Policy And Resources Committee - 11/09/2006

At a MEETING of the POLICY AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 11th September, 2006.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Councillor Jill SHIMI, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 21st August, 2006 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I MINUTE OF MEETING OF THE BEST VALUE SUB-COMMITTEE

The minute of meeting of the Best Value Sub-Committee of 17th August, 2006, a copy of which is appended hereto, was submitted for information and record purposes.

II COMMUNITY REGENERATION FUND SMALL GRANTS ALLOCATION 2006/2007

There was submitted Report No 510-2006 by the Assistant Chief Executive (Community Planning) and the 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 detailed below:-

III COMMUNITY REGENERATION FUND ALLOCATION OF RESOURCES 2006/2007

There was submitted Report No 511-2006 by the Assistant Chief Executive (Community Planning) and the 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 detailed below:-

IV VETTING OF MEMBERS OF COUNCIL COMMITTEES IN TERMS OF THE PROTECTION OF CHILDREN (SCOTLAND) ACT 2003

There was submitted Report No 513-2006 by the Depute Chief Executive (Support Services) relative to the above.

The Committee agreed that elected members be subject to an enhanced disclosure check on being elected in May 2007 and that it be remitted to the Chief Executive to report to the Council if there were any disclosures of concern to him in relation to the members' duties. In addition, it was agreed that this provision should also apply to outside representatives on the Education Committee.

V DUNDEE OUTDOOR ACCESS STRATEGY - PROGRESS OF ACTION PLAN - UPDATE 2006

After considering Report No 506-2006 by the Director of Leisure and Communities and the Director of Planning and Transportation relative to the above, the Committee approved the report and the updated action plan appended thereto.

VI STATUTORY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS 2005/06 (UNAUDITED) - COMPARING CURRENT TO PAST PERFORMANCE

There was submitted Report No 523-2006 by the Head of Finance advising the Committee of the Council's performance for the financial year 2005/06 as defined by the statutory performance indicators and compared it to that of the preceding financial year.

The Committee:-

(i) noted the general improvement in performance in 2005/06 compared to the previous year's performance;

(ii) remitted to Chief Officers to review the information contained within this report, particularly for those items where performance had marginally declined, with a view to improving performance in future years. It was also remitted to Chief Officers to ensure that plans were in place to improve poor indicators and that the authority had a Position Statement for those indicators not expected to improve in the near future;

(iii) agreed that the audited Statutory Performance Indicators in Appendix 1 be published on the Internet and made available at the main offices of the authority for information, for the general public and other stakeholders;

(iv) remitted to the Best Value Sub-Committee to consider a report on the Statutory Performance Indicators 2005/06; and

(v) agreed that the relevant departmental staff be thanked for their contribution towards the improved performance of the Council.

VII PROGRESS ON FINANCIAL INCLUSION ACTION PLAN FOR DUNDEE

On a reference to Article VI of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 17th October, 2005 there was submitted Report No 520-2006 by the Assistant Chief Executive (Community Planning) describing the progress made in implementing the Dundee Financial Inclusion Action Plan and detailing emerging projects and funding priorities.

The Committee noted accordingly and endorsed the revised funding recommendations made by the Dundee Partnership.

VIII SAFEGUARDERS - FEES

After considering Agenda note AN309-2006, the Committee noted the fees detailed below which had been introduced with effect from 1st April, 2006:-

Fees - Appointments by Hearing

(a) Fixed Appointment Fee - 214

Fixed Appointment Fee - Second and subsequent children

107.00 per child (living separately from first child)

53.50 per child (living together with first child)

(b) Fixed Attendance Fee - 107.00

(c) Fixed Fee for Reports - Continued Hearings

107.00 (written report) 53.50 (oral report)

53.50 (written report) 26.75 (oral report) - second and subsequent children

Fees - Appointments by Sheriff

(a) Fixed Appointment Fee - 214 (entering proceedings as a party)

Fixed Appointment Fee - 53.50 (not entering proceedings as a party)

Fixed Appointment Fee - Second and subsequent children

107.00 per child (living separately from first child)

53.50 per child (living together with first child)

(b) Fixed Attendance Fee - 107.00 per day regardless of the number of children involved (entering as a party only)

(c) Fixed Fee for Continued Diets - 53.50 (entering as a party only)

IX ESTABLISHMENT OF JOINT WORKING ARRANGEMENTS BETWEEN DUNDEE AND ABERDEEN PUBLIC ANALYST LABORATORIES

There was submitted Report No 541-2006 by the Depute Chief Executive (Support Services) relative to the above.

The Committee agreed:-

(i) that discussions on joint working between the Public Analyst Laboratories in Dundee and Aberdeen be entered into with the aim of introducing formalised arrangements with effect from 1st April, 2007; and

(ii) that it be remitted to the Depute Chief Executive (Support Services) and the Assistant Chief Executive (Management) to consult with the relevant trade unions regarding these proposals.

Jill SHIMI, Convener.