Policy And Resources Committee - 08/11/2010

At a MEETING of the POLICY AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 8th November, 2010.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Councillor Ken GUILD, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 25th October, 2010 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I REVENUE MONITORING 2010/2011

There was submitted Report No 648-2010 by the Director of Finance, providing the Committee with an analysis of the 2010/2011 Projected Revenue Outturn as at 30th September, 2010 monitored against the adjusted 2010/2011 Revenue Budget.

The Committee:-

(i) noted that the overall General Fund 2010/2011 Projected Revenue Outturn as at 30th September, 2010 showed an overspend of 542,000 against the adjusted 2010/2011 Revenue Budget;

(ii) noted that the Housing Revenue Account as at 30th September, 2010 was projecting a breakeven position against the adjusted HRA 2010/2011 Revenue Budget;

(iii) instructed the Director of Finance to take every reasonable action to ensure that the 2010/2011 revenue expenditure was below or in line with the adjusted Revenue Budget;

(iv) instructed the Director of Finance in conjunction with all Chief Officers of the Council to continue to monitor the Council's 2010/2011 Projected Revenue Outturn.

II CAPITAL EXPENDITURE MONITORING 2010/2011

There was submitted Report No 637-2010 by the Director of Finance appraising members of the latest position regarding the Council's Capital Expenditure Programme 2010/2011.

The Committee noted the contents of the report.

III DUNDEE COMMUNITY REGENERATION FUND 2010/2011 - 2012/2013

There was submitted Report No 654-2010 by the Assistant Chief Executive relative to the above.

The Committee approved the funding process and the proposals contained in Section 5 of the report appended hereto (Appendix I).

IV TELEPHONY INFRASTRUCTURE UPGRADE

There was submitted Report No 650-2010 by the Head of Information Technology detailing tenders received for a major upgrade to the Council's telephony infrastructure and outlining the requirement for this investment and upgrade.

The Committee:-

(i) approved the acceptance of the OGC Buying Solutions tender of 390,100 from Freedom Communications (UK) Ltd, for the upgrade detailed in the report; and

(ii) remitted to the Head of Information Technology to develop a project plan and migration plan to manage the project.

V INSTALLATION OF AUTOMATIC METER READING TECHNOLOGY

After considering Report No 655-2010 by the City Architectural Services Officer relative to the above, the Committee authorised the Director of Finance to enter into a Buying Solution Framework Agreement with Stark Software International Ltd, Horley on the undernoted basis:-

VI NEW OLYMPIA AND ALLAN STREET CAR PARK

Councillors Duncan, Ross, Hunter, McCready and Bailie Wallace declared a non-financial interest in this item by virtue of being the Council's representatives on Dundee Leisure.

After considering Report No 660-2010 by the Director of Leisure and Communities, Director of City Development and City Architectural Services Officer detailing tenders received for the above, the Committee agreed to accept the tender submission from Mansell Construction Services Ltd, Perth amounting to 24,113,904.52, together with the undernoted allowances amounting to 7,347,000, giving a total cost of 31,460,904.52.

The Committee noted that the following sub-contractors would be used by Mansell Construction Services Ltd:-

VII QUALIFYING LEVELS FOR WORKING FAMILIES TAX CREDIT AND COUNCIL EMPLOYEES

It was reported that this item had been placed on the agenda by Councillor Bidwell.

The Committee approved the undernoted resolution.

This Committee instructs the Chief Executive to undertake a review to ascertain the number of Council employees potentially affected by changes in Tax Credits, as announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his June 2010 Budget and the October 2010 Comprehensive Spending Review. This review should focus particularly, but not exclusively, on the increase in the minimum hours threshold for qualifying for Working Families Tax Credits.

Furthermore, the Council explores ways it might mitigate the negative effect of these changes on its employees to be disqualified from Tax Credits when the qualifying conditions change.

Finally, that the Chief Executive reports back to the Policy and Resources Committee.

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 6 of Part I of Schedule 7A of the Act.

VIII AIRPORT SERVICES

After considering Agenda Note AN146-2010 relative to the provision of airport services, the Committee approved the recommendation detailed therein.

Ken GUILD, Convener.

APPENDIX I