Policy And Resources Committee - 18/10/2004

At a MEETING of the PERSONNEL COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 18th October 2004.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

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

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 20th September 2004 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I MINUTE OF MEETING OF PERSONNEL APPEALS SUB-COMMITTEE OF 6TH SEPTEMBER, 2004

The minute of meeting of the Personnel Appeals Sub-Committee of 6th September 2004, a copy of which is appended hereto, was submitted for information.

II DEVELOPMENT OF THE HOMECARE SERVICE - SOCIAL CARE SUPPORT

On a reference to Article I of the minute of meeting of the Social Work Committee of 18th October 2004 there was submitted Joint Report No 651-2004 by the Director of Social Work and Assistant Chief Executive (Management) proposing detailed financial and staffing arrangements for the ongoing development and extension of social care support in the community provided by both the Social Work Department's Home Care Service and external providers.

The Committee approved:-

(i) the establishment of 708 Social Care Worker hours per week (19.14 FTE), SCP16-23, 14,535 - 17,340;

(ii) the establishment of a post of Clerical Assistant, graded GS1/2, 10,068 - 13,416.

III SOCIAL WORK DEPARTMENT - STAFF DEVELOPMENT SERVICE

There was submitted Joint Report No 598-2004 by the Director of Social Work and Assistant Chief Executive (Management) proposing a revised structure for the Social Work Staff Development Service to meet the training and development needs arising from changes in the environment in which social work operates.

The Committee approved:-

(i) the deletion of four vacant posts of Staff Development Officer graded PO1-4 (24,888-27,015);

(ii) the establishment of one post of Staff Development Officer (Practice Learning) graded PO1-4 (24,888 - 27,015) for a fixed term period of two years.

IV HOUSING DEPARTMENT - FUTURE OF HAPPYHILLOCK AND WHITFIELD HOUSING OFFICES AND REPLACEMENT OFFICEACCOMMODATION

On a reference to Article II of the minute of meeting of the Housing Committee of 18th October 2004 there was submitted Joint Report No 510-2004 by the Director of Housing and Assistant Chief Executive (Management) proposing the merging of Happyhillock and Whitfield Offices, decentralising additional Housing Department services into one centre and relocating all to new accommodation in Mid Craigie.

The Committee approved:-

(i) the deletion of the post of Team Leader (Whitfield Sub Office) graded AP5, 22,958 - 25,006;

(ii) the deletion of the post of Assistant Housing Officer graded GS1/2, 10,320 - 13,751;

(iii) the deletion of the part-time post of Assistant Housing Officer graded GS3, 6,876 - 7,283.

V PUBLIC HOLIDAYS CHRISTMAS 2004/NEW YEAR 2005

There was submitted Joint Report No 703-2004 by the Chief Executive and Assistant Chief Executive (Management) advising the Committee of the discussions held between management and trade unions and the results of an employee survey, and seeking approval for a change in the public holidays.

The Committee noted the contents of the report and, for this Christmas and New Year only, approved the transfer of the third public holiday at the New Year (scheduled for Wednesday, 5th January 2005) to Friday, 24th December 2004.

VI ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT - CHANGES TO ESTABLISHMENT

There was submitted Agenda Note AN368-2004 advising that the Director of Economic Development and the Assistant Chief Executive (Management) had reviewed the staffing requirements of the Estates Section and that, as a result of this review, it had become apparent that in order to continue to provide an effective service there was a requirement for the current part time post of Estates Surveyor to be made full time.

The Committee approved an increase in hours from part-time (23 hours per week) to full-time of one vacant post of Estates Surveyor (ED55), graded AP5-PO4 (22,398-27,015) having noted that this post would be filled by a recently qualified existing member of staff, and that the costs, including employer's costs would amount to 3,265 in the current financial year and 8,270 for a full financial year thereafter.

VII ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT - WORKING FOR FAMILIES FUND - CHANGES TO ESTABLISHMENT

There was submitted Agenda Note AN369-2004 whereby reference was made to Article I of the minute of the meeting of this Committee of 21st June 2004, which approved the temporary establishment of a Working for Families Co-ordinator, grade AP5, 22,398 - 24,396, and a Working for Families Finance/Administrative Officer, graded AP2, 15,582 - 16,866, until 31st March 2006.

To overcome recruitment difficulties experienced in relation to the Co-ordinator post, a review of the duties and responsibilities of the post had been undertaken and confirmed that the majority of duties could be undertaken by an additional Finance/Administrative Officer post, graded AP2, 15,582 - 16,866, with key strategic elements of the project being delivered by a Senior Policy Officer within the Economic Development Department.

In light of this, the Committee approved the deletion of one post of Working for Families Co‑ordinator, graded AP5, 22,398 - 24,396, and the establishment of one additional temporary post of Working for Families Finance/Administrative Officer, graded AP2, 15,582 - 16,866, until 31st March 2006.

VIII COMMUNITIES DEPARTMENT - ALLOCATION OF ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FOR WORK WITH YOUNG PEOPLE - CHANGES TOESTABLISHMENT

There was submitted Agenda Note AN370-2004 whereby reference was made to Article II of the minute of the meeting of this Committee of 21st June 2004, wherein a report on the Allocation of Additional Resources for Work with Young People was approved.

It was reported that one of the recommendations outlined in this report had been the mainstreaming and establishment of a fixed term post of Youth Worker graded Community Education Worker (17,340 - 22,398) from 1 April 2005.

The Committee agreed that the establishment of this post be brought forward to this financial year, starting in January 2005 to enable further development work in an area which was under-resourced.

IX COMMUNITIES DEPARTMENT - ESTABLISHMENT OF POST OF OUTDOOR EDUCATION WORKER

There was submitted Agenda Note AN371-2004 advising that due to the withdrawal of Fairbridge Scotland from the Better Neighbourhood Support Fund (BNSF) for young people, the Outdoor Education Service offered by this organisation had been withdrawn. However, it was proposed that the service should now be provided by the Communities Department through the Ancrum Outdoor Education Service.

The Committee noted that Ancrum already provided services under this programme and agreed to approve the establishment of a post of Outdoor Education Worker at a grade of AP3/4 (17,340 - 21,732) for the period from 1st January 2005 to 30th June 2006, having noted that the cost of the appointment would be 6,091 in 2004/05 and 24,364 in 2005/06 and would be met from the BNSF fund.

X LEISURE AND ARTS DEPARTMENT - ESTABLISHMENT OF POST OF MUSIC SPECIALIST

There was submitted Agenda Note AN372-2004 advising that in February 2003, the Scottish Executive had made 17.5 million available to improve the quality and availability of musical experiences to young people in Scotland.

The Committee noted a proposal for the Early Years Music Club, a six month project to deliver high quality music sessions to parent-toddler groups in Dundee to be delivered by a music specialist employed on a full time basis for a period of 6 months.

The Committee therefore, approved the establishment of a post of Music Specialist, graded AP2/4 (15,582 - 21,732), for a period of six months commencing in January 2005, having noted that the total salary cost for the six month period would be 9,529 and would be met in full through external funding from the Scottish Executive.

XI FINANCE DEPARTMENT - REVENUES DIVISION - ESTABLISHMENT OF POST

There was submitted Agenda Note AN373-2004 whereby wherein reference was made to Article X of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 10th February 2003 wherein approval was given for the establishment of the Revenues Division Enquiry Team.

It was reported that the Enquiry Team currently had 36.5 staff at GS3/AP2 level, supervised by two AP5 staff and The Depute Chief Executive (Finance) and Assistant Chief Executive (Management) were of the opinion that this was an excessive number of staff to manage, and, accordingly, recommended the establishment of a further Supervisor post, grade AP5, 22,398 - 24,396, within the Enquiry Team.

The Committee approved this additional post having noted that the costs would be 12,908 in the current financial year, and 29,036 in a full financial year.

The 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 likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 1 of Part I of Schedule 7A of the Act.

XII SOCIAL WORK DEPARTMENT - APPLICATION FOR REGRADING

There was submitted Agenda Note AN374-2004 advising of an application for regrading from an employee in the Social Work Department.

It was reported that following a review of the duties and responsibilities of the post, the Assistant Chief Executive (Management) confirmed that the application had been substantiated in part and recommended that the post be regraded.

The Committees approved the regrading as detailed in the note.

LORD PROVOST JOHN R LETFORD, Convener