Policy And Resources Committee - 19/04/2004

At a MEETING of the FINANCE COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 19th April, 2004.

 

Present:-

 

Lord Provost John R LETFORD

 

 

 

BAILIES

 

Helen WRIGHT

Neil I C POWRIE

Bruce D MACKIE

John CORRIGAN

 

Ian BORTHWICK

 

COUNCILLORS

 

Jill SHIMI

Fraser MACPHERSON

Christina ROBERTS

Kevin KEENAN

Helen DICK

Jim BARRIE

George REGAN

Nigel DON

Will DAWSON

Julia M STURROCK

Bob DUNCAN

Elizabeth F FORDYCE

Fiona M GRANT

Richard BEATTIE

Roderick A J WALLACE

Christopher HIND

Andrew DAWSON

Charles A WEBSTER

Joe MORROW

Willie W SAWERS

Derek J SCOTT

 

Joe FITZPATRICK

 

 

 

Councillor George REGAN, 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 SUPERANNUATION INVESTMENT SUB-COMMITTEE

 

The minute of meeting of the Superannuation Investment Sub-Committee of 25th February, 2004, a copy of which is appended hereto, was submitted for information and record purposes.

 

II RELIEF OF RATES CHARITY RELIEF

 

Councillor Sturrock declared a non-financial interest in the Furniture Project Tayside by virtue of being the Council representative on the Board of Management.

 

There was submitted Report No 292-2004 by the Depute Chief Executive (Finance) seeking authorisation to grant charity relief on the undernoted non-domestic properties:-

 

Applicant

Subjects

 

 

The Furniture Project Tayside

Workshop, Burnside Mill, Milne's East Wynd, Dundee

 

 

Signpost International Ltd

Church & Hall, Ann Street, Dundee

 

 

Dundee Sailing Club

Sports Centre, Grassy Beach, Broughty Ferry, Dundee

 

 

Hillcrest Housing Association

Store/Workshop, North Tay Complex, Unit B, Balfield Road, Dundee

 

Positive Steps Partnership

Office, Meadow Mill Unit 16, Henderson's Wynd, Dundee

 

 

Dundee Science Centre

Car Park, Science Centre West, Greenmarket, Dundee

 

 

Dundee Science Centre

Car Park, Science Centre East, Marketgait, Dundee

 

 

Dundee Science Centre

Car Park, Dundee Contemporary Arts Centre, Marketgait, Dundee

 

The Committee approved accordingly.

 

III SCOTTISH LOW PAY UNIT

 

After considering Agenda Note AN174-2004, the Committee authorised the payment of a grant of 4,300 to the Scottish Low Pay Unit.

 

IV CIPFA ANNUAL CONFERENCE

 

It was reported that the CIPFA Annual Conference would be held in Brighton from 15th to 17th June, 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 560 per delegate.

 

V REVENUES DIVISION REPLACEMENT OF LASER PRINTER

 

There was submitted Report No 160-2004 by the Depute Chief Executive (Finance) seeking authorisation to replace the Finance Department's Xerox 4890 laser printer with a Xerox DP92C laser printer for the printing of documentation in respect of Council Tax, Poll Tax and Non-Domestic Rates.

 

The Committee authorised the Depute Chief Executive (Finance) to enter into a five year rental agreement with Xerox (UK) Limited for a Xerox DP92C laser printer to replace the Xerox 4890 printer at an annual rental cost of 27,104 per annum over five years and based on current print volumes the quarterly cost for copy charges plus service and maintenance would be 6,748.

 

VI DUNDEE CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU

 

Councillor Keenan declared a non-financial interest in this item by virtue of being the Council's representative on the Bureau Management Committee.

 

After considering Report No 255-2004 by the Depute Chief Executive (Finance) the Committee authorised the payment of a grant of 106,000.

 

VII HOSPITAL FUND AND JOHNSTON BEQUEST

 

There was submitted Report No 281-2004 by the Depute Chief Executive (Finance) advising the Committee of the additional income likely to be available in 2004/05 from the above funds for distribution to pensioners in financial need.

 

The Committee approved the issue of one application form per elected member in order that they may identify constituents within their ward for receipt of a pension from the above funds.

VIII ROYAL BRITISH LEGION SCOTLAND DUNDEE FESTIVAL OF REMEMBRANCE

 

There was submitted Agenda Note AN175-2004 intimating that a request had been received from the Royal British Legion Scotland to meet the cost of hiring the Caird Hall Complex on 6th November, 2004 for the Dundee Festival of Remembrance at an estimated cost of 800, together with ancillary costs.

 

The Committee approved accordingly.

 

IX DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL ANNUAL ACCOUNTS 2002/03

 

(a) AUDITED ABSTRACT OF ACCOUNTS

 

The above accounts were submitted and noted (Report No 282-2004).

 

(b) DIRECT SERVICES ORGANISATIONS ANNUAL REPORTS AND ACCOUNTS

 

The above accounts were submitted and noted (Report No 283-2004).

 

(c) DIRECT LABOUR ORGANISATION ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS

 

The above accounts were submitted and noted (Report No 284-2004).

 

In addition, it was noted that the report to members by the Council's External Auditor on the audit for Dundee City Council for the year to 31st March, 2004 had not yet been received and would be submitted to Committee at a later date together with the Depute Chief Executive's (Finance) response to the External Auditor's report.

 

X ELECTED MEMBERS' TELEPHONE EXPENSES

 

There was submitted Agenda Note AN170-2004 relative to the payment of telephone allowances to elected members under Section 69 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973.

 

The Committee agreed to increase the allowance to 315.

 

 

 

GEORGE REGAN, Convener.

APPENDIX