Policy And Resources Committee - 14/11/2005

At a MEETING of the POLICY AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 14th November, 2005.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Councillor SHIMI, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 24th October, 2005 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I AIRGUNS

The Committee acceded to requests for two deputations to be heard in support of airguns. After the deputations had stated their case and answered questions from the Committee, they were thanked for their attendance and withdrew.

There was submitted Report No 660-2005 by the Assistant Chief Executive (Community Planning) providing information about airguns.

The Committee approved the undernoted resolution:-

"The following representations be made to the Home Office:-

(i) the ownership of airguns be subject to licensed use.

(ii) the purchase of airguns be restricted to people who can demonstrate a legitimate business or employment reason for their use, or are members of responsibly managed sporting clubs, registered with the appropriate bodies.

(iii) that guidelines be issued on recommended minimum sentences to ensure that Councils make full use of the legal powers available to punish and deter the criminal use of airguns.

It was further agreed that a copy of this resolution be passed to the Scottish Executive and West Dunbartonshire Council.

II QUALITY OF LIFE FUNDING 2006/2007 AND 2007/2008 - SUBMISSION TO SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE

There was submitted Report No 596-2005 by the Chief Executive relative to the City Council's submission to the Scottish Executive in respect of how it proposed to use the Quality of Life monies for the two financial years 2006/2007 and 2007/2008.

The Committee:-

(i) approved the Quality of Life submission for 2006/2007 and 2007/2008 as detailed in Appendix A of the report.

(ii) instructed the Depute Chief Executive (Finance) to ensure that the Council's Quality of Life submission was made to the Scottish Executive by 30th November 2005.

(iii) noted that the required provisions for Quality of Life were included in the Provisional Revenue Budgets for 2006/2007 and 2007/2008 respectively.

III PAYING FOR CONNECTIONS TO THE WATER AND SEWERAGE NETWORKS

There was submitted Report No 669-2005 by the Assistant Chief Executive (Community Planning) advising the Committee of the consultation document from the Scottish Executive on Paying for Connections to the Water and Sewerage networks.

The Committee:-

(i) welcomed the statement in the consultation document that Scottish Water would have a clear, and funded, objective to provide for all strategic water and sewerage capacity in the investment period 2006/2014, and would continue to make a contribution towards the cost of new connections to the water and sewerage networks.

(ii) agreed a response to the detailed policy proposals contained in the consultation document as set out in Appendix 1 to the report.

IV COMMUNITY REGENERATION FUND SMALL GRANTS ALLOCATION 2005/2006

There was submitted Report No 667-2005 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.

V COMMUNITY REGENERATION FUND ALLOCATION OF RESOURCES 2005/2006

There was submitted Report No 668-2005 by the Assistant Chief Executive (Community Planning) and Director of Leisure and Communities relative to the above.

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

VI SCOTLAND-WIDE FREE BUS TRAVEL SCHEME FOR OLDER AND DISABLED PEOPLE ON THE NATIONALENTITLEMENT CARD

There was submitted Report No 659-2005 by the Assistant Chief Executive (Community Planning) advising elected members on the change to the free bus travel concession scheme and the introduction of a national entitlement card.

The Committee:-

(i) noted that the proposed changes to the free bus travel scheme would be Scotland-wide and that the Dundee Discovery Card would be re-issued and include the national entitlement card; and

(ii) instructed the Assistant Chief Executive (Community Planning) to arrange briefings for all elected members

VII NOISE REDUCTION PROPOSALS AT JAMES STREET, DUNDEE

There was submitted Report No 646-2005 by the Director of Planning and Transportation informing the Committee of proposals to reduce the level of noise affecting land adjacent to James Street in order to facilitate redevelopment of the car parking area and partially vacant and derelict ground adjacent to North George Street.

The Committee:-

(i) agreed to allocate 45,000 from the Vacant and Derelict Land Fund in order to carry out noise reduction works at IBP Conex, James Street, Dundee; and

(ii) agreed to the use of the sum quoted above as a grant to be paid to Hillcrest Housing Association on completion of the works to the satisfaction of the Council.

VIII SUPPORT SERVICES DEPARTMENT - ANNUAL SERVICE PLAN PERFORMANCE REPORT 2004/2005

There was submitted Report No 655-2005 by the Depute Chief Executive (Support Services) relative to the Department's Service Plan Performance for the year to 31st March 2005.

The Committee noted the details in the report.

IX DUNDEE SCIENCE CENTRE/SENSATION OUTREACH/CAREER EVENTS FOR SECONDARY SCHOOL PUPILS

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 AN430-2005, the Committee approved the provision of 15,000 from the General Contingency Fund to meet the cost of outreach/career events for secondary school pupils.

X DUNDEE SUN CITY 2005 - SECOND ANNUAL CONFERENCE

It was reported that the Second Annual Conference of Dundee Sun City would be held on 18th November 2005 in the SPACE Kingsway Campus Lecture Theatre, Dundee College.

The Committee authorised the attendance of Councillors Sturrock, Regan, FitzPatrick, Roberts and Wallace, at an estimated cost excluding travel and subsistence of 35 per delegate.

It was further agreed that any other member interested in attending should advise the Depute Chief Executive (Support Services) by return.

XI GENERIC EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY SCHEME AND RACE EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY SCHEME

There was submitted Report No 658-2005 by the Director of Leisure and Communities and Assistant Chief Executive (Management) seeking approval for a Race Equality and Diversity Scheme which ensured compliance with the Race Relations Act 1976 (as amended) and a Generic Equality and Diversity Scheme which provided a framework for a range of equalities legislation as outlined in the body of the report to replace the Council's current Equality Opportunities Policy.

The Committee approved:-

(i) the Race Equality and Diversity Scheme 2005-2008, which set out how the Council planned to meet its duties under the Race Relations Act 1976 (as amended 2000) and fulfil its commitment to race equality and diversity as a Council and as a partner in Dundee Equality and Diversity Partnership.

(ii) the Generic Equality and Diversity Scheme 2005-2008 which provided a framework of how the Council would meet its duties under all equalities legislation including the Sex Discrimination Act 1975, the Equal Pay Act 1970, Disability Discrimination Act 2005, the Employment Equality (Religion or Belief) Regulations 2003, the Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2003 and the pending Equalities Bill and Employment Equality (Age) Regulations 2006. It also framed the Council's intentions of how it would seek to lead the equality and diversity agenda within the Dundee Partnership and within local communities.

XII REVENUE BUDGET 2006/07 - CONSULTATION WITH COUNCIL TAXPAYERS

There was submitted Report No 696-2005 by the Depute Chief Executive (Finance) regarding public consultation on the 2006/07 Revenue Budget and Council Tax level.

The Committee agreed:-

(i) that the Budget consultation process as detailed in the report be carried out during late November early December 2005.

(ii) that an advertisement be placed in the local press advising members of the public that they could access the questions and make their comments online or at local libraries, community centres and other Council offices in the city.

(iii) that a supply of leaflets be made available at Councillors surgeries so that constituents may be reminded that the exercise was taking place and posters be prominently displayed at the Council's main customer contact points; and

(iv) to further develop its Budget Consultation exercise for the 2007/08 Revenue Budget.

XII CONFERENCE - ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR AND SUMMARY JUSTICE

It was reported that the above conference hosted by Mackay Hannah would take place in Edinburgh on 21st 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 225 per delegate.

JILL SHIMI, Convener.