Policy And Resources Committee - 27/04/2009

At a MEETING of the POLICY AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 27th April, 2009.

 

Present:-

 

Lord Provost John R LETFORD

 

 

 

Depute Lord Provost Ian BORTHWICK

 

 

 

BAILIES

 

Willie SAWERS

Helen WRIGHT

Roderick A J WALLACE

George REGAN

 

Derek J SCOTT

 

COUNCILLORS

 

Ken GUILD

Elizabeth F FORDYCE

Laurie BIDWELL

Jim BARRIE

Stewart HUNTER

Tom FERGUSON

Jimmy BLACK

Ken LYNN

Brian GORDON

David BOWES

Craig MELVILLE

Richard McCREADY

Andrew DAWSON

Christina ROBERTS

Donald HAY

Will DAWSON

Alan G ROSS

Fraser MACPHERSON

Bob DUNCAN

Kevin KEENAN

Helen DICK

 

Mohammed ASIF

 

 

Councillor Ken GUILD, Convener, in the Chair.

 

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 23rd March, 2009 was held as read.

 

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

 

I MINUTE OF PERSONNEL APPEALS SUB-COMMITTEE

 

The minute of meeting of the above Sub-Committee of 30th March, 2009, a copy of which is appended hereto, was submitted for information and record purposes.

 

II FAIRER SCOTLAND FUND COMMUNITY REGENERATION FORUM ALLOCATION 2008/2010

 

Councillor Duncan declared a non-financial interest in the 20th Dundee Girls' Brigade by virtue of a family member.

 

There was submitted Report No 203-2009 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

 

Footway Lighting (Foster Road)

Tayside Contracts

Kirkton - footway lighting between Foster Road and Gillburn Road to improve safety of children travelling to and from school.

 

16,000

Lochee Library

Leisure and Communities

For children's summer activities eg visiting authors for 'team read' award, giving material for crafts and refreshments for children during 'Rhyme Time'.

 

700

 

Menzieshill Nursery School

Growing of vegetables in the nursery garden and creating healthy recipes, using them, leading to the creation and printing of a healthy eating recipe book.

 

200

20th Dundee Girls' Brigade

Girls Brigade weekend away at Glenshee Outdoor Adventure Centre. Girls will pay 50% of the cost.

 

2,850

Burnside Sheltered Lounge,

Whorterbank

Transport costs, entrance fees and meals for a visit to Scottish Parliament and also to provide a 13 week block of aromatherapy sessions for residents.

 

1,490

Smart Moves Dance Group

To hire the Whitehall Theatre for three nights for the group's annual performance.

 

3,000

Menzieshill Out of School Care Club

To pilot Healthy Eating Initiative.

 

2,500

Menzieshill Out of School Care Club

To provide transport and entrance fees for day trips during the summer holidays for children whose families cannot afford these outings.

 

4,275

6th/8th Dundee Boys' Brigade

To purchase a photocopier to meet the increasing need for copying and printing by the group.

 

2,451

Menzieshill Gardening Group

To enable the group to visit gardens of interest around Scotland. Grant will also pay for plants that will be planted in Menzieshill Community Centre Garden.

 

550

Basic Moves/Basic Games

Leisure and Communities

Physical activity programme for 96 children in P1-P5 promoting involvement in sports and regular exercise.

 

6,000

Dundee West Youth Project

Leisure and Communities

A range of youth work and youth diversionary activities by Blast-Off worker, two youth workers and two activity workers.

 

23,892

Whitfield Community Centre

Local Management Group

Leisure and Communities

To re-furnish three halls in the community centre. Coffee bar tables and chairs will be replaced and available for use by all residents within the community.

 

3,513

The Pavilion, Mill O'Mains

To purchase equipment to establish a new under 9's football team to promote physical activity and increase community involvement of both children and adults.

 

989

Youth Sports Development Project

Leisure and Communities

Delivery of multi-sports and hockey within Dens Road, Rosebank and Our Lady's Primary Schools from May 2009 - March 2010 (34 weeks, one session at each school per week).

 

1,415

 

Basic Moves/Basic Games

Sports Development

Leisure and Communities

Physical activity programme for 64 children in P1-P5 promoting involvement in sports and regular exercise.

 

3,000

Clanz Youth Project - Cycle Event

Cycle and safety equipment hire for a sponsored cycle event to raise funds for the group.

1,200

 

III DUNDEE PARTNERSHIP COMPACT AND VOLUNTEERING STRATEGY

 

There was submitted Report No 204-2009 by the Director of Leisure and Communities regarding the development of the Dundee Partnership Compact and Volunteering Strategy.

 

The Committee:-

 

(i) endorsed the Dundee Partnership Compact and Volunteering Strategy;

 

(ii) agreed to replacing the Dundee City Council's Voluntary Sector Liaison Group (VSLG) with the Dundee Partnership Compact Group;

 

(iii) agreed the membership and remit of the Dundee Partnership Compact Group; and

 

(iv) supported the development of the Dundee Partnership Compact and Volunteering Strategy and the implementation of the associated action plans.

 

IV THE PLANNING HIERARCHY

 

There was submitted Report No 52-2009 by the Director of Planning and Transportation seeking to inform members of the content of the Town and Country Planning (Hierarchy of Developments) (Scotland) Regulations 2009 and outline the potential implications for the Council, communities and other stakeholders.

 

The Committee noted the content of this report and considered its implications in conjunction with the parallel reports relating to the Local Review Body and Scheme of Delegation (Articles V and VI below).

 

V LOCAL REVIEW BODY

 

There was submitted Report No 195-2009 by the Director of Planning and Transportation making recommendations concerning establishment, configuration and duties of the Local Review Body which the Council was required to constitute under the provisions of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 as amended by Section 43A of the Planning etc (Scotland) Act 2006.

 

The Committee endorsed the terms of this report as a basis for consultation prior to its formal adoption at the Policy and Resources Committee on 8th June, 2009 and as the basis for the constitution of the Local Review Body and the establishment of its Terms of Reference.

 

VI SCHEME OF DELEGATION

 

There was submitted Report No 200-2009 by the Director of Planning and Transportation making recommendations concerning the form and content of the Council's Mandatory Scheme of Delegation which was required to be prepared and submitted to Scottish Ministers for approval by 30th June, 2009.

 

The Committee:-

 

(i) endorsed the Draft Mandatory Scheme of Delegation outlined in Annex A to the report as the Scheme which the Council wished to adopt in accordance with the provisions of Section 43A of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 as inserted by the Planning etc (Scotland) Act 2006 and of the Town and Country Planning (Schemes of Delegation and Local Review Procedures) (Scotland) Regulations 2008 as a basis for discussion prior to its formal adoption at the Policy and Resources Committee on 8th June, 2009; and

 

(ii) endorsed the Draft Discretionary Scheme of Delegation outlined in Annex B to this report as a basis for discussion prior to its formal adoption at the Policy and Resources Committee on 8th June, 2009.

 

VII CARBON MANAGEMENT PLAN 2009/2013

 

There was submitted Report No 241-2009 by the Assistant Chief Executive relative to the above.

 

The Committee approved the Carbon Management Plan 2009/2013 appended to the report.

 

VIII HOSPITAL FUND AND JOHNSTON BEQUEST

 

There was submitted Report No 215-2009 by the Head of Finance advising members of the additional income level to be available in 2009/2010 from the above funds for the distribution to pensioners in financial need.

 

The Committee approved the increase of the annual payment from 60 to 70 and the issue of one application form per elected member in order that they may identify appropriate constituents within their ward for receipt of a pension from the above funds.

 

IX STOBSWELL PARTNERSHIP

 

There was submitted Report No 196-2009 by the Director of Planning and Transportation seeking the Committee's approval to change the supervisory arrangements for the Stobswell Regeneration Strategy and Development Framework.

 

The Committee:-

 

(i) approved the winding-up of the Stobswell Partnership Board; and

 

(ii) approved the continuation of the Stobswell Officers Co-ordinating Group at least until March 2010 as a working group of the Maryfield Local Community Planning Partnership (LCPP) reporting to the Head of Environmental Health and Trading Standards, who was chair of the LCPP. The working group to be known as the Stobswell Projects Implementation Group.

 

X DUNDEE CENTRAL WATERFRONT PROJECT

 

(a) PROGRESS REPORT 2007/2008

 

There was submitted Report No 197-2009 by the Depute Chief Executive (Finance), Director of Planning and Transportation and Director of Economic Development advising the Committee of the City's Growth Fund Annual Report 2007/2008.

 

The Committee:-

 

(i) noted and endorsed the Cities Growth Fund Annual Report 2007/2008 which was forwarded by the Depute Chief Executive (Finance) to the Scottish Government in July 2008;

 

(ii) noted that the Cities Growth Fund had ceased and an equivalent allowance had been made in the General Capital Grant settlement by the Scottish Government and this had been allocated for the Central Waterfront Project;

 

(iii) agreed that an annual report on performance and financial planning of the Central Waterfront Project be brought to the Policy and Resources Committee each October;

 

(iv) noted that Scottish Enterprise had allocated a contribution of 33m to the Central Waterfront Project; and

 

(v) noted that the Dundee Central Waterfront Project Partnership Board had agreed to progress with Phase 3 of the project, from January 2009 to February 2014, at an estimated cost of 20.4m.

 

(b) ESTABLISHMENT OF A CENTRAL WATERFRONT PARTNERSHIP

 

Reference was made to Article III of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 14th February, 2005, wherein the Committee agreed the general content of a proposed Partnership Agreement.

 

There was submitted Agenda Note AN120-2009 intimating that following negotiations between Officers of the Council and Scottish Enterprise, a detailed Partnership Agreement had been drawn up incorporating these agreed terms. In addition, the obligation on both parties to pull and re-distribute assets would be secured by the guarantee if either party wished it. This agreement had now been signed on behalf of the Council and Scottish Enterprise.

 

The Committee noted accordingly.

 

XI OCCUPATIONAL ROAD RISK POLICY

 

There was submitted Report No 212-2009 by the Council's Health and Safety Co-ordinator, seeking the Committee's approval of the Occupational Road Risk Policy.

 

The Committee approved the Occupational Road Risk Policy appended to the report subject to a report being submitted on driver competence.

 

XII ROYAL BRITISH LEGION SCOTLAND - DUNDEE FESTIVAL OF REMEMBRANCE

 

After considering Agenda Note AN103-2009, the Committee approved a grant to meet the cost of hiring the Caird Hall Complex on 31st October, 2009 for the Dundee Festival of Remembrance amounting to 1,341 including all rentals and ancillary costs.

 

XIII EMPLOYMENT EQUALITY MONITORING

 

There was submitted Report No 222-2009 by the Head of Personnel advising the Committee of the employment equality monitoring statistics for the calendar year 2008.

 

The Committee noted the employment equality monitoring statistics detailed in the appendices to the report.

 

XIV FINANCE REVENUES SERVICE PLAN - UPDATE

 

After considering Report No 207-2009 by the Depute Chief Executive relative to the above, the Committee approved the Finance Revenues Service Plan update.

 

XV FINANCE GENERAL SERVICES PLAN - UPDATE

 

After considering Report No 229-2009 by the Head of Finance relative to the above, the Committee approved the Finance General Service Plan update.

 

XVI THE CONVERSION OF SIX PUBLIC HOLIDAYS TO ANNUAL LEAVE

 

There was submitted Report No 198-2009 by the Head of Personnel advising on discussions with the trade unions on the implementation of the conversion of six public holidays to annual leave entitlement.

 

It was noted that in view of the timescales involved, the Chief Executive in consultation with spokespersons from each of the groups had approved the undernoted recommendations.

 

(i) the six public holidays will be transferred to annual leave with effect from 1st April, 2009 and agreed protections will apply to existing employees only;

 

(ii) existing employees on rotas (eg Residential Care Workers, Concierge, etc), who are contractually required to work by management on any of the six former public holidays, will be paid at time and a half (ie normal pay for the day plus half) with time with pay, taken as annual leave, at an agreed alternative date. New employees will be paid plain time and will have annual leave to take at an agreed alternative date;

 

(iii) for employees not on a rota, the six former public holidays will be normal working days. However, annual leave will be granted to existing employees, if they request it giving four weeks' notice. New employees will work normally, but may also request annual leave, which may or may not be granted depending on operational needs;

 

(iv) to cover the additional cost of the above proposals, all overtime of a non-contractual nature, previously paid at double time, will be paid at a maximum of time and a half, whenever worked. This will apply to all existing and new employees alike;

 

(v) the five public holidays remaining will be unaffected and paid at current rates with time off with pay at an alternative agreed date; and

 

(vi) in view of the current indication that UNITE intends to ballot its members affected by these changes, each of the political groups is requested to nominate a member to form a small working group, so that Officers can brief the working group and seek advice during any period of industrial action by members of UNITE.

 

XVII DUNDEE HOUSE - CONSTRUCTION TENDER AND TOTAL COST

 

There was submitted Report No 244-2009 by the Depute Chief Executive (Finance) relative to the above.

 

The Committee:-

 

(i) agreed that the tender submission from Bovis Lendlease of 28,094,318 be approved and that the Officers of the Council be instructed to conclude the contract documentation;

 

(ii) agreed that the total capital cost and all the constituent elements be fixed and approved at 34,008,347 and that the design team fees be fixed at the level set out in this report; and

 

(iii) noted that there would be regular update meetings of the Dundee House Project Board during the construction phase of the Dundee House project.

 

XVIII SAFEGUARDERS - FEES AND EXPENSES

 

After considering Agenda Note AN110-2009, the Committee approved the undernoted fees which had been increased in line with inflation with effect from 1st April, 2009.

 

Fees - Appointments by Hearing

 

(a) Fixed Appointment Fee - 232

Fixed Appointment Fee - second and subsequent children

116 per child (living separately from first child)

58 per child (living together with first child)

 

(b) Fixed Attendance Fee - 116

 

(c) Fixed Fee for Reports - Continued Hearings

116 (written report) 58 (oral report)

58 (written report) 29 (oral report) - second and subsequent children

 

Fees - Appointments by Sheriff

 

(a) Fixed Appointment Fee - 232

Fixed Appointment Fee - 58 (not entering proceedings as a party)

Fixed Appointment Fee - second and subsequent children

116 per child (living separately from first child)

58 per child (living together with first child)

 

(b) Fixed Attendance Fee 116 per day regardless of the number of children involved (entering as a party only)

 

(c) Fixed Fee for Continued Diets - 58 (entering as a party only)

 

Safeguarder Expenses

 

Mileage rate per mile to be a flat rate of 40p per mile in accordance with Inland Revenue Guidelines.

 

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.

 

XIX CHIEF EXECUTIVES DEPARTMENT - EARLY RETIREMENT

 

There was submitted Agenda Note AN115-2009 intimating that in view of the timescales involved, the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Convener of the Policy and Resources Committee and spokespersons from the other political groups, had authorised the retirement of an Officer (ER/02/09) in the Chief Executive's Department in the interest of the efficiency of the service with effect from 30th April, 2009.

 

The retiral would be in accordance with the Local Government Pension Scheme (Scotland) Regulations and the Local Government (Discretionary Payments and Injury Benefits) (Scotland) Regulations 1998 (as amended).

 

The Committee noted accordingly.

 

 

 

 

Ken GUILD, Convener.

 

APPENDIX