Recess Sub-committee - 19/07/2004

At a MEETING of the RECESS SUB-COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 19th July, 2004.

Present:-

BAILIE

COUNCILLORS

Councillor Fiona GRANT, Convener, in the Chair.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I CHARGES FOR ADDITIONAL NURSERY SERVICES

After considering Agenda Note AN282-2004, the Sub-Committee approved the introduction of the revised charges outlined below from the start of the new school session on 17th August, 2004.

In addition, it was noted that some additional nursery provision would be available from 8.00 am until 6.00 pm from August, 2004 in areas where there was sufficient demand, and that further approval would be sought at a later date from the Education Committee for revised charges to take account of this development.

II STOPPING-UP OF CAMPERDOWN STREET

Reference was made to Article VIII of the minute of meeting of the Planning and Transportation Committee of 27th May, 2003, wherein the preparation of a Stopping-Up Order was approved.

There was submitted Agenda Note AN284-2004 intimating that Tayside Regional Council closed Camperdown Street in 1994, but it was agreed with an objector that the gates would be left open for pedestrian traffic. This arrangement was reconsidered in the context of the PPP Project as it pertained to the extension of the refurbishment of Grove Academy. The current view was taken that a further Stopping-Up Order should be made to formally close the route to pedestrian access.

The Order was advertised and four objections were received and it was referred to the Scottish Executive.

The Scottish Executive had advised that as the 1994 Order did not reserve a means of passage for pedestrians, it was in fact stopped-up at that time and it was unnecessary for a further Order to be made.

The Sub-Committee agreed that the Council should now proceed to simply close the access and it be remitted to the Depute Chief Executive (Support Services) to notify the objectors.

III ROSEMOUNT ROAD COMPULSORY PURCHASE ORDER 2004

On a reference to Article XII of the minute of meeting of the Planning and Transportation Committee of 26th April, 2004, the Sub-Committee resolved, as they hereby do resolve, to make and enact the above Order, a copy of which is appended hereto.

IV 29 - 31 HONEYGREEN ROAD - ALTERATIONS TO FORM HOMELESS ACCOMMODATION

There was submitted Report No 472-2004 by the Director of Housing and City Architectural Services Officer, seeking approval for the conversion of existing flats into homeless accommodation and associated office space and security measures.

The Sub-Committee approved the undernoted:-

(a) the conversion of the existing flats into homeless accommodation and associated office space and security measures at an estimated total cost of 407,000 inclusive of allowances and professional fees;

(b) the City Architectural Services Officer to negotiate a contract within the overall allowance under partnering arrangements with Dundee Contract Services and the Depute Chief Executive (Support Services) in conjunction with the Director of Housing to accept the offer recommended by the City Architectural Services Officer.

V QUALITY OF LIFE - HOUSING FOOTPATH REPAIRS CONTRACTS 3 AND 5

There was submitted Report No 522-2004 by the City Engineer relative to the above.

(i) QUALITY OF LIFE - HOUSING FOOTPATH REPAIRS CONTRACT 3

The Sub-Committee agreed to accept the lowest offer received being that from Tayside Contracts amounting to 70,370.54 to which required to be added the undernoted allowances:-

Making a total expenditure of 86,500.

(ii) QUALITY OF LIFE - HOUSING FOOTPATH REPAIRS CONTRACT 5

The Sub-Committee agreed to accept the lowest offer received being that from Torith Limited amounting to 167,491.10 to which required to be added the undernoted allowances:-

Making a total expenditure of 194,000.

VI SINGLE STATUS JOB EVALUATION PROJECT

There was submitted Report No 440-2004 by the Assistant Chief Executive (Management), outlining the action required to enable the Single Status Job Evaluation Project to progress in a manner that would allow all of the evaluations to be completed by March, 2006.

The Sub-Committee agreed that:-

(a) a dedicated team of eight full-time Job Analysts be established;

(b) the team be recruited as soon as possible;

(c) the team operates until March, 2006 to enable all remaining post types to be interviewed;

(d) the project and team be managed by officers from the Personnel Department;

(e) appropriate accommodation be identified for the team;

(f) the team should be trained in the COSLA job evaluation scheme by end of August, 2004;

(g) Personnel Department Officers meet with trade union representatives to agree posts which do not require to be evaluated due to their similarity with posts previously evaluated;

(h) verification of job evaluation information with senior officers in departments takes place early in the next phase of the project to allow any additional interviews to be added into the plan;

(i) SSJE becomes a standing item on the agenda of the Council Management Team to report progress on the exercise;

(j) regular progress reports be submitted to the Personnel Committee;

(k) a senior officer (not below second tier level) be identified by each Chief Officer to be responsible for driving forward SSJE in their department (nominated persons to be given training on the COSLA scheme to allow them to work with the Analyst team on confirmation of job evaluation results);

(l) procedural recommendations set out in Appendix 2 be adopted and adhered to;

(m) the SSJE project be used as an opportunity for the Assistant Chief Executive (Management) to discuss apparent anomalies with management and trade unions, in an effort to resolve these (eg organisational structures); and

(n) the Assistant Chief Executive (Management) be remitted to bring forward proposals to achieve other identified phases of the SSJE project (eg pay modelling development, negotiation on changes to terms and conditions, appeals, processing, etc).

VII COMMUNITIES DEPARTMENT - CHANGES TO STRUCTURE

Reference was made to Article V of the minute of meeting of the Personnel and Management Services Committee of 15th April, 2002, wherein the Committee approved a review of manual staff.

There was submitted Agenda Note AN285-2004 intimating that the service provided at the Hub Neighbourhood Centre and Library had recently been reviewed and the building redesignated The Hub Library and Learning Centre.

Following the above redesignation of the Centre, a further review of the deployment of Resources Assistants across departmental locations was undertaken. It was noted that the provision of the service could be met more efficiently by making some amendments to the current allocation of working hours of the Resources Assistants across specific locations. The Sub-Committee was asked to approve the following amendments to the current establishment:-

(a) The deletion of one post of Resources Assistant, GS1/2 (10,068 - 13,416), based at The Hub Library and Learning Centre.

(b) The establishment of one part-time (8 hours) post of Resources Assistant, graded GS1/2 (10,068 - 13,416 pro rata), based at The Hub Library and Learning Centre.

(c) Relief cover was required within all centres for annual and sick leave. At present, there were eleven relief posts of Resources Assistant, graded GS1/2 (10,068 - 13,416 pro rata), each covering 20 hours per week and three full-time relief pool staff. It was proposed that an additional part-time (20 hours) post of Relief Resources Assistant, graded GS1/2 (10,068 - 13,416 pro rata), be established to provide adequate cover.

(d) The locations at Finmill Centre and Fintry Library were geographically separate buildings and currently had Resources Assistant cover for 20 hours per week. In order to improve the service and to provide a degree of overlap for staff at critical times of the day and week, it was proposed to increase the hours of the part-time post of the Resources Assistant based at Finmill Centre and Fintry Library from 20 to 24 per week, GS1/2 (10,068 - 13,416 pro rata).

(e) The locations at Menzieshill Centre and Library were geographically separate buildings and currently had Resources Assistant cover for 20 hours per week. In order to improve the service and allow for a degree of overlap for staff at critical times of the day and week, it was proposed to increase the hours of the part-time post of Resources Assistant based at Menzieshill Centre and Library from 20 to 25 per week, GS1/2, (10,068 - 13,416 pro rata).

The Sub-Committee approved accordingly.

VIII SCOTTISH PLANNING TRANSPORT STUDIES GROUP CONFERENCE ON TICKETING, FARES AND INFORMATION: THE CHALLENGE OF INTEGRATION

There was submitted Agenda Note AN286-2004 intimating that the above conference would be held in Dundee on 21st September, 2004.

The Sub-Committee approved, an estimated cost of 500 associated with providing the venue in Dundee and approved the attendance of any interested member.

The Convener 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.

IX REMOVAL OF ASBESTOS - 1 - 36 AND 133 - 168 ABERLADY CRESCENT

After considering Report No 493-2004 by the City Engineer, the Sub-Committee agreed to accept the offer from Dundee Plant Co Ltd to carry out the above work for the sum of 274,591.00 together with an allowance of 24,418.00 for security, making a total of 299,009.00.

The Sub-Committee resolved under Section 50(A)(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 that the press and 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 and 9 of Part I of Schedule 7A of the Act.

X SCOTTISH WATER PREMISES - RIVERSIDE DRIVE

After considering Report No 516-2004 by the Director of Economic Development relative to the above, the Sub-Committee approved the terms of the report and it was remitted to the Depute Chief Executive (Support Services) to conclude the purchase of the above premises from Scottish Water.

FIONA GRANT, Convener.

APPENDIX

THE TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING (SCOTLAND) ACT 1997 AND THE

ACQUISITION OF LAND (AUTHORISATION PROCEDURE) (SCOTLAND) ACT 1947

Dundee City Council (hereinafter referred to as "the acquiring authority") in exercise of the powers conferred by Section 189 of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 hereby make the following compulsory purchase order -

1. This Order may be cited as the Rosemount Road Compulsory Purchase Order 2004.

2. Subject to the provisions of this Order, the acquiring authority are hereby authorised to purchase compulsorily for the purpose of securing the development, redevelopment and improvement of the houses which are described in the Schedule hereto and which are situated on the land delineated and coloured red on the map signed with reference to this Order and marked "Map referred to in the Rosemount Road Compulsory Purchase Order 2004".

3. In relation to the foregoing purchase Section 70 of the Railways Clauses Consolidation (Scotland) Act 1845 and sections 71 to 78 of that Act as originally enacted and not as amended for certain purposes by section 15 of the Mines (Working Facilities and Support) Act 1923 are hereby incorporated with the enactment under which the said purchase is authorised, subject to the modifications that references in the said section (5) to the company shall be construed as references to the said acquiring authority and references to the railway or works shall be construed as references to the land authorised to be purchased and any buildings or works constructed or to be constructed thereon.

Made at Dundee on the Nineteenth day of July 2004.

SCHEDULE

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