Policy And Resources Committee - 10/12/2007

At a MEETING of the POLICY AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 10th December, 2007.

 

Present:-

 

Lord Provost John R LETFORD

 

 

 

BAILIES

 

George REGAN

Willie SAWERS

Derek J SCOTT

Helen WRIGHT

Roderick A J WALLACE

Ian BORTHWICK

 

COUNCILLORS

 

Kevin KEENAN

Joe MORROW

Bob DUNCAN

Mohammed ASIF

Fraser MACPHERSON

Elizabeth F FORDYCE

Laurie BIDWELL

Ken GUILD

Stewart HUNTER

Tom FERGUSON

Jim BARRIE

Ken LYNN

Brian GORDON

Jimmy BLACK

Christina ROBERTS

Richard McCREADY

David BOWES

Alan ROSS

 

Andrew DAWSON

 

 

Councillor Kevin KEENAN, Convener, in the Chair.

 

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 26th November, 2007 was held as read.

 

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

 

I MINUTE OF MEETING OF PERSONNEL APPEALS SUB-COMMITTEE

 

The minute of meeting of the Personnel Appeals Sub-Committee of 19th November, 2007, a copy of which is appended hereto, was submitted for information and record purposes.

 

II IMPACT OF FREEDOM OF INFORMATION (SCOTLAND) ACT 2002

 

After considering Report No 615-2007 by the Depute Chief Executive (Support Services) providing members with an overview of the resource and financial impact that the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 had had on Dundee City Council, the Committee noted the contents of the report.

 

After hearing the Convener, it was remitted to the Depute Chief Executive (Support Services) to write to the Scottish Government regarding the introduction of a fairer pricing policy in respect of enquiries from commercial organisations.

 

III IT DIVISION SERVICE PLAN

 

After considering Report No 632-2007 by the Head of Information Technology, the Committee approved the Information Technology Division Service Plan 2007/2011 and the Action Plan 2007/2008.

 

IV CORPORATE PLANNING DEPARTMENT SERVICE PLAN

 

After considering Report No 637-2007 by the Assistant Chief Executive (Community Planning), the Committee approved the Corporate Planning Department Service Plan for 2007/2011.

V ASSET MANAGEMENT PLAN

 

There was submitted Report No 603-2007 by the Director of Economic Development, together with an Asset Management Plan covering all the City Council's Operational Property and setting out a strategy for the future.

 

The Committee approved the content of the Plan.

 

VI RELIEF OF RATES - CHARITY RELIEF

 

There was submitted Report No 634-2007 by the Depute Chief Executive (Finance) seeking authorisation to grant Charity Relief on the undernoted non-domestic properties:-

 

Applicant

Subjects

 

Craigowl Communities

Stephanie Brown

No 2 India Buildings

Bell Street

Dundee

 

Office

2 Victoria Road

Dundee

Dundee College

Kingsway Campus

Old Glamis Road

Dundee

 

Training School

Gardyne Road

Broughty Ferry

Dundee

 

The Clean Close Company Ltd

12 Mains Loan

Dundee

Shop

Mains Loan

Dundee

 

The Committee approved accordingly.

 

VII REVENUE MONITORING

 

There was submitted Report No 622-2007 by the Head of Finance providing the Committee with an analysis of the 2007/2008 Projected Revenue Outturn as at 31st October, 2007 monitored against the adjusted 2007/2008 Revenue Budget.

 

The Committee:-

 

(i) noted that the overall General Fund 2007/2008 Projected Revenue Outturn as at 31st October, 2007 showed an overspend of 483,000 against the adjusted 2007/2008 Revenue Budget;

 

(ii) noted that the Housing Revenue Account was projecting an underspend of 312,000 against the adjusted HRA 2007/2008 Revenue Budget;

 

(iii) instructed the Head of Finance to take every reasonable action to ensure that the 2007/2008 revenue expenditure was below or in line with the adjusted Revenue Budget;

 

(iv) instructed the Head of Finance in conjunction with all Chief Officers of the Council to continue to monitor the Council's 2007/2008 Projected Revenue Outturn.

VIII CAPITAL MONITORING

 

There was submitted Report No 616-2007 by the Head of Finance appraising members of the latest position regarding the Council's Capital Expenditure programme for 2007/2008.

 

The Committee noted the contents of the report.

 

IX TREASURY MANAGEMENT ACTIVITY 2007/2008 (SIX MONTHS TO 30TH SEPTEMBER, 2007)

 

There was submitted Report No 635-2007 by the Head of Finance reviewing the Treasury Management activities for the period 1st April, 2007 to 30th September, 2007.

 

The Committee noted the information detailed therein.

 

X COMMON GOOD FUND

 

There was submitted Agenda Note AN286-2007.

 

(a) BHARATIYA ASHRAM, THE INDIAN CENTRE FOR EDUCATION AND CULTURE, DUDHOPE CENTRE, ST MARY'S PLACE

 

The Committee approved a contribution of 20,000 towards the redevelopment and refurbishment of the above building.

 

(b) THE BRAE RIDING FOR THE DISABLED PARTNERSHIP CENTRE AT LINLATHEN, DUNDEE

 

The Committee approved a contribution of 10,000 towards the completion of the above Centre.

 

XI COUNTER-FRAUD REPORT - APRIL-SEPTEMBER 2007

 

There was submitted Report No 651-2007 by the Depute Chief Executive (Finance) informing members of the Revenue Division's Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit Counter Fraud activity for the period to 30th September, 2007.

 

The Committee approved the Counter-Fraud Performance Report.

 

XII DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL ACCOUNTS 2006/2007

 

(a) STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS

 

The above report was submitted and noted. (Report No 655-2007).

 

(b) EXTERNAL AUDITORS' REPORT

 

The above report was submitted and noted. (Report No 656-2007).

 

(c) EXTERNAL AUDITORS' REPORT - RESPONSE FROM DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL

 

There was submitted Report No 619-2007 by the Head of Finance in response to a report by the Council's External Auditor on the audit of Dundee City Council for the year to 31st March, 2007.

 

The Committee endorsed the report as its formal response to the External Auditor's report and noted the Action Plan appended to the report.

 

XIII FINANCE GENERAL SERVICE PLAN 2007/2011

 

After considering Report No 628-2007 by the Head of Finance, the Committee approved the Finance General Service Plan 2007/2011 and the Annual Action Plan 2007/2008.

XIV FINANCE REVENUES SERVICE PLAN 2007/2011

 

After considering Report No 653-2007 by the Depute Chief Executive (Finance), the Committee approved the Finance Revenues Service Plan for 2007/2011.

 

XV LOCAL HOUSING ALLOWANCE

 

Councillor Guild declared a financial interest by virtue of being the joint owner of flats to let (2).

 

There was submitted Report No 657-2007 by the Depute Chief Executive (Finance) informing members of the introduction of the Department for Work and Pensions Local Housing Allowance on 7th April, 2008.

 

The Committee noted the contents of the report.

 

XVI WORKPLACE POLICY ON DOMESTIC ABUSE

 

There was submitted Report No 627-2007 by the Assistant Chief Executive (Management) relative to the above.

 

The Committee approved the Workplace Policy on Domestic Abuse appended to the report and noted that the Assistant Chief Executive (Management) would submit a report in one year's time in relation to the implementation and effect of this Policy.

 

XVII SUPPLY OF IT EQUIPMENT - OGC CATALIST

 

There was submitted Report No 618-2007 by the Head of Information Technology relative to the above.

 

The Committee:-

 

(i) noted the IT purchases amounting to 126,220 detailed in appendix 1 of the report for the period 22nd August to 20th November of financial year 2007/2008; and

 

(ii) approved the ongoing engineering maintenance costs of 9,853 per annum.

 

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 I of Schedule 7A of the Act.

 

XVIII WASTE MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT - EARLY RETIREMENT

 

There was submitted Agenda Note AN287-2007 proposing that an Engineering Team Leader ER04/07, and Plant Operative ER05/07, within Waste Management, be retired with effect from 31st March, 2008, in the interest of the efficiency of the service in accordance with the Local Government Pension Scheme (Scotland) Regulations 1998. The employee would receive enhanced benefits in accordance with the Local Government (Discretionary Payments and Injury Benefits) (Scotland) Regulations 1998 (as amended).

 

The Committee approved accordingly.

XIX HOUSING DEPARTMENT - EARLY RETIREMENT

 

There was submitted Agenda Note AN300-2007 proposing that a Housing Officer ER7/07, be retired in the interest of efficiency of the service with effect from 31st December, 2007.

 

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

 

The Committee approved accordingly.

 

 

 

 

Kevin KEENAN, Convener.

APPENDIX