that time, the Committee was advised that work was being carried out to establish the split between administrative, clerical and support staff. As part of that exercise, it had been established that additional responsibilities would fall to 3 posts.

Accordingly, the Assistant Chief Executive (Management) recommended that to reflect the changes in roles and additional responsibilities, the post of Financial Administration Officer in Waste Management should be regarded from AP2, 15,582 - 16,866, to AP3, 17,340 - 19,029; and that the post of Administrative Assistant in Environmental Health & Trading Standards should be redesignated to Administration Team Leader and be regraded from AP2 to AP3. In addition, it was recommended that the post of Clerical Assistant (Property) in the Waste Management Department be redesignated to Property Assistant and that this post be regraded from GS1/2, 10,068 - 13,416 to AP1, 14,211 - 15,204.

The total cost of implementing these proposals would be 3,480 inclusive of employer's costs in a full financial year and this could be contained within the departments' Revenue Budgets.

The Committee agreed to approve the recommendations.

LORD PROVOST JOHN R LETFORD, Convener.