Policy And Resources Committee - 14/06/2004

At a MEETING of the POLICY AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 14th June 2004.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Councillor Shimi, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 10th May, 2004 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I RECESS SUB-COMMITTEE

There was submitted Agenda Note AN498-2004 intimating that the Council's Recess commenced on 3rd July 2004 and ended on 14th August 2004.

To facilitate the smooth continuous conduct of the Council's business it was agreed that a Recess Sub-Committee of the Council be set up to deal with matters of an urgent nature which the Chief Executive or Depute Chief Executive (Support Services) believed cannot wait for the next ordinary meeting of the Committee concerned during that period and its operating arrangements be as follows:-

(i) Membership - 2 members of the Administration, 2 members of the SNP Group, one member of the Conservative Group.

(ii) Chair - Leader of the Administration and Depute Chair - Deputy Leader of the Administration.

(iii) Substitutes - in terms of Standing Order No46(3) it shall be competent for substitutions to be intimated and effected for individual meetings.

(iv) Quorum - 3 members.

(v) Dates - to be arranged on a Monday when required.

(vi) Remit - to deal with any urgent business arising during the recess period.

(vii) Power - full delegated powers to deal with any business laid before it.

II HOUSING CAPITAL BUDGET

There was submitted Report No 408-2004 by the Director of Housing.

The Committee:-

(i) approved the revised Housing Capital Budget for 2004/2005.

(ii) approved the action as detailed in Paragraph 6 of the report.

(iii) instructed the City Architectural Services Officer and City Engineer to invite offers for the projects included in these Capital, Planned Maintenance and Renewal and Repairs Estimates.

(iv) authorised the Director of Housing to accept offers as detailed in Paragraph 6.3 of the report.

III REDUCING SMOKING IN CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE

There was submitted Report No 439-2004 by the Assistant Chief Executive (Community Planning) regarding Smoking Prevention and Cessation Initiatives targeting children and young people.

The Committee:-

(i) approved the Smoking Prevention and Cessation Initiative which progressed Local Authority corporate priorities and joint health improvements and partner organisations and health alliances.

(ii) remitted to the Assistant Chief Executive (Community Planning) to produce an updated report in June 2005 stating progress made in achieving agreed targets with partner organisations and setting output targets for Phase 2 of the Cessation Initiative.

IV NEW OFFICE BUILDING, CLAVERHOUSE INDUSTRIAL PARK EAST, DUNDEE

Reference was made to Article VII of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 8th September 2003 wherein technical officers were authorised to carry out an evaluation process with appropriate Contractors with a view to entering into a Partnership Agreement in respect of the provision of a new office building at Claverhouse Industrial Park East for the Social Work Department.

There was submitted Agenda Note AN246-2004 intimating that suitable contractors completed a questionnaire and were interviewed and as a result Hall & Tawse Ltd trading as Mansell were selected as a preferred contractor. Negotiations were held and an agreed maximum price established which together with fees and other costs was within the total allowance of 3,647.000 excluding an allowance of 100,000 for furniture and equipment.

In view of the timescales involved it was noted that the Director of Economic Development in consultation with the Convener, Councillor Sawers, Macpherson and Bailie Mackie had agreed that it be remitted to the Depute Chief Executive (Supports Services) to award the contract to Hall and Tawse Ltd trading as Mansell on the terms outlined.

V REGULATION OF INVESTIGATORY POWERS ACT 2000 - LAWFUL ACQUISITION AND DISCLOSURE OFCOMMUNICATIONS DATA - SINGLE POINT OF CONTACT

There was submitted Agenda Note AN247-2004 intimating that in view of the timescales involved the Depute Chief Executive (Support Services) in consultation with the Convener, Councillors Barrie, Wallace and Macpherson had agreed that the Legal Manager be designated as a single point of contact for Dundee City Council for the purposes of the above legislation.

VI CONSULTATION ON THE REPORT OF THE SUMMARY JUSTICE REVIEW COMMITTEE

There was submitted Report No 468-2004 by the Depute Chief Executive (Support Services) responding to a Consultation on the Report of the Summary Justice Review Committee.

The Committee agreed that the Report be passed to the Scottish Executive Summary Justice Review Team as this Council's comments on the Report of the Summary Justice Review Committee.

VII FIREWORKS REGULATIONS 2004

There was submitted Report No 486-2004 by the Depute Chief Executive (Support Services) advising the Committee of proposals contained in a consultation document issued by the Department of Trade and Industry and the Scottish Executive to introduce a number of prohibitions on the importation, sale, possession and use of fireworks with the aim of tackling anti-social behaviour.

The Committee agreed that the undernoted resolution be forwarded as this Council's response to the Consultation Document.

"The Committee:-

(i) welcome the opportunity to comment on the Government's proposals to introduce a number of prohibitions on the importation, sale, possession and use of fireworks with the aim of tackling anti-social behaviour;

(ii) confirm the Council's general support for the proposed Regulations but recommend that, rather than a licensing system being introduced only for those who intend to supply fireworks to the public all year round, all suppliers of fireworks should have to apply for a licence;

(iii) note that the Scottish Executive is considering how the proposed possession offences are to be enforced and recommend that the offences are both arrestable and punishable by fixed penalty notices;

(iv) recommend that the proposed curfew should be enforced by the Police and any exemption after 11.00 p.m. should require the consent of the Licensing Committee or authority;

(v) confirm that 120 decibels is the appropriate level at which to set a maximum limit for category 3 fireworks and that the Government's plan to reference the new British Standard (BSEN14035) is the best approach;

(vi) recommend that the proposed Regulations be made as soon as possible in order to reduce the potential that fireworks may be misused in the 2004 fireworks season;

(vii) recommend that the Government monitor the incidence of the anti-social use of fireworks and the number of firework-related injuries after the Regulations come into force and take such further action as may be appropriate to further reduce the incidence of such behaviour and the number of such injuries; and

(viii) seek assurance that the regulations will not apply to Lifeboat Maroons."

VIII GRIEVANCE AND DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURES FOR TEACHERS

There was submitted Agenda Note AN245-2004 relative to the undernoted.

(i) GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE

It was reported that the Dundee Negotiating Committee for Teachers at its meeting held on 1st April 2004 approved a new grievance procedure for teachers and proposed that the remit of the Personnel Appeals Sub-Committee be extended to include Teachers' Grievance Appeals and that the Teacher Grievance Sub-Committee be discontinued.

It was further reported that the procedures and timetable for dealing with these appeals required to be approved by the Personnel Appeals Sub-Committee.

(ii) DISMISSAL OF TEACHERS

The Dundee Negotiating Committee for Teachers (DNCT) at its meeting held on 20th February 2004 approved a new disciplinary procedure for teachers which would enable the Director of Education to dismiss teachers as opposed to the Dismissal of Teachers Sub-Committee. The DNCT also agreed that appeals against the Director's decision would now be heard by the Personnel Appeals Sub-Committee. Again the procedures and timetable for dealing with the appeals required to be approved by the Personnel Appeals Sub-Committee.

The Committee as far as its interests was concerned approved the above changes and remitted to the Depute Chief Executive (Support Services) to make the necessary changes to Standing Orders, the Scheme of Delegation to Officers and any other changes that may be necessary.

IX LOCAL COMMUNITY PLANS (LCPs)

There was submitted Report No 410-2004 by the Assistant Chief Executive (Community Planning) and Head of Communities relative to the above.

The Committee approved the undernoted:-

(i) noted the rationale, structure and processes underpinning the development LCPs.

(ii) recognised the high level of collaboration, co-operation and support between Dundee City Council, partner agencies and community stakeholders in the development of LPCs.

(iii) referred the draft summary documents for publication to the Dundee Partnership Management Group.

(iv) agreed that Dundee City Council should continue to work with public, private and voluntary sector agencies in partnership with local communities to address the long-term aspirations, needs and issues identified in each LCPs.

(v) referred the responsibility for monitoring the implementation of LCPs and the annual update of targets to the Neighbourhood Partnership Network for each decentralisation area.

(vi) instructed the Head of Communities to report progress on the implementation of LCPs annually during the period 2004-2007.

X APPLICATION FOR BETTER NEIGHBOURHOOD SERVICES FUNDING - NEIGHBOURHOOD POLICE OFFICERS

There was submitted Report No 359-2004 by the Assistant Chief Executive (Community Planning) and Head of Communities seeking approval for a funding proposal to improve police services within Kirkton and Hilltown Communities.

The Committee approved the funding set out in the report.

XI DUNDEE DISCOVERY CARD

On a reference to Article I of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 10th May, 2004 there was submitted Report No 364-2004 by the Chief Executive presenting the findings of the Consultation Report on the Dundee Discovery Card Project.

The Committee:-

(i) agreed to the development of the Dundee Discovery Card Scheme as set out in this report including the establishment of the project board and operations group.

(ii) instructed the Assistant Chief Executive (Management) to report to the Personnel Committee on the creation of the Dundee Discovery card operations group consisting of the four posts set out in section 8 of this report.

(iii) approved the partnership approach to develop the card scheme with neighbouring authorities, universities, transport operations and the national consortium of other local authorities pursuing similar schemes.

(iv) agreed that the Dundee Discovery Card should now be promoted to all citizens and include the additional leisure, library, parking, rent card applications from the Council.

XII COUNCIL PLAN 2003-2007 - PROGRESS REPORT

On a reference to Article I of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 20th October, 2003 there was submitted Report No 455-2004 by the Assistant Chief Executive (Community Planning) setting out progress to date with the objectives, projects and reviews contained in the Council Plan 2003-2007.

The Committee:-

(i) noted the contents of this report, including the tables which detailed the progress made on the Council Plan 2003-2007.

(ii) agreed that, as part of the commitment to Public Performance Reporting, this information on progress be added to the copy of the Council Plan which appeared on the Council website, and copies of this report be made available to partner organisations and local groups on request.

XIII SERVICE PLAN - PERFORMANCE REPORT

(i) CORPORATE PLANNING

There was submitted Report No 443-2004 by the Assistant Chief Executive (Community Planning) relative to the above.

The Committee noted the terms of the Report and approved the areas of improvement referred to therein.

(ii) INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

There was submitted Report No 482-2004 by the Head of Information Technology relative to the above.

The Committee approved the performance and progress detailed therein relative to the Information Technology Division Service Plan 2003-2007.

XIV EXTENDED LOCAL PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT 2005-05

On a reference to Article VI of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 21st April, 2004 there was submitted Report No 462-2004 by the Chief Executive and Director of Social Work relative to the above.

The Committee :-

(i) approved the Extended Local Partnership Agreement and authorised the Chief Executive and Leader of the Council to sign it on the Council's behalf.

(ii) instructed the Director of Social Work and other Chief Officers of departments affected to make arrangements to implement the Extended Local Partnership Agreement.

XV DUNDEE COMMITTEE FOR THE PROTECTION OF CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE

After considering Agenda Note AN244-2004 the Committee agreed that the constitution of the above be updated and it be remitted to the Director of Social Work and Depute Chief Executive (Support Services) to agree the terms of the constitution and to keep it under review and agree any necessary amendments.

JILL SHIMI, Convener.