Policy And Resources Committee - 13/12/2004

At a MEETING of the POLICY AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 13th December 2004.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Councillor Jill SHIMI, Convener, in the Chair.

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

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I MINUTE OF BEST VALUE SUB-COMMITTEE

The minute of meeting of the Best Value Sub-Committee of 11th November 2004, a copy of which is appended hereto, was submitted for information and record purposes.

II COMMUNITY HEALTH PARTNERSHIP DEVELOPMENT

There was submitted Report No 835-2004 by the Assistant Chief Executive (Community Planning) advising the Committee of the statutory development of Community Health Partnerships and the role of the Council within this development.

The Committee:-

(i) noted the statutory development of Community Health Partnerships;

(ii) approved progress made in the Development of Community Health Partnerships;

(iii) approved Council membership of the Dundee Community Health Partnership; and

(iv)remitted to the Assistant Chief Executive (Community Planning) to produce an updated report in March 2005 confirming a phased approach over a twelve month period towards the development of a Dundee Community Health Partnership.

In addition, it was agreed that the Convener of Social Work, Chief Executive and Director of Social Work, or their representatives, be appointed to serve on the Community Health Partnership Committee.

III RECYCLING OF IT EQUIPMENT

On a reference to Article I of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 16th December 2002 there was submitted Report No 799-2004 by the Head of Information Technology proposing an extension of the current contract with Computer Recycling Services until December 2005 for the recycling of IT equipment within the context of the forthcoming WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electric Equipment) Directive.

The Committee approved accordingly.

IV CONSULTATION ON DRAFT GUIDANCE ON THE ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR ETC (SCOTLAND) ACT 2004 -SECTIONS 136 AND 137

There was submitted Report No 800-2004 by the Head of Communities and the Assistant Chief Executive (Community Planning) relative to the above consultation.

The Committee approved the report as the Council's submission to the Scottish Executive on the draft guidance to the legislation outlined in Sections 136 and 137 and agreed to use the final Scottish Executive published guidance as a basis for development and public consultation on an Anti-Social Behaviour Strategy for the Council by 31st March 2005.

V FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUESTS - CHARGING OF FEES

There was submitted Report No 840-2004 by the Depute Chief Executive (Support Services) relative to the above.

The Committee agreed:-

(i)that the Council charge for responding to Freedom of Information requests where it was permitted to do so (unless the Depute Chief Executive (Support Services), in consultation with the Depute Chief Executive (Finance), decided in a particular case that it would be inappropriate to do so) and that the Depute Chief Executive (Support Services), in consultation with the Depute Chief Executive (Finance), be authorised to determine the fee chargeable for each request on behalf of the Council; and

(ii)that the Depute Chief Executive (Support Services), in consultation with the Depute Chief Executive (Finance), be given delegated authority to decide whether or not to respond to requests for information where the projected costs of doing so would exceed the prescribed amount (currently 600).

VI CORPORATE CUSTOMER SERVICE TEAM

There was submitted Report No 125-2004 by the Chief Executive and the Assistant Chief Executive (Management) proposing the establishment of a Corporate Customer Service Team based on the existing operation on Floor 2 of Tayside House.

The Committee so far as its interests were concerned approved the establishment of a Corporate Customer Service Team within the Support Services Department and remitted consideration of the staffing issues to the Personnel Committee.

VII AUDIT OF BEST VALUE AND COMMUNITY PLANNING

There was submitted Agenda Note AN463-2004 intimating that the Local Government in Scotland Act 2003 introduced new statutory requirements for Scottish Local Authorities including duties relating to Best Value and Community Planning. The Accounts Commission held Councils to account in relation to these duties and Audit Scotland was conducting Audits of Best Value (including the other duties contained in the Act) on the Commission's behalf.

Audit Scotland was currently undertaking a Best Value Audit of every Council in Scotland over the next three years. Dundee City Council was amongst the first tranche of Councils to be audited with Angus Council being the first Council to undergo an audit which was completed and published on 29th September 2004.

Dundee's audit was scheduled to begin in January 2005. As a start to the process, Officers of the Council had been asked to produce a high level self-assessment of how it was meeting its statutory duties of Best Value and Community Planning and how the services it delivered were performing. The Council would also be asked to identify the main areas where improvements should be made.

In order to assist the Chief Executive and Management Team in responding to the audit it was recommended that a Best Value Advisory Group, consisting of the Chief Executive (Chair) and one elected member from each of the political groups, be set up on a similar basis to that established in regard to the Local Government Boundary Commission.

The Committee approved accordingly.

JILL SHIMI, Convener.

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