Policy And Resources Committee - 25/01/2010

At a MEETING of the POLICY AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 25th January, 2010.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Councillor Ken GUILD, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 11th January, 2010 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I DUNDEE EMPLOYMENT AND AFTERCARE PROJECT (DEAP)

As there was no substantive item of business before the meeting relating to the above, Councillor Guild, seconded by Councillor Duncan, moved the suspension of Standing Order No 28(1) in order that a deputation may be heard from the above organisation and asked the Committee to agree that the press and public be excluded from the meeting on the basis that confidential information may be disclosed.

As an amendment, Councillor Macpherson, seconded by Councillor Keenan, moved approval of the foregoing motion, subject to the deputation being heard in public.

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, Bailies Regan, Wright, Wallace, Scott and Depute Lord Provost Borthwick (13) - whereupon the motion was declared carried and the press and public were excluded from the meeting for this item of business.

After the deputation had stated their case regarding the withdrawal of funding and answered questions from members of the Committee and Officers, they were thanked for their attendance and withdrew.

Thereafter, the Convener explained that the suspension of Standing Orders allowed the deputation to be heard but had not created a substantive item of business and moved to the next item of business before the meeting.

II REVENUE BUDGET 2010/2011 - HOUSING REVENUE ACCOUNT

There was submitted Report No 20-2010 by the Director of Finance relative to the above.

Councillor Black, seconded by Councillor Melville, moved approval of the 2010/2011 Revenue Budget for the Housing Revenue Account appended to this minute (Appendix I) and that the matter be remitted to the Housing, Dundee Contract Services and Environment Services Committee in order that it may set the 2010/2011 rent levels.

As an amendment, Councillor Macpherson, seconded by Bailie Regan, moved approval of the 2010/2011 Revenue Budget for the Housing Revenue Account appended to this minute (Appendix II).

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, Bailies Regan, Wright, Wallace, Scott and Depute Lord Provost Borthwick (13) - whereupon the motion was declared carried.

III INSURANCE AND RISK MANAGEMENT PROGRAMME 2010/2011

There was submitted Report No 27-2010 by the Director of Finance providing elected members with an overview of the proposed insured, self-insured and risk management arrangements for the period 1st January, 2010 to 31st December, 2010.

The Committee approved the report.

IV AMENDMENTS TO PROCEDURE FOR DEALING WITH BREACHES OF DISCIPLINE AND SUB-STANDARD WORK PERFORMANCE AND GRIEVANCEPROCEDURE

There was submitted Report No 57-2010 by the Head of Personnel seeking approval for amendments to the procedure for dealing with breaches of discipline and sub-standard work performance and grievance procedure.

The Committee approved the procedures appended to the report.

V TOWARDS A SAFER TAYSIDE 2010/2011 - CONSULTATION DOCUMENT

The Committee acceded to requests from the Fire Brigade Union and the Firemaster, Tayside Fire and Rescue Board for deputations to be heard relative to the above.

After they had stated their case and answered questions from members of the Committee, the deputations were thanked for their attendance and withdrew.

Consideration was given to a letter dated 4th December, 2009, which had been received from the Convener of Tayside Fire and Rescue Board, together with a copy of the above consultation document and two activity reports covering the period 1st April, 2009 to 30th June, 2009 and 1st July, 2009 to 30th September, 2009.

The Committee agreed that it be remitted to the Chief Executive to write to Tayside Fire and Rescue Board intimating that the Committee supported the document 'Towards A Safer Tayside' with the exception of the proposals for Balmossie Fire Station.

VI RELIEF OF RATES - CHARITY RELIEF

There was submitted Report No 45-2010 by the Director of Finance seeking authorisation to grant Charity Relief on the undernoted non-domestic properties:-

The Committee approved accordingly.

VII CONSULTATION ON NHS TAYSIDE - DRAFT HEALTH EQUITY STRATEGY

There was submitted Report No 8-2010 by the Assistant Chief Executive advising the Committee of consultation in respect of the NHS Tayside Draft Health Equity Strategy.

The Committee:-

(i) noted the current consultation of NHS Tayside Draft Equity Strategy;

(ii) approved the consultation response outlined in Paragraph 4.4 of the report; and

(iii) remitted to the Assistant Chief Executive to submit a further report on the finalised NHS Tayside Health Equity Strategy.

VIII CIPFA IN SCOTLAND ANNUAL CONFERENCE

It was reported that CIPFA In Scotland Annual Conference would be held in Dundee on 18th and 19th March, 2010.

The Committee authorised the attendance of one member of the Administration and one member of the Major Opposition Group, at an estimated cost, excluding travel and subsistence, of 460 per delegate.

IX TENDERS RECEIVED - 14 CITY SQUARE - KITCHEN REFURBISHMENT

There was submitted Report No 67-2010 by the City Architectural Services Officer detailing tenders received for the above work.

The Committee authorised the acceptance of the lowest offer being that from Muirfield Contracts Ltd, Dundee for the sum of 45,266.31, together with allowances of 8,649, making a total of 53,915.31.

The Committee noted that Muirfield Contracts Ltd, Dundee had listed the undernoted Sub‑Contractors:-

X FAIRER SCOTLAND FUND

(a) COMMUNITY REGENERATION FORUM ALLOCATION 2008/2010

Councillors Black and Asif declared non-financial interests in the Grey Lodge Settlement - External Walls Project by virtue of being the Council's representatives on the Grey Lodge Board.

There was submitted Report No 58-2010 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 hereto (Appendix III).

(b) TRANSITION TO MAINSTREAM - APPEALS

Councillors Black and Asif declared non-financial interests in the Hilltown Childcare Initiative by virtue of being the Council's representatives on the Grey Lodge Board.

Councillor Roberts declared a non-financial interest in the Dighty Environmental Group by being a member of the Group and her husband was a driver for the Group on a voluntary basis.

Reference was made to Article IV of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 11th January, 2010, wherein the Committee agreed to endorse the Dundee Partnership recommendations for the ongoing programme of projects to be funded through the mainstream Fairer Scotland Fund subject to an agreed appeal procedure and any successful appeals being reported back to Committee for information.

There was submitted Agenda Note AN28-2010 intimating that appeals were heard on 15th January, 2010 with the successful appeals shown below:-

(a) Dighty Environmental Group to receive full funding of 11,449 per annum for three years beginning 1st April, 2010 with requirement to develop plans for long term sustainability; and

(b) Hilltown Childcare Initiative to receive reduced funding of 25,000 for one year from 1st April, 2010 to facilitate redesign of local childcare and transition towards a self‑financing basis by 1st April, 2011.

The Committee noted accordingly.

Thereafter, Councillor Keenan, seconded by Bailie Regan, moved that Standing Order No 39 be suspended to allow a report to be sought from the Dundee Partnership providing the grounds for the decisions reached in relation to all the appeals submitted by the Fairer Scotland funded projects.

As an amendment, Councillor Guild, seconded by Councillor Duncan, moved that Standing Orders be not suspended.

On a division, there voted for the motion - Councillors Keenan, Asif, Bidwell, Ferguson, Gordon, McCready, Hay, Macpherson, Bailies Regan, Wright, Wallace, Scott and Depute Lord Provost Borthwick (13); and for the amendment - Councillors Guild, Barrie, Black, Bowes, Andy Dawson, Will Dawson, Duncan, Fordyce, Hunter, Lynn, Melville, Roberts, Ross, Bailie Sawers and Lord Provost Letford (15) - whereupon the amendment was declared carried.

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 paragraphs 6 and 9 of Part I of Schedule 7A of the Act.

XI DUNDEE ENERGY RECYCLING LTD (DERL) - BALDOVIE WASTE TO ENERGY PLANT

Councillor Wallace declared a non-financial interest in this item by virtue of being a member of the Good Neighbourhood Working Group.

There was submitted Agenda Note AN26-2010 relative to the above.

The Committee approved the recommendation detailed therein.

Ken GUILD, Convener.

APPENDIX I

HOUSING REVENUE ACCOUNT

REVENUE BUDGET 2010/2011

HOUSING REVENUE ACCOUNT

REVENUE BUDGET 2010/2011

APPENDIX II

HOUSING REVENUE ACCOUNT

REVENUE BUDGET 2010/2011

HOUSING REVENUE ACCOUNT

REVENUE BUDGET 2010/2011

APPENDIX III