Policy And Resources Committee - 26/06/2006

At a MEETING of the PERSONNEL COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 26th June, 2006.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Lord Provost John R LETFORD, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 12th June, 2006 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I LEISURE AND COMMUNITIES DEPARTMENT - SPORTS DEVELOPMENT SECTION - REVIEW OF ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE

There was submitted Report No 329-2006 by the Director of Leisure and Communities and the Assistant Chief Executive (Management) proposing changes to the organisational structure of the Sports Development Section within the Leisure and Communities Department following a review of the current structure and taking account of the cessation of Big Lottery New Opportunities for PE in Schools (NOPES) Funding and the vision and strategic actions of A Plan for Dundee's Children 2005-2008.

The Committee approved the following changes to the organisational structure of the Sports Development Section:-

(a) the deletion of posts as outlined in Appendix 1 to the report;

(b) the establishment of permanent and fixed term posts as outlined in Appendix 2 to the report;

(c) the redesignation and regrading of posts as outlined in Appendix 3 to the report;

(d) the regrading of posts as outlined in Appendix 4 to the report; and

(e) the redesignation of posts as outlined in Appendix 5 to the report.

II SOCIAL WORK DEPARTMENT - ESTABLISHMENT OF POSTS

There was submitted Agenda Note AN234-2006, whereby reference was made to Article II of the minute of the meeting of this Committee of 10th February, 2003 which approved the establishment of one temporary post of Administrative Assistant, graded AP3 (18,381 - 20,169), and one temporary post of Senior Clerical Assistant, graded GS3 (14,466 - 15,063), to service arrangements for the "Fast Track Hearings" initiative.

It was reported that this initiative had now been absorbed into the wider range of measures to prevent and tackle youth crime/anti-social behaviour. These posts had played a key role in the administration for Dundee youth justice agencies in their work.

The Committee therefore agreed to establish these posts on a permanent basis; having noted that the cost in a full financial year would be 43,400, including employer's costs, which would be funded in full by monies made available by the Scottish Executive to support the strategic development of youth justice services and the implementation of national youth justice standards.

III SOCIAL WORK DEPARTMENT - REGRADING OF POST

There was submitted Agenda Note AN235-2006 advising the Committee that at the request of the Director of Social Work, the Assistant Chief Executive (Management) had reviewed the duties and responsibilities of the post of Review Officer.

On the basis of this, the Committee agreed to the regrading of five posts of Review Officer from PO1-4 (26,379 - 28,632) to PO 3-6 (27,822 - 30,288), having noted that this proposal would cost 5,730 in a full financial year, inclusive of employer's costs, which would be met from the Social Work Department revenue budget.

IV SOCIAL WORK DEPARTMENT - ESTABLISHMENT OF POSTS

There was submitted Agenda Note AN236-2006 whereby reference was made to Article VI of the minute of meeting of the Policy and Resources Committee of 8th May, 2006, which outlined the funding of a new Community Resource Service, as part of the Youth Justice Strategy for Dundee.

It was reported that due to an increased workload, the service required the support of a full-time post of Clerical Assistant. The Committee therefore agreed to establish one post of Clerical Assistant, grade GS1/2 (10,671-14,220) and to delete a 0.5 FTE post of Clerical Assistant graded GS1/2 (10,671 - 14,220). The postholder would be confirmed in the full-time post.

The Committee noted that the cost of the above proposal in a full financial year would be 7,600, including employer's costs, which would be funded in full by monies made available by the Scottish Executive to support the strategic development of youth justice services and the implementation of national Youth Justice Standards.

V FINANCE DEPARTMENT - REVENUES DIVISION - ESTABLISHMENT AND REDESIGNATION OF POSTS

There was submitted Agenda Note AN237-2006 advising that essential changes to the Revenues Division's computer systems had been required in order to comply with major changes to the Benefits system over the last two years. Accordingly, to address these changes and continue to provide an efficient service, the departmental training section had been split into two groups, Training and Systems.

It was reported that, at the request of the Depute Chief Executive (Finance), in order to more closely reflect the duties and responsibilities, approval was sought to redesignate the following posts:-

(a) 1 post of Training and IT Manager, PO15-18 (37,461 - 40,098), redesignated to Training and Systems Manager;

(b) 1 post of Training Manager, PO1-4 (26,379 - 28,632), redesignated to Senior Training Officer;

(c) 1 post of IT Manager, PO1-4 (26,379 - 28,632), redesignated to Senior Training Officer;

(d) 9 posts of Training and IT Officer, AP5 (23,739 - 25,857), redesignated to Training Officer;

(e) 4 posts of Training and IT Officer, AP5 (23,739 - 25,857), redesignated to Systems Officer; and

(f) 2 posts of IT Testing Officer, GS3/AP2 (14,466 - 17,877), redesignated to System Testing Officer;

The Committee approved accordingly, having noted that there would be no financial implications arising from these changes.

It was reported that the Convener had agreed that the undernoted items be considered as a matter of urgency in terms of Standing Order No 17(b) in view of the timescales involved.

VI EDUCATION DEPARTMENT - REDESIGNATION AND REGRADING OF POST

There was submitted Agenda Note AN240-2006, advising the Committee that the Director of Education had requested the Assistant Chief Executive (Management) to review the duties and responsibilities of the post of Senior Clerical Officer in the Home School Support Service.

It was reported that as a consequence of this review, the Assistant Chief Executive (Management) recommended that, to reflect the increased level of duties and responsibilities, the post be redesignated from Senior Clerical Officer to Administrative Assistant and regraded from GS3 (14,466 - 15,063), to AP1/2 (15,063 - 17,877).

The Committee approved this recommendation, having noted that the cost would be 329 in the current financial year and 800 in a full financial year inclusive of employer's costs and could be contained within the Education Department Revenue Budget.

The Committee resolved in terms of Section 50(A)(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 that the public and press be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the undernoted items of business on the grounds that they involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 7(A) of the Act.

VII PERSONNEL DEPARTMENT - EARLY RETIREMENT

There was submitted Agenda Note AN241-2006, recommending the early retiral of ER23/06, an Office Administrator within the Personnel Department.

The Committee approved the early retiral as detailed in the note, with effect from 30th September, 2006 in accordance with the Local Government (Discretionary Payments and Injury Benefits) (Scotland) Regulations and having noted the financial implications.

VIII PERSONNEL DEPARTMENT - REGRADING OF POST

There was submitted Agenda Note AN242-2006, seeking approval for the regrading of a post within the Personnel Department.

The Committee approved the regrading as detailed in the note, having noted the financial implications.

IX FINANCE DEPARTMENT - REGRADING OF POST

There was submitted Agenda Note AN244-2006 advising that, at the request of the Chief Executive, the Depute Chief Executive (Finance) had carried out a review of the duties and responsibilities of the Head of Finance and had concluded that the role had expanded significantly in relation to increased workload and additional responsibilities.

The Committee therefore approved the regrading of the post, as detailed in the note, having noted the financial implications.

LORD PROVOST JOHN R LETFORD, Convener.