Policy And Resources Committee - 24/08/2009

At a MEETING of the POLICY AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 24th August, 2009.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Councillor Ken GUILD, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 1st July, 2009 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I MINUTES

(i) IMPROVEMENT, PERFORMANCE AND EFFICIENCY SUB-COMMITTEE - 30TH JUNE, 2009

(ii) RECESS SUB-COMMITTEE - 20TH JULY, 2009

(iii) RECESS SUB-COMMITTEE - 3RD AUGUST, 2009

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

II UNIT RATE CONTRACT FOR GROUND INVESTIGATIONS - AUGUST 2009 - MARCH 2012

Reference was made to Article I of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 25th June, 2007, wherein the Committee approved the existing Unit Rate Contract and to Article II of the minute of meeting of the Environmental and Consumer Protection Committee of 17th September, 2001, wherein the strategy for Contaminated Land was agreed.

There was submitted Agenda Note AN181-2009 intimating that as part of this strategy, the City Engineer recommended that a Unit Rate Contract be utilised to obtain rates from a number of specialist contractors experienced in contaminated land site investigation. This contract had been further updated to reflect current testing methods and practices.

Tenders for the Unit Rate Contract for the period July 2009 to March 2012 had been submitted by the undernoted specialist contractors:-

-          Aitken Laboratories Ltd, Castlehill House, Slamannan

-          Raeburn Drilling & Geotechnical Ltd, Whistleberry Road, Hamilton

-          Bam Ritchies, Glasgow Road, Kilysyth, Glasgow

-          Soil Mechanics Ltd, Askern Road, Carcroft, Doncaster

-          Land - Drill Geotechnics Ltd, 5 Kingsthorne Park, Houston Industrial Estate, Livingston

-          Fugro Engineering Services, Armstrong House, Unit 43 No 1 Estate, Consett, Co Durham

-          ERS Land Regeneration, Westerhill Road, Bishopbriggs, Glasgow

The Committee authorised the use of the most favourable tender on a project by project basis for any future ground investigation work required by the Council.

III ASSET MANAGEMENT PLAN - ANNUAL REVIEW

On a reference to Article XIII of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 8th December, 2008, there was submitted Report No 374-2009 by the Director of City Development relative to the above.

The Committee noted that a Corporate Working Group would be established to take forward the recommendations from the recent Audit Scotland National Study.

IV DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL - TACKLING THE RECESSION

There was submitted Report No 406-2009 by the Director of City Development and Depute Chief Executive (Finance) providing an overview of the Council's response to the current economic recession outlining a range of initiatives established to support local businesses, families and communities.

The Committee noted the activities currently being undertaken by the Council to minimise the impact of the recession.

V TAYSIDE PROCUREMENT CONSORTIUM

On a reference to Article I of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 28th April, 2008 there was submitted Report No 365-2009 by the Depute Chief Executive (Finance) summarising the activities of the Tayside Procurement Consortium (TPC) for the financial year 2008/2009 and providing an update on actual performance against the approved Procurement Strategy 2008/2011.

The Committee noted the contents of the report which was submitted in accordance with the approved TPC Strategy 2008/2011.

VI EUROPEAN UNION OF SUPPORTED EMPLOYMENT

There was submitted Report No 401-2009 by the Head of Personnel notifying the Committee of the re-election of Mr Mike Evans, Manager of the Council's Employment Unit to President of the European Union of Supported Employment (EUSE) and seeking renewed authority for Mr Evans to participate in EUSE activities.

The Committee approved the participation of Mr Evans in the activities of EUSE and congratulated him on his appointment.

VII AMENDMENT TO STANDING ORDER NO 12

There was submitted Agenda Note AN463-2009 advising that this item had been placed on the agenda at the request of Councillor Macpherson.

Councillor Macpherson, seconded by Councillor Dick, moved approval of the undernoted.

Standing Order No 12 be amended to read:-

Meetings of the Council in any capacity, unless the Convener, or in his/her absence, the Depute Convener otherwise decides, take precedence over meetings of all Committees other than the Education Committee.

As an amendment, Councillor Guild, seconded by Councillor Duncan moved the status quo.

On a division, there voted for the motion - Councillors Bidwell, Gordon, McCready, Macpherson, Dick, Bailie Regan (6); and for the amendment - Councillors Guild, Barrie, Black, Bowes, Andy Dawson, Will Dawson, Duncan, Fordyce, Hunter, Lynn, Melville, Roberts, Ross, Keenan, Asif, Ferguson, Hay, Bailies Sawers, Wright, Wallace, Scott, Lord Provost Letford and Depute Lord Provost Borthwick (23) - whereupon the amendment was declared carried.

VIII SIGNIFICANT CASE REVIEW AND INDEPENDENT REVIEW - BRANDON MUIR

The Committee acceded to a request from Mr Rory Malone, Unison, to be heard relative to the above and Unison's manifesto on Social Work.

After he had stated his case and answered questions from members of the Committee, Mr Malone was thanked for his attendance and withdrew.

There was submitted Report No 418-2009 by the Chief Executive informing members of the Committee of the outcome of the Significant Case Review (SCR) undertaken by Mr J Hawthorn and the independent report undertaken by Professor P Wilson in respect of Brandon Muir.

Councillor Guild, seconded by Councillor Duncan moved that the Committee:-

(i) note the content of the report;

(ii) instruct the Children and Young Persons' Protection Committee (CYPPC) to incorporate recommendations and actions from the SCR within the Improvement Plan prepared in response to the HMIe Joint Inspection of Services to Protect Children and Young People in the Dundee City Council Area;

(iii) ask the Chief Officer Group of Dundee City Council, NHS Tayside and Tayside Police to monitor progress in respect of the implementation of the recommendations included in the report;

(iv) ask the Best Value Review Group to include the recommendations from SCR within the Review Group's work programme;

(v) ask the Chief Executive to report back to the Policy and Resources Committee on progress in respect of the implementation of the SCR at the same time as reports are submitted in respect of the previously approved HMIe Joint Inspection of Child Protection Services; and

(vi) ask the Chief Executive to invite Mr J Hawthorn and Professor Wilson to give a further briefing.

As an amendment, Councillor Keenan, seconded by Councillor McCready, moved that the Committee note the report but do not accept it in its entirety and would prefer to leave it open for some time so that Dundee City Council could draw its own conclusions.

-          In the interests of children's safety we agreed the recommendations.

-          Dundee City Council must establish a protocol for partnerships working.

-          Dundee City Council must have scrutiny of this report linked and in conjunction with HMI(e) Report on Child Protection Services in accordance with Audit Scotland's recommendations.

-          One member from each political group on Dundee City Council should have an open invitation to attend Management meetings.

-          All meetings in relation to this must be open and transparent.

On a division, there voted for the motion - Councillors Guild, Barrie, Black, Bowes, Andy Dawson, Will Dawson, Duncan, Fordyce, Hunter, Lynn, Melville, Roberts, Ross, Bailie Sawers and Lord Provost Letford (15); and for the amendment - Councillors Keenan, Asif, Bidwell, Ferguson, Gordon, McCready, Hay, Macpherson, Dick, Bailies Regan, Wright, Wallace, Scott and Depute Lord Provost Borthwick (14) - whereupon the motion was declared carried.

IX DRUGS AND ALCOHOL MISUSE AND THE IMPACT ON THE CITY

There was submitted Agenda Note AN464-2009 advising that this item had been placed on the agenda at the request of Councillor Keenan.

The Committee agreed that the Chief Executive should revise the motion which was agreed in principle, instruct the preparation of reports and report back to the next Committee the revised terms of the motion.

X DISCOVERY CREDIT UNION AND AFFORDABLE LENDING

Councillor McCready, Lynn and Black declared a financial interest in this item by virtue of being members of the Discovery Credit Union.

There was submitted Report No 419-2009 by the Assistant Chief Executive and Depute Chief Executive (Finance) outlining development opportunities available to the Discovery Credit Union and proposing a financial support package underpined by a service level agreement.

The Committee:-

(i) endorsed Discovery Credit Union's participation in the Department of Work and Pension's Growth Fund programme;

(ii) approved the allocation of 245,255 in total to Discovery Credit Union over the years 2009/2010 and 2010/2011 subject to the agreement of a service level agreement;

(iii) agreed that Dundee City Council be formally represented on the Board of Discovery Credit Union by the Community Planning Manager; and

(iv) requested a financial sustainability plan from Discovery Credit Union for the period 1st April, 2011 to 31st March, 2014, such plan to be received no later than December 2010.

XI CAPITAL MONITORING

There was submitted Report No 373-2009 by the Head of Finance appraising members of the latest position regarding the Council's Capital Expenditure programme for 2009/2010.

The Committee noted the contents of the report.

XII REVENUE MONITORING

There was submitted Report No 388-2009 by the Head of Finance providing the Committee with an analysis of the 2009/2010 Projected Revenue Outturn as at 30th June, 2009 monitored against the adjusted 2009/2010 Revenue Budget.

The Committee:-

(i) noted that the overall General Fund 2009/2010 Projected Revenue Outturn as at 30th June, 2009 showed an overspend of 5,000 against the adjusted 2009/2010 Revenue Budget;

(ii) noted that the Housing Revenue Account was projecting an overspend of 144,000 against the adjusted HRA 2009/2010 Revenue Budget;

(iii) instructed the Head of Finance to take every reasonable action to ensure that the 2009/2010 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 2009/2010 Projected Revenue Outturn.

XIII FAIRER SCOTLAND FUND COMMUNITY REGENERATION FORUM ALLOCATION 2008/2010

Councillor Hunter declared a non-financial interest in the Ardler Village Trust by virtue of representing the Council on the Trust.

There was submitted Report No 399-2009 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 appended to the report.

XIV RELIEF OF RATES - CHARITY RELIEF

There was submitted Report No 416-2009 by the Depute Chief Executive (Finance) seeking authorisation to grant charity relief on the undernoted non-domestic properties.

The Committee approved accordingly.

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.

XV RESTRUCTURING OF FINANCE DEPARTMENT MANAGEMENT AND REVIEW OF EXTERNAL DIRECTORSHIPS

After considering Agenda Note AN188-2009 relative to the above, the Committee approved the recommendations detailed therein including the appointment of the Head of Finance to the Boards of Discovery Education and Dundee Leisure in place of the Depute Chief Executive (Finance).

Ken GUILD, Convener.