Recess Sub-committee - 20/07/2006

At a MEETING of the RECESS SUB-COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 20th July, 2006.

Present:-

BAILIE

Bruce MACKIE

COUNCILLORS

Councillor Jill SHIMI, Convener, in the Chair.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I PERTH PRISON VISITING COMMITTEE - MEMBERSHIP

There was submitted Agenda Note AN250-2006. It was reported that Mrs Jean Forbes, the Rev Stewart McMillan and Rev James McMillan, non-elected members, had resigned from the above Committee.

The Sub-Committee agreed to appoint Gilbert Oakley, Gordon Samson and Trevor Bailey to the above Committee and that Jim Elder be appointed to the next vacancy which falls on a Prison Visiting Sub-Committee for a non-elected member.

II PLANNING APPLICATIONS

(a) 05-00814-FUL - BONAR HOUSE, FARADAY STREET, DRYBURGH INDUSTRIAL ESTATE - ERECTION OF FOUR OFFICE BUILDINGS, LANDSCAPING AND CAR PARKING - FOR THE OAKLEY GROUP

The Sub-Committee approved the above application subject to the conditions recommended by the Director of Planning and Transportation.

(b) 06-00557-FUL - LAND TO NORTH OF LINLATHEN NURSING HOME, ARBROATH ROAD, DUNDEE - ERECTION OF RIDING SCHOOL FOR THE DISABLED, TACK ROOM AND OUTDOOR RIDING CENTRE FOR THE BRAE PARTNERSHIP

The Sub-Committee approved the above application subject to the Conditions recommended by the Director of Planning and Transportation.

III CITY REGION PLANNING - REPRESENTATION ON JOINT STRUCTURE PLAN PANEL

There was submitted Agenda Note AN245-2006 where reference was made to Article IV of the minute of meeting of the Planning and Transportation Committee of 13th February, 2006 wherein the new Planning bill was approved. It was noted that the constituent authorities for the proposed Dundee City Region Strategic Development Plan were Dundee City, Angus, Fife and Perth and Kinross Councils.

Discussions between relevant officers of these authorities had taken place with a view to the necessary preparatory work for the new strategic planning system. The current body responsible for this area's strategic planning function was the Dundee and Angus Structure Plan Panel and it was proposed that this body be temporarily reconvened to oversee this preparatory work and that Fife and Perth and Kinross Councils be invited to participate in the Panel's considerations.

The Sub-Committee agreed to reconvene the Structure Plan Panel and that representation would be 2 Members of the Administration, 1 member of the SNP Group and 1 member of the Conservative Group.

IV FINANCE DEPARTMENT - REVENUES DIVISION - CHANGES TO ESTABLISHMENT

There was submitted Agenda Note AN246-2006. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) provided funding to establish the Living Together Initiative which was aimed at tackling benefit fraud in relation to benefit claims where claimants were not declaring their partners.

Funding from the DWP was used to create 2 Fraud Officer posts and a Benefit Assistant post, fixed term, until the middle of August 2006 to facilitate the initiative and this had been highly successful.

As a result of success of this new initiative and as funding would cease in August 2006 the Sub-Committee approved the following changes to the establishment within the Fraud Section of the Revenues Division.

- the establishment of one post of Benefit Fraud Officer, grade AP3/4, 18,840 - 23,610;

- the deletion of one vacant post of Recovery Officer within the Housing Benefit Overpayment Section, grade GS2/AP1, 14,244 - 16,518;

- the establishment of one post of Benefit Assistant within the Fraud Section, grade GS3/AP1, 14,829 - 16,518.

The cost of implementing these changes would be 14,684 in the current financial year and 25,370 in a full financial year, with figures being inclusive of employer's costs. These costs would be met from the Finance Department's Revenue Budget.

V PUBLIC RELATIONS AND EDUCATION DEPARTMENTS - CHANGES TO STAFFING ESTABLISHMENTS

There was submitted Agenda Note AN247-2006. Following consultation between the Head of Public Relations and the Director of Education and as part of an ongoing review of the staffing establishment within the Education Department, a role was identified for a dedicated Public Relations Officer post. Following a review of the job description proposed for the post, the Assistant Chief Executive (Management) recommended a grade of PO7-10, 31,845 - 34,260. The post would be part of the Public Relations Department establishment but the postholder would be outposted to the Education Department.

The Chief Executive explained that the current post holder within the Education Department had resigned and the post (currently 44,820 to 50,007 Quality Improvement Officer Grade) would be advertised at a lower grade resulting in a saving to the Education Department.

The financial implications of the proposal would be 19,797 (inclusive of employer's costs) in the current financial year and 41,619 in a full financial year, and would be met from the Education Department's revenue estimates.

Councillor Fitzpatrick, seconded by Councillor Barrie, moved to defer.

As an amendment the Convener, seconded by Bailie Mackie, moved not to defer.

On a division there voted for the motion - Councillors FitzPatrick and Barrie (2), and for the amendment - the Convener, Bailie Mackie and Councillor Dick (3), whereupon the amendment was declared carried.

Thereafter, the Convener moved the terms of the note seconded by Bailie Mackie and supported by Councillor Dick. Councillors Barrie and Fitzpatrick declined to vote and registered their dissent.

VI EDUCATION DEPARTMENT - ESTABLISHMENT OF POST

There was submitted Agenda Note AN251-2006. The refurbishment and extension of St John's High School would be completed at the end of September 2006 and would include a new swimming pool.

The new facility would require the establishment of a new post of Swimming Pool Technician, grade AP1/2 15,441 - 18,325 to manage the pool plant and water, provide lifeguard facilities and assist with swimming teaching.

The cost of implementing this proposal would be 10,900 in the current financial year and 22,800 in the first full financial year ie 2007/08. Both figures include employer's costs and would be met from the Education Department's Revenue Budget.

The Sub-Committee approved the above.

VII TENDERS RECEIVED

There was submitted Report No 439-2006 by the City Architectural Services Officer detailing tenders received and requesting a decision thereon:

(i) VARIOUS HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS - CLEANING OF REFUSE CHUTES 2006-2009

The Committee agreed to accept the lowest offer from Rentokil Hygiene, Glasgow for 29,529.47 together with an allowance of 1,772.00 for professional services making a total expenditure of 31,301.47.

(ii) CITY SQUARE COMPLEX AND TAYSIDE HOUSE - SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE OF FIRE DETECTION AND ALARM SYSTEMS

The Sub-Committee agreed to the negotiated offer with Honeywell Gent Service, Leicester for 13,740 together with an allowance of 1,374 for professional services making a total expenditure of 15,114.00.

(iii) WELLGATE LIBRARY - BOILER REPLACEMENT

The Sub-Committee agreed to accept the offer from Scan Building Services Ltd, Dundee under a partnering agreement for 215,000 together with an allowance of 35,000 for professional services making a total expenditure of 250,000.

VIII COMMUNITY REGENERATION FUND SMALL GRANTS ALLOCATION 2006/07

There was submitted Report No 436-2006 by the Assistant Chief Executive (Community Planning) and Director of Leisure and Communities relative to the above.

The Sub-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 detailed below:

IX COMMUNITY REGENERATION FUND ALLOCATION OF RESOURCES 2006/2007

There was submitted Report No 435-2006 by the Assistant Chief Executive (Community Planning) and Director of Leisure and Communities relative to the above.

The Sub-Committee noted the process for allocating funding through Local Community Regeneration Forums as agreed by the Dundee Partnership and endorsed the funding proposals detailed below:

X EDUCATION TRANSPORT CONTRACTS - CONVEYANCE OF SCHOLARS

There was submitted Report No 388-2006 by the Director of Planning and Transportation and Director of Education detailing tenders for the conveyance of scholars and requesting a decision thereon.

The Sub-Committee approved tenders relative to the above for the period August 2006 to end of Academic Session 2008/2009, as detailed in Appendix 2 of the report.

The Committee resolved under Section 50(A)(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 that the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the undernoted items of business on the grounds that they involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 6 and 9 of Schedule 7A of the Act.

XI PROVISION OF HOUSING

There was submitted Agenda Note AN248-2006 advising that a request had been received from the Environmental Health and Trading Standards Department to provide housing for an Environmental Health/Technical Officer.

The Committee agreed to the request and authorised the Director of Housing to offer appropriate accommodation.

XII LEASE OF MINI GOLF AND KARTING TRACK

There was submitted Agenda Note AN249-2006 relative to the above lease.

The Sub-Committee agreed the terms and conditions as detailed.

Jill SHIMI, Convener.