Policy And Resources Committee - 01/07/2009

At a MEETING of the POLICY AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 1st July, 2009.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Councillor Ken GUILD, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 8th June, 2009 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I MINUTE - SUPERANNUATION INVESTMENT SUB-COMMITTEE - 18TH MAY, 2009

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

II RECESS SUB-COMMITTEE

There was submitted Agenda Note AN134-2009 intimating that the Council's recess would commence on 4th July, 2009 and end on 15th August, 2009 and in order to facilitate the smooth, continuous conduct of the Council's business, it was proposed that a Recess Sub-Committee of the Council be set up to deal with matters of an urgent nature which the Chief Executive or Depute Chief Executive (Support Services) believed could not wait for the next ordinary meeting of the Committee concerned during that period and that its operating arrangements be as follows:-

(i) Membership - 4 members of the Administration, 2 members of the Labour Group, 1 member of the Conservative Group and 1 Liberal Democrat.

(ii) Chair - Leader of the Administration or nominee.

(iii) Substitutes - in terms of Standing Order No 45(3) it shall be competent for substitutions to be intimated and effected for individual meetings.

(iv) Quorum - 3 members.

(v) Dates - to be arranged on a Monday when required.

(vi) Remit - to deal with any urgent business arising during the recess period.

(vii) Power - full delegated powers to deal with business laid before it.

The Committee approved accordingly.

In addition, notwithstanding the above, following consultation with the Convener of the Scrutiny Committee, it was agreed that it be remitted to the Chief Executive or Depute Chief Executive (Support Services) to fix meetings of the Scrutiny Committee during the recess period to deal with outstanding matters which fell within the terms of that Committee.

III MEMBERS SALARIES

There was submitted Report No 309-2009 by the Depute Chief Executive (Finance) seeking the Council's approval to a Scheme of Salaries and Expenses for elected members with the scheme to be effective from 1st April, 2009.

The Committee approved the contents of the report including the salaries proposed detailed in Appendix B and agreed that the Scheme of Salaries and Expenses based on this report be prepared and issued to all elected members.

IV LOCAL CODE ON CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

There was submitted Report No 277-2009 by the Depute Chief Executive (Finance) reviewing and updating the Council's Local Code of Corporate Governance.

The Committee:-

(i) approved the review and updated Local Code of Corporate Governance as detailed in Appendix 1;

(ii) approved the implementation of the improvements listed in Appendix 2;

(iii) agreed that the Code should now be updated as a project on the internet; and

(iv) noted that the Local Code on Corporate Governance would be reviewed annually and updated as necessary.

V CORPORATE HUMAN RESOURCE STRATEGY

There was submitted Report No 337-2009 by the Head of Personnel intimating that the purpose of this report was to seek approval of an updated Action Plan to progress the implementation of the Council's Corporate Human Resource Strategy.

The Committee approved the Human Resource Strategy Action Plan appended to the report.

VI FOLLOWING THE PUBLIC POUND

After considering Report No 276-2009 by the Head of Finance relative to the above, the Committee approved the updated guidance and associated appendices.

VII SINGLE OUTCOME AGREEMENT 2009/2012

After considering Report No 332-2009 by the Chief Executive relative to the above, the Committee endorsed the Single Outcome Agreement for Dundee 2009/2012 as approved by the Dundee Partnership and the Scottish Government.

VIII HOUSING CAPITAL BUDGET 2009/2010, 2010/2011 AND 2011/2012 - REVISION

There was submitted Report No 318-2009 by the Director of Housing setting out the revised three year Housing Capital Estimates which would continue progress to meeting the Scottish Housing Quality Standard by 2015.

The Committee:-

(i) approved the Draft Housing Capital Budget for 2009/2010 and the draft budget for 2010/2011 and 2011/2012;

(ii) approved the action as detailed in paragraph 3 of the report;

(iii) instructed the City Architectural Services Officer and City Engineer, in conjunction with the Director of Housing, to invite offers for the projects included in these Capital and Planned Maintenance estimates, and authorised the Director of Housing, City Architectural Services Officer and City Engineer to implement alternative methods of procurement with contractors where these were necessary to achieve the value for money that would be required to meet the Scottish Housing Quality Standard (including partnering arrangements with contractors, where appropriate); and

(iv) authorised the Director of Housing to accept offers as detailed in paragraph 4.3 of the report.

IX COUNTER-FRAUD REPORT FOR FINANCIAL YEAR 2008/2009

There was submitted Report No 348-2009 by the Depute Chief Executive (Finance) informing elected members of the Revenue Division's Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit Counter Fraud activity for the financial year to 31st March, 2009.

The Committee approved the terms of the report.

X PROGRESS WITH PROJECTS AND OUTCOME MEASURES IN THE COUNCIL PLAN 2007/2011

There was submitted Report No 326-2009 by the Assistant Chief Executive providing details of progress with priority projects and outcome measures included in the Council Plan 2007/2011.

The Committee:-

(i) noted the contents of the report, including the appendices which detailed progress made on the Council Plan 2007/2011; and

(ii) agreed that, as part of the commitment to Public Performance Reporting, this information on progress be added to the copy of the Council Plan which appeared on the Council's website, and that copies of this report be made available to partner organisations, local groups and members of the public on request.

XI FAIRER SCOTLAND FUND COMMUNITY REGENERATION FORUM ALLOCATION 2008/2010

There was submitted Report No 347-2009 by the Assistant Chief Executive relative to the above.

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

XII GENDER EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY SCHEME

There was submitted Report No 331-2009 by the Director of Leisure and Communities and Depute Chief Executive (Support Services) relative to the above.

The Committee:-

(i) noted the progress made in implementing the Corporate Gender Equality and Diversity Scheme 2007/2010; and

(ii) approved the Second Annual Report on the Corporate Gender Equality and Diversity Scheme 2007/2010.

XIII PERSONNEL DEPARTMENT SERVICE PLAN UPDATE

After considering Report No 336-2009 by the Head of Personnel relative to the above, the Committee approved the Personnel Department Service Plan update.

XIV CONSTRUCTION PROCUREMENT POLICY

There was submitted Report No 356-2009 by the Chief Executive seeking Committee approval for the adoption of policies and procedures set out within the report for procurement of construction related works.

The Committee:-

(i) endorsed the use of the principles of partnership working, where appropriate, and as established in the Council's published Partnering Guidelines for Construction Contracts;

(ii) agreed the principles established for the awarding of contracts for individual projects, major work programmes, responsive, cyclical and planned maintenance including minor works; and

(iii) agreed the procedures for monitoring and reporting on performance.

XV PLANNING LOCAL REVIEW BODY

On a reference to Article V of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 27th April, 2009, there was submitted Report No 292-2009 by the Depute Chief Executive (Support Services) and Director of Planning and Transportation making recommendations concerning the establishment of Dundee City Council's Planning Local Review Body which the Council was required to constitute under the provisions of Section 43(a) of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 as inserted by the Planning etc (Scotland) Act 2006.

The Committee:-

(i) approved the terms of reference and operating arrangements for the Planning Local Review Body as detailed in Section 4 of the report subject to the undernoted appointments;

(ii) approved the amended terms of reference for the Development Quality Committee;

(iii) remitted to the Depute Chief Executive (Support Services) to make any consequential amendments to Standing Orders;

(iv) remitted to the Director of Planning and Transportation to make appropriate training arrangements;

(v) remitted to the Depute Chief Executive (Support Services) and Director of Planning and Transportation to monitor staffing implications and other expenditure and, if necessary, additional financial provision be made in the 2010/2011 Revenue Budget for Support Services and/or City Development; and

(vi) agreed that in the interests of impartiality and independence no ward member for the ward in which a review case was allocated should sit on that particular review panel.

Thereafter, Councillor Guild, seconded by Councillor Barrie moved the undernoted appointments:-

Councillor Bowes, Chair

Councillor Roberts, Depute Chair

and that a member of the Major Opposition Group be invited to fill the other place on the body.

As an amendment, Bailie Scott, seconded by Councillor Keenan, moved approval of the undernoted appointments:-

Bailie Wallace, Chair

Councillor Black, Depute Chair

On a division, there voted for the motion - Lord Provost Letford, Councillors Guild, Barrie, Black, Bowes, Andy Dawson, Will Dawson, Duncan, Fordyce, Hunter, Lynn, Melville, Roberts, Ross and Bailie Sawers (15); and for the amendment - Councillors Keenan, Asif, Bidwell, Ferguson, Gordon, McCready, Macpherson, Dick, Bailies Wright, Wallace and Scott (11) - whereupon the motion was declared carried.

XVI UNAUDITED STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR TO 31ST MARCH, 2009

There was submitted Report No 363-2009 by the Head of Finance providing some additional background and commentary on the City Council's Unaudited Statement of Accounts appended thereto.

The Committee:-

(i) noted the contents of the report;

(ii) noted the unaudited Statement of Accounts that had been submitted along with this report; and

(iii) instructed the Head of Finance to submit the Unaudited Statement of Accounts to the Controller of Audit, Accounts Commission for Scotland.

XVII JOINT INSPECTION OF SERVICES TO PROTECT CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE IN DUNDEE CITYCOUNCIL AREA

There was submitted Report No 362-2009 by the Chief Executive providing members with information on the outcome of the Joint Inspection of Services to Protect Children and Young People in the Dundee City area by HMIe.

Councillor Guild, seconded by Councillor Duncan, moved that the Committee approve the recommendations in the report shown below:-

(i) note the content of the HMIe report;

(ii) ask the Chief Officers Group of Dundee City Council, NHS Tayside and Tayside Police to implement the Improvement Plan appended to the report (Appendix 1).

(iii) authorise additional expenditure of up to 500,000, if required, to be funded from General Fund balances;

(iv) establish a Best Value review to consider the future development, delivery, evaluation and monitoring of child protection services in Dundee as shown in the Appendix to the report (Appendix 2); and

(v) ask the Chief Executive to report back on the progress of implementation in four months' time to coincide with submission of a progress report to HMIe.

As an amendment Councillor Keenan, seconded by Bailie Wright, moved that the Committee approve the above subject to the following amendments/additions to the recommendations as undernoted:-

Recommendation (ii) add "Further additional information be provided to the Policy and Resources Committee as regards actions and outcomes expected from the 34 point Improvement Plan and how each action and outcome will address and answer the weaknesses in the Inspection Report."

Recommendation (iv) add "This report also be referred to the Scrutiny Committee."

Recommendation (v) delete and replace with "ask the Chief Executive to report back on a monthly basis on the progress of the Improvement Plan to the Policy and Resources Committee with the full progress report also submitted to the Policy and Resources Committee prior to its submission to the HMIe within 4 months."

New Recommendation (vi) - Ask the Chief Officers Group of Dundee City Council, NHS Tayside and Tayside Police to establish a Multi-Disciplined Inspection Team with the Chief Officers Group arranging a regular schedule of service inspection audits, the purpose being to ensure that all aspects of service are fit for the purpose and help drive up the quality of the services for our young people through continuous improvement suggestions.

New Recommendation (vii) - The Council supports the call for a National Inquiry on Child Protection and the aim for a Scotland where no child is left at risk.

On a division, there voted for the motion - Councillors Guild, Barrie, Black, Bowes, Andy Dawson, Will Dawson, Duncan, Fordyce, Hunter, Lynn, Melville, Roberts, Ross, Lord Provost Letford and Bailie Sawers (15); and for the amendment - Councillors Keenan, Asif, Bidwell, Ferguson, Gordon, McCready, Macpherson, Dick, Bailies Wright, Wallace and Scott (11) - whereupon the motion was declared carried.

The Convener agreed that Article XVIII below be considered as a matter or urgency in terms of Standing Order No 17(b) in view of the timescales involved.

XVIII APPOINTMENT - TAYSIDE JOINT POLICE BOARD APPOINTMENTS SUB-COMMITTEE

The Committee agreed that the vacancy be filled by Councillor Roberts.

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.

XIX DUNDEE CONTRACT SERVICES - EARLY RETIREMENT (ER03/09)

After considering Agenda Note AN147-2009, the Committee resolved that ER03/09, a Cook within the Contract Services Department, be retired with effect from 7th August, 2009 in the interests of efficiency of the service. The retiral would be in accordance with the Local Government Pension Scheme (Scotland) Regulations 1998. The employee would also receive enhanced payments in accordance with the Local Government Discretionary Payments and Injury Benefits) (Scotland) Regulations 1998 (as amended).

XX CITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT - EARLY RETIREMENT (ER04/09)

After considering Agenda Note AN148-2009, the Committee resolved that ER04/09, an employee in the City Development Department be retired with effect from 3rd September, 2009 on the grounds of business efficiency. The retiral would be in accordance with the Local Government Pension Scheme (Benefits, Membership and Contributions) (Scotland) Regulations 2008. The employee would also receive enhanced payments in accordance with the Local Government (Discretionary Payments and Injury Benefits) (Scotland) Regulations 1998 (as amended) on the scale agreed by the Personnel Committee on 14th March, 2005.

Ken GUILD, Convener.