Policy And Resources Committee - 16/10/2006

At a MEETING of the PERSONNEL COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 16th October, 2006.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

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

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 18th September 2006 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I MINUTE OF MEETING OF PERSONNEL APPEALS SUB-COMMITTEE OF 25TH SEPTEMBER 2006

There was submitted and noted the minute of meeting of the Personnel Appeals Sub-Committee of 25th September 2006 a copy of which is appended hereto.

II SICKNESS ABSENCE MANAGEMENT - PROGRESS REPORT ON ACTION PLAN

On a reference to Article II of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 15th August 2005, there was submitted Report No 519-2006 by the Assistant Chief Executive (Management) giving a progress report on the Sickness Absence Action Plan.

The Committee considered the information contained in Appendix A to the report and noted the progress made.

III NATIONAL ENTITLEMENT CARD - SHARED SERVICE HQ

There was submitted Report No 543-2006 by the Assistant Chief Executive (Management), seeking approval for Dundee City Council to be the lead authority and to provide a headquarters base for the National Entitlement Card Scheme.

The Committee:-

(i) agreed that Dundee City Council would be the lead authority for the National Entitlement Card;

(ii) agreed that accommodation and support facilities would be provided to this project and would be branded in line with the National Entitlement Card requirements;

(iii) agreed the establishment of the following posts for the National Entitlement Card:-

Manager, SCP63-66, 52,917 - 56,787;

Project Manager, PO11-14, 35,029 - 37,539;

Technical Support Officer, PO3-6, 28,518 - 31,044;

Customer Service Officer, AP4, 21,327 - 23,610;

Administrative Assistant, GS3/AP1, 14,829 - 16,518.

(iv) approved the establishment of the following posts for the Dundee Discovery Card:-

Manager, PO9-12, 33,447 - 35,838;

Project Officer, PO3-6, 28,518 - 31,044; and

(v) agreed that all of the posts referred to in paragraphs (iii) and (iv) above, with the exception of Customer Services Officer and Administrative Assistant, be filled in the first instance, by competition if necessary, by the employees currently seconded to the entitlement card project.

IV HOUSING DEPARTMENT - ANTI SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR UNIT - EXTENSION OF FIXED TERM

There was submitted Agenda Note AN325-2006, making reference to Article XIV of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 13th December 2004, wherein the Committee agreed to establish a post of Senior Housing Officer, graded AP5, 24,332 - 26,503 for a period of two years. The post was fully funded by the Scottish Executive.

It was reported that the Housing Department had been successful in securing further Scottish Executive funding until 31st March 2008 and the Committee therefore approved the extension of this temporary post until that date, having noted that the costs including employer's costs, of extending this post amounted to 7,988 and 33,685 for the financial years 2006/07 and 2007/08 respectively, and would be met from funding awarded by the Scottish Executive.

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 paragraph 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 7A of the Act.

V ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT - REDESIGNATION AND REGRADING OF POST

There was submitted Agenda Note AN326-2006, making reference to Article V of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 12th June 2006 wherein the Committee considered an agenda note on the Community Safety and Crime Reduction Initiative and approved the establishment of a post of Scheme Manager.

It was reported that following a review of the Initiative's partnership with Tayside Police and due to increased partnership working and the realignment of work within the initiative, the role and responsibilities of the Scheme Manager post had been reviewed.

The Committee therefore agreed that the post be redesignated to Dundee Co-ordinated Anti-Crime Network (DUNCAN) Project Co-ordinator and be regraded as detailed in the note, having noted the financial implications.

VI PLANNING AND TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT - EARLY RETIREMENT

There was submitted Agenda Note AN333-2006 advising that in view of the timescales involved, the Assistant Chief Executive (Management), following consultation with the Convener and spokespersons from the Opposition Groups, had approved the early retirement of an employee of the Planning and Transportation Department (ER24/06) with effect from 31st October 2006 on the grounds of (voluntary) redundancy.

This retirement would be in accordance with the Local Government Pension Scheme (Scotland) Regulations 1998 and the employee would receive enhanced benefits in accordance with the Local Government (Discretionary Payments and Injury benefits) (Scotland) Regulations 1998 (as amended) and in accordance with the decision of the Personnel Committee of 14th March 2005.

The Committee noted accordingly, having also noted the financial implications.

It was reported that the Convener had 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.

VII SUPPORT SERVICES DEPARTMENT - EARLY RETIRAL

There was submitted Agenda Note AN336-2006 seeking authority for the early retiral of an employee of the Support Services Department (ER25/06) with effect from 31st December 2006, in the interest of the efficiency of the service, and in accordance with the Local Government Pension Scheme (Scotland) Regulations 1998. It was noted that the employee would receive enhanced benefits in accordance with the Local Government (Discretionary Payments and Injury Benefits) (Scotland) Regulations 1998 (as amended) and in accordance with the decision of the Personnel Committee of 14th March 2005.

It was reported that this employee would not be replaced and the Depute Chief Executive (Support Services) would allocate additional higher level duties to other employees and propose further establishment changes, which would be reported to Committee at a later date.

The Committee approved this proposal, having noted the financial implications.

Lord Provost John R LETFORD, Convener.

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