Policy And Resources Committee - 28/04/2008

At a MEETING of the POLICY AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 28th April, 2008.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Councillor Kevin KEENAN, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 14th April, 2008 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I TAYSIDE PROCUREMENT CONSORTIUM

There was submitted Report No 230-2008 by the Depute Chief Executive (Finance) setting out the proposed strategy for the Tayside Procurement Consortium (TPC) including the recommended structure and governance of a centralised procurement model and detailing the procurement activity required to be undertaken to support the delivery of the procurement programme.

The Committee:-

(i) approved the development of the Tayside Procurement Consortium (TPC), to co-ordinate and deliver all strategic procurement activities on behalf of Dundee City Council in the manner set out in the report, particularly Section 4.4;

(ii) approved the adoption of the Tayside Procurement Strategy 2008/2011 and associated Action Plan, referred to in Section 4.7 of the report;

(iii) approved the proposed corporate governance framework for the TPC, referred to in Section 4.8 of the report;

(iv) delegated authority to the Depute Chief Executive (Finance) to exercise all functions on behalf of Dundee City Council relating to the operation of the TPC, including the award of contracts, provided the same was within the Council's approved Capital and Revenue budgets and was in accordance with the Procurement Strategy 2008/2011 and any other TPC policy approved for that purpose by the Council;

(v) noted that if the Council's Standing Orders, Delegation of Powers, Financial Regulations and Tender procedures required to be amended, a further report would be brought before the Committee; and

(vi) authorised the Depute Chief Executive (Support Services) to approve the TPC Memorandum of Understanding and authorised the Depute Chief Executive (Finance) to sign it on behalf of Dundee City Council.

II WHITFIELD REGENERATION - PROJECT BOARD

There was submitted Report No 38-2008 by the Housing Regeneration Manager seeking approval of a management arrangement involving the local community, for the regeneration of Whitfield.

The Committee approved the promotion of a Whitfield Regeneration Project Board to oversee the implementation of the Whitfield Regeneration Strategy, it being noted that the Project Board would involve the Dundee Community Planning Partners representatives of the local community, local agencies and Elected Members as detailed in paragraph 4.6 of the report and shown below.

Whitfield Community (drawn from the Whitfield Development Group) (2 representatives);

The local Elected Members (Bailie W Sawers, Councillor A Dawson and Councillor B Gordon) or Elected Member substitute;

The Convener of Housing (Bailie G Regan or Elected Member substitute);

The Convener of Planning and Transport (Councillor F Macpherson or Elected Member substitute);

Director of Planning and Transportation (Chair);

Project Manager - Whitfield Regeneration;

Dundee City Council Economic Development Department (1 representative);

Dundee City Council Finance Department (1 representative);

Dundee City Council Leisure and Communities Department (1 representative);

Forum of Housing Associations (1 representative);

Scottish Government Housing and Regeneration Directorate (1 representative);

NHS Tayside (1 representative); and

North East Community Planning Group (1 representative).

In addition, it was agreed that two sub-groups be established to support the Board as detailed in paragraphs 4.8 and 4.9 of the report.

III EMPLOYMENT EQUALITY MONITORING

There was submitted Report No 237-2008 by the Assistant Chief Executive (Management) relative to the above.

The Committee noted the employment equality monitoring statistics for 2008.

IV DEVELOPMENT OF A COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FINANCE INSTITUTE IN DUNDEE

There was submitted Report No 251-2008 by the Depute Chief Executive (Finance) and the Assistant Chief Executive (Community Planning) seeking the Committee's approval to develop a Community Development Financial Institute (CDFI) for Dundee City.

The Committee:-

(i) approved the development and implementation of a CDFI for Dundee City, subject to the successful outcome of the joint bid by the Dundee Partnership and Scotcash (Glasgow) CIC to the Department of Work and Pensions' Growth Fund; and

(ii) approved the allocation of 240,000 from the Council's General Fund balances to be the City Council's contribution to the development and implementation of a CDFI in Dundee, subject to a successful outcome of the bid to the Department of Work and Pensions' Growth Fund.

V OUTDOOR ACCESS LEGISLATION, CORE PATHS PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT RULES

On a reference to Article III of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 13th February, 2006, there was submitted Report No 254-2008 by the Director of Leisure and Communities relative to the above.

The Committee:-

(i) noted the duties and powers placed on the Council relating to the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003;

(ii) approved the Core Paths Planning process, procedure and plan and remitted to the Director of Leisure and Communities to undertake public consultation; and

(iii) approved the updated Parks Management Rules and remitted to the Director of Leisure and Communities to undertake public consultation.

VI PENSIONERS PARLIAMENT 2008

It was reported that the National Pensioners' Convention was holding the Pensioners' Parliament in Blackpool from 3rd to 5th June, 2008 and Bailie Wright had been invited to attend in her role as the Council's Older People's Champion.

The Committee approved accordingly, it being noted that there was no cost to the Council other than travel and subsistence expenses.

VII PETITION "LET SCOTLAND DECIDE"

It was reported that the undernoted item had been placed on this meeting at the request of Councillor Guild.

This Council supports the position that the people of Dundee be allowed to vote in a referendum to determine the political future of Scotland and this Council recommends that they sign the petition "Let Scotland Decide".

The Convener decided that it was not competent for the Committee to consider this matter.

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 item of business on the grounds that it involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 1 of Part I of Schedule 7A of the Act.

VIII EARLY RETIREMENT

After considering Agenda Note AN87-2008 the Committee approved the early retirement of a Depute Head Teacher (ER-08) on the grounds of efficiency of the service with effect from 17th August, 2008 in accordance with the Teachers' (Compensation for Premature Retirement and Redundancy) (Scotland) Regulations 1996.

Kevin KEENAN, Convener.