Best Value Performance & Efficiency Sub-committee Of The Policy & Resources Committee - 29/06/2005

At a MEETING of the BEST VALUE SUB-COMMITTEE OF THE POLICY AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 29th June 2005.

Present:-

Bailies

Neil I C Powrie (substitute for Bailie Bruce Mackie)

John Corrigan

Councillors

Fiona Grant

Jim Barrie

Councillor Grant, Depute Convener, in the Chair.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I OLDER PEOPLE AND COMMUNITY SAFETY BEST VALUE REVIEW

There was submitted Report No 422-2005 by the Best Value Review Group seeking approval to implement the recommendations of the Older People and Community Safety Best Value Review Group.

The Group noted that 20% of the Dundee population was over 65 years old - however, it had been decided to target the age group of 50 and upwards. The Group had prepared a questionnaire consisting of twelve questions and a total of 393 citizens were surveyed. In general the responses were positive and indicated that 86% felt very secure/fairly secure in their homes. 71% felt very secure/fairly secure out and about in the community with 76% considering that they had the support of people they needed to live a safe and contented life. 75% considered that they had the support of the facilities they required to live a safe any contented life. Concerns raised and identified had been included in the agreed recommendations.

The Sub-Committee approved the following recommendations:-

(a) that the relevant contact numbers as detailed in Appendix I of the report be held by the Helpline and operators be instructed to relay these numbers to enquiries on any of the relevant subjects.

(b) that relevant contact numbers, with additional explanatory information as outlined in Appendix I(a), be advertised in Libraries, Community Centres, Local Press, Dundee Senior Citizens Newsletter and through Home Carers, Community Nurses etc. The list should also be available on the Council's website.

(c) that appropriate training be provided to all staff who provide a telephone enquiry service.

(d) that appropriate training be offered to bus drivers on customer care but, in particular, the needs of the elderly and disabled including the need to offer appropriate assistance and allow more time for accessing and disembarking from vehicles. The offer of additional training for taxi drivers should be referred to the Licensing Committee to determine how this could be progressed.

(e) that Celebrate Age Network's and Age Concern Dundee's Befriending Project pilot be extended with a view to increasing awareness of the project, the aim of which was to provide homebound older people with visitors.

(f) that the Dundee Trusted Trader Scheme be publicised to all householders with explanatory information.

(g) that the Scottish Executive explanatory leaflets on Anti Social Behaviour Orders (ASBO's) be mailed to all householders in Dundee.

(h) that clarification be offered to older people whereby they can be enrolled with the Telephone Preference Service and the Silent Call Guard Service to prevent unwanted calls from manufacturers etc.

(i) that the Scottish Housing quality standard to Council Tenants' homes be implemented on a planned programme. This will address disrepair in buildings, energy efficiency, provide modern kitchen facilities, ensure homes are healthy, safe and secure and would provide funding for additional control entries and security lighting.

(j) that awareness be raised re the fact that the Council employs 3 City Centre Ambassadors and 28 Community Wardens whose duties include assisting people when requested and to identify youth type aggravation and acts of vandalism.

(k) that ownership of the Best Value Review to monitor implementation, review of progress and updating of details should be undertaken by the Depute Chief Executive's (Support Services) nominated officer.

(l) that a further survey be carried out in approximately two years to monitor progress and the survey should include identification of post code, definition of disability and request more information on areas of concern.

(m) that the recommendations detailed above should be implemented in accordance with the Action Plan detailed in Appendix 2 of the report.

II BEST VALUE REVIEW - WHAT IMPROVEMENTS ARE REQUIRED TO THE CITY'S PUBLIC TRANSPORTINFRASTRUCTURE TO ENSURE BEST VALUE FOR USERS AND FOR CITIZENS GENERALLY?

There was submitted Report No 258-2005 by the Legal Manager seeking approval in principle for a proposed strategy. At its meeting on 19th August 2003 the Best Value Sub-Committee agreed to a Best Value Review being carried out under the theme of "Caring for the Dundee Environment". Transport provided access to all employment and services and enabled people to live full and active lives. Transport infrastructure, the reliability of services and availability of information shaped visitors perceptions and influenced whether they wanted to come back to Dundee or do business in the City. Improving the City's public transport infrastructure would therefore bring economic benefits to the City. It was proposed to establish one of the first Quality Partnerships in Scotland by the end of September 2006.

The Sub-Committee approved the following recommendations:-

(a) that the Council utilised the Transport (Scotland) Act 2001 to move from the current Tendered and De Minimus arrangement to a Quality Partnership which will list minimum service quality and cost targets for the Council and the Bus Operators.

(b) that the Council carried out a two yearly customer satisfaction survey with users of public transport to inform the development of the Quality Partnership and monitor its progress.

(c) that the Council identified where there is a lack of access to mainstream public transport and considers alternative service delivery methods such as Demand Responsive Transport Systems.

(d) that the Council carried out an audit of all Council mini buses and specially adapted vehicles to establish utilisation levels and the potential for community use.

(e) that the Council introduced dedicated software to create a single point of contact for the delivery of Council transport requirements and also to control the movement and operation of all Council passenger vehicles.

(f) that the Council implemented a staff travel plan.

(g) that the Council sought funding to achieve a Dundee Quality Standard of training for staff working in transport.

(h) that the Community Transport Team Leader would arrange for travel training for users.

(i) that the Community Transport Team Leader continued to chair the Dundee Mobility and Access Partnership (DMAP) through which an annual action plan was produced to feed into the Council Plan at all levels.

FIONA GRANT, Depute Convener

APPENDIX II