Policy And Resources Committee - 17/10/2005

At a MEETING of the POLICY AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 17th October 2005.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Councillor Jill SHIMI, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 19th September 2005 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I ANNUAL CONSUMER SURVEY

There was submitted Report No 580-2005 by the Assistant Chief Executive (Community Planning) summarising the main findings from the 2005 Annual Consumer Survey.

The Committee:

(i) noted the results contained in this report and agreed that the issues raised should continue to be addressed as part of the Council's commitment to continuous improvement;

(ii) authorised officers to publish the report on the Council's website and distribute copies to partner organisations and representative bodies as part of the Council's commitment to Public Performance Reporting.

(iii) noted, in particular, the results in relation to service delivery issues outlined in para 7.2 of this report, which would inform the development and implementation of the Customer First Strategy, including reviewing the opening hours of telephone contact centres, the development of a city-centre one-stop-shop and the continuing expansion of online services.

II DUNDEE ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR STRATEGY AND LOCAL OUTCOME AGREEMENTS

Prior to considering this item the Committee congratulated the Douglas BMX Development Group in obtaining a runner up award in the 2005 National Standing Up to Anti-Social Behaviour Awards Under the Young People's Category.

On a reference to Article II of minute of meeting of this Committee of 18 April 2005 there was submitted Report No 551-2005 by the Director of Leisure and Communities, Depute Chief Executive (Support Services), and Assistant Chief Executive (Community Planning) relative to the above.

The Committee approved the revised Dundee Anti-Social Behaviour Strategy and associated Local Outcome Agreements and agreed to forward both documents to the Scottish Executive.

III AIRGUNS

This item was withdrawn to enable further information to be obtained.

IV CONFERENCE - FREEDOM OF INFORMATION - ONE YEAR ON

It was reported that a conference on the above subject would be held in Edinburgh on 12th December 2005.

The Committee authorised the attendance of one member of the Administration, one member of the SNP Group and one member of the Conservative Group, at an estimated cost excluding travel and subsistence of 199 per delegate.

V EFFICIENT GOVERNMENT

There was submitted Report No 561-2005 by the Chief Executive summarising the Efficient Government programme being developed by the Scottish Executive.

The Committee:

(i) noted the targets and workstreams of the Scottish Executive's Efficient Government Plan and the related developments by the Council;

(ii) agreed to expanding the remit of the Best Value Sub-Committee as follows:

7         to consider all matters associated with Best Value and efficient government making recommendations to the Policy and Resources Committee as appropriate (para 7.2);

(iii) agreed that Best Value Sub-Committee meet a least bi-annually to consider efficient government monitoring reports (para 7.3);

(iv) agreed that the Efficient Government Board chaired by the Assistant Chief Executive (Community Planning) set up to manage the efficiency projects in the Council's Customer First programme expand its role to cover all efficient government projects being reported to the Best Value Sub-Committee (para 7.5);

(v) agreed that the Assistant Chief Executive (Community Planning) and the Depute Chief Executive (Finance) prepare a proforma for approving and monitoring efficiency savings (para 7.7);

(vi) agreed that the Depute Chief Executive (Finance) prepare a method of presenting efficiency savings in the budget documentation and public performance report (para 7.8).

VI FINANCIAL INCLUSION ACTION PLAN FOR DUNDEE

There was submitted Report No 588-2005 by the Assistant Chief Executive (Community Planning) advising on an allocation to the City Council from the Scottish Executive's Financial Inclusion Fund, and reporting on tenders returned from research and strategy development companies for the production of a Financial Inclusion Action Plan for Dundee.

In view of the timescales involved, it was noted that the Chief Executive in consultation with the Convener and spokespersons from the other groups on the Council had appointed Insight Collective Ltd to carry out the Financial Inclusion Action Plan development as required by the Scottish Executive for the sum of 25,774.

VII COMMUNITY REGENERATION FUND SMALL GRANTS ALLOCATION 2005/2006

There was submitted Report No 612-2005 by the Assistant Chief Executive (Community Planning) and Director of Leisure and Communities relative to the above.

The Committee noted the process for allocating small grants through the Local Community Regeneration Forums as agreed by the Dundee Partnership and endorsed the funding proposals contained in Section 8 of the report.

VIII COMMUNITY REGENERATION FUND ALLOCATION OF RESOURCES 2005/2006

Councillor Duncan declared a non-financial interest in Camperdown Church Community Hall Group by virtue of being a member of the congregation.

There was submitted Report No 613-2005 by the Assistant Chief Executive (Community Planning) and Director of Leisure and Communities detailing funding available to the Dundee Partnership for 2005/08.

The Committee noted the process for allocating funding through Local Community Regeneration Forums as agreed by the Dundee Partnership and endorsed the funding proposals contained in Section 8 of the report.

IX THE SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT FINANCE COMMITTEE - CROSS-CUTTING EXPENDITURE REVIEW ONDEPRIVATION

There was submitted Report No 585-2005 by the Depute Chief Executive (Finance) and Director of Leisure and Communities suggesting an appropriate response by the Council to the invitation from the Scottish Parliament Finance Committee to provide written evidence to inform their cross-cutting expenditure review on deprivation.

The Committee endorsed the suggested Council response as outlined in Appendix 1 of the report and agreed that it be forwarded to the Scottish Parliament Finance Committee as representing the Council's views on these issues.

X COUNCIL MANAGEMENT TEAM

There was submitted Report No 608-2005 by the Assistant Chief Executive (Community Planning) reviewing the functions of the Corporate Management Team and proposing the implementation of new measures in relation to performance management service review in line with the area of improvement recommended in the Best Value Audit.

The Committee agreed to the new structure and remit of meetings as outlined in Section 7 of the Report and noted that proposals would be submitted to this Committee on how Elected Members can become more involved in performance monitoring relating to the Council Plan and Departmental Service Plans.

XI CITIES GROWTH FUND INVESTMENT PLAN BID 2006/08

On reference to Article II of the minute of meeting of the this Committee of 19 May 2003 there was submitted Report No 629-2005 by the Director of Planning and Transportation seeking the Committee's endorsement of the Investment Plan Bid for Cities Growth Fund 2006/08.

The Committee approved the Investment Plan Bid for the Cities Growth Fund 2006/08 which was forwarded to the Scottish Executive on 30th September 2005 to meet the required deadline and agreed that this Investment Plan be posted on the Council's website.

XII DUNDEE SCIENCE CENTRE/SENSATION: ACCESS FOR DISADVANTAGED/ UNEMPLOYED ADULTS

Councillor Hind declared a non-financial interest in this item by virtue of being the Council's representative on the Board of the Dundee Science Centre.

After considering Agenda Note AN414-2005 the Committee agreed to purchase 3,000 adult tickets at a cost of 19,500 to be made available to the Leisure and Communities Department for distribution through various groups throughout the City, it being noted that the sum would be met from the General Contingency Fund.

XIII PARENTING ORDERS

There was submitted Report No 632-2005 by the Depute Chief Executive (Support Services) providing members with details of the national pilot on Parenting Orders.

The Committee noted the contents of the Report and approved the submission of the Dundee City Council multi-agency protocol on Parenting Orders to the Scottish Executive.

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.

XIV CONFERENCE - SCOTTISH MEMBERS SERVICES DEVELOPMENT NETWORK - 2007 ELECTIONS - BUT NOT ASWE KNOW THEM

It was reported that the above Conference organised by the Scottish Members Services Development Network would be held in Glasgow on 7 November 2005.

The Committee authorised the attendance of one member of the Administration, one member of the SNP Group and one member of the Conservative Group, at an estimated cost excluding travel and subsistence of 25 per delegate.

JILL SHIMI, Convener.