Policy And Resources Committee - 08/12/2008

At a MEETING of the POLICY AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 8th December, 2008.

 

Present:-

 

Depute Lord Provost Ian BORTHWICK

 

 

 

BAILIES

 

Helen WRIGHT

Willie SAWERS

Derek J SCOTT

 

Roderick A J WALLACE

 

 

COUNCILLORS

 

Kevin KEENAN

Fraser MACPHERSON

Bob DUNCAN

Mohammed ASIF

Helen DICK

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 G ROSS

Joe MORROW

Andrew DAWSON

Donald HAY

 

Will DAWSON

 

 

Councillor Kevin KEENAN, Convener, in the Chair.

 

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 24th November, 2008 was held as read.

 

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

 

I MINUTES

 

(i) SUPERANNUATION INVESTMENT SUB-COMMITTEE OF 17TH NOVEMBER, 2008

 

(ii) PERSONNEL APPEALS SUB-COMMITTEE OF 24TH NOVEMBER, 2008

 

The minutes of meetings of the above Sub-Committees, copies of which are appended hereto (Appendices I and II), were submitted for information and record purposes.

 

II REVENUE MONITORING

 

There was submitted Report No 629-2008 by the Head of Finance providing the Committee with an analysis of the 2008/2009 Projected Revenue Outturn as at 31st October, 2008 monitored against the adjusted 2008/2009 Revenue Budget.

 

The Committee:-

 

(i) noted that the overall General Fund 2008/2009 Projected Revenue Outturn as at 31st October, 2008 showed an overspend of 424,000 against the adjusted 2008/2009 Revenue Budget;

 

(ii) noted that the Housing Revenue Account was projecting an underspend of 10,000 against the adjusted HRA 2008/2009 Revenue Budget;

 

(iii) instructed the Head of Finance to take every reasonable action to ensure that the 2008/2009 revenue expenditure was below or in line with the adjusted Revenue Budget; and

 

(iv) instructed the Head of Finance in conjunction with all Chief Officers of the Council to continue to monitor the Council's 2008/2009 Projected Revenue Outturn.

 

III CAPITAL MONITORING

 

There was submitted Report No 612-2008 by the Head of Finance appraising members of the latest position regarding the Council's Capital Expenditure Programme for 2008/2009.

 

The Committee noted the contents of the report.

 

IV REVIEW OF RATES - CHARITY RELIEF

 

There was submitted Report No 611-2008 by the Depute Chief Executive (Finance) seeking authorisation to grant charity relief on the undernoted non-domestic property.

 

Applicant

Subjects

 

Art Angel

Ground Floor

Waverley House

West Marketgait

Dundee

Office

 

The Committee approved accordingly.

 

V COUNTER-FRAUD BENEFIT SANCTION POLICY

 

After considering Report No 598-2008 by the Depute Chief Executive (Finance) relative to the above, the Committee approved the updated Benefit Sanction Policy appended thereto.

 

VI COUNTER-FRAUD, ANTI-FRAUD AND ANTI-CORRUPTION POLICY

 

After considering Report No 599-2008 by the Depute Chief Executive (Finance) relative to the above, the Committee approved the updated Anti-Fraud and Anti-Corruption Policy.

 

VII COUNTER-FRAUD REPORT - AS AT 30TH SEPTEMBER, 2008

 

There was submitted Report No 600-2008 by the Depute Chief Executive (Finance) informing elected members of the Revenue Division's Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit counter-fraud activity as at 30th September, 2008.

 

The Committee approved the terms of the report.

 

VIII AUDIT SCOTLAND RISK ASSESSMENT REPORT ON THE REVENUE DIVISIONS HOUSING AND COUNCIL TAX BENEFIT SERVICE

 

There was submitted Report No 621-2008 by the Depute Chief Executive (Finance) informing elected members of the recent risk assessment audit undertaken by Audit Scotland on the Revenue Division's Housing and Council Tax Benefit service.

 

The Committee approved the Action Plan prepared by officers to address the recommendations contained within the Audit Scotland report appended thereto.

 

IX TREASURY MANAGEMENT ACTIVITY 2008/2009 (SIX MONTHS TO 30TH SEPTEMBER, 2008)

 

There was submitted Report No 605-2008 by the Head of Finance reviewing the Treasury Management activities for the period 1st April, 2008 to 30th September, 2008.

 

The Committee noted the information detailed therein.

 

X ENERGY PERFORMANCE CERTIFICATES

 

There was submitted Report No 628-2008 by the Depute Chief Executive (Support Services) regarding the enforcement of the Energy Performance of Buildings (Scotland) Regulations 2008 in cases other than the sale of domestic dwellinghouses.

 

The Committee agreed that officers of the Building Standards Division who were nominated in that regard by the Director of Planning and Transportation be authorised to require the production of Energy Performance Certificates, serve Penalty Charge Notices and Building Regulations Compliance Notices on building owners and generally have power to enforce the provisions of the Energy Performance of Buildings (Scotland) Regulations 2008 and directions made under the regulations in cases other than the sale of domestic dwellinghouses.

 

XI FAIRER SCOTLAND FUND - COMMUNITY REGENERATION FORUM ALLOCATION 2008/2010

 

There was submitted Report No 626-2008 by the Assistant Chief Executive relative to the above.

 

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

 

Project Title/Applicant

Project Description

Grant Award

 

Ardler Village Trust

To fund the purchase and installation of three new seats in Ardler public open space.

 

2,000

Community Family Support Project

Transport and entrance fees for 20 parents and 19 children from St Mary's to attend a pantomime and engage with wider project activity.

 

550

Mains Parish Church

Purchase of stacking chairs to replace existing worn and damaged ones used by a variety of community groups.

 

2,000

Feel Good Project

The Pavilion

Mill O'Mains

To develop a health care initiative to generate interest around health and well-being. Taster sessions will include healthy eating, practical cooking, food and mood, stress management and others.

 

617

Crafts and Mosaic Group

The Pavilion

Mill O'Mains

Materials for mixed gender group (aged 28-70) to learn an art and craft activity whilst developing their social and emotional wellbeing.

 

268

5-9 Children's Group

The Pavilion

Mill O'Mains

Materials for a group of eight boys and ten girls in 5-9 age group to learn an art and craft activity over a 12 week period.

 

200

Steven Glass, Olympia Leisure Centre

Leisure and Communities

To purchase hockey goals for Morgan Wanderers and Cluster Primary Wanderers.

 

600

Dalmahoy Play Park

(Sanctuary Scotland)

Provide play facilities for under 5's.

 

 

26,650

 

Helmsdale Avenue/

Balgowan Terrace Ramp

Dundee Contract Services

Improve ease of access at named locations for all local residents.

 

 

11,492

White Lighting within St Mary's

Planning and Transport

Install white lighting in various locations in St Mary's.

 

26,650

Orchard Court White Lighting

Dundee Contract Services

New lighting column and white lighting will be erected in the southern car park at Orchard Court.

 

1,500

Longhaugh Quarry

Environmental Improvements

Dundee Contract Services

Bulb planting and the creation of wildflower meadows in the ex-landfill site.

 

 

10,000

Finlathen Playpark Improvements

Dundee Contract Services

Play park refurbishment along with new play equipment and youth shelter installation.

 

20,000

Anti-Social Behaviour Team

(ABST) - Security Chicanes

Housing Department

Purchase and installation of eight security chicanes to reduce incidents of motorbike misuse in the Mid Craigie, Linlathen and Douglas area.

 

6,331

Under 12's Project - Fence Replacement

Dundee Contract Services

Upgrade and repair boundary fencing and install boom gate to increase user security and safety.

4,445

 

XII TELEPHONY AND DATA NETWORK UPGRADE

 

There was submitted Report No 627-2008 by the Head of Information Technology relative to the above.

 

The Committee:-

 

(i) agreed that the Council's 1426 Featurenet telephone extensions be replaced over the next three years at a capital cost of 723,000;

 

(ii) agreed that these telephone extensions be replaced with IP (Internet Protocol) handsets;

 

(iii) agreed that the currently separate data and voice infrastructure be upgraded and combined into a single converged infrastructure;

 

(iv) agreed that it be remitted to the Head of Information Technology to develop a project plan and migration plan to manage the above migration.

 

XIII ASSET MANAGEMENT PLAN - ANNUAL REVIEW

 

On a reference to Article V of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 10th December, 2007 there was submitted Report No 540-2008 by the Director of Economic Development updating the above plan as necessary and appraising the Committee of progress made during the past year.

 

The Committee approved the contents of the report.

XIV ROLE OF THE CHIEF SOCIAL WORK OFFICER

 

There was submitted Report No 617-2008 by the Chief Executive relative to the above.

 

The Committee:-

 

(i) noted the content of the draft response on the 'Consultation on Guidance on the Role of the Chief Social Work Officer'; and

 

(ii) instructed the Chief Executive to forward this response to the Scottish Government on behalf of Dundee City Council by 19th December, 2008.

 

XV REVIEW OF OFFICE ACCOMMODATION

 

There was submitted Report No 624-2008 by the Depute Chief Executive (Finance) setting out a critical appraisal of the City Council's office accommodation requirements in the short, medium and long-term together with proposals for the optimum solution.

 

The Committee approved the implementation of Option 3 as set out in Section 7 of the report subject to the necessary planning and other consents being granted.

 

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.

 

XVI DUNDEE CONTRACT SERVICES DEPARTMENT - EARLY RETIREMENT

 

After considering Agenda Note AN233-2008, the Committee approved the early retirement of a principal officer within the Dundee Contract Services Department (ER10/08) in the interests of efficiency of the service with effect from 31st December, 2008 in accordance with the Local Government Pension Scheme (Scotland) Regulations 1998 and the Local Government (Discretionary Payments and Injury Benefits) (Scotland) Regulations 1998 (as amended).

 

 

 

 

Kevin KEENAN, Convener.