Policy And Resources Committee - 14/02/2011

At a MEETING of the POLICY AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 14th February, 2011.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Councillor Ken GUILD, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 10th February, 2011 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I MINUTE - PERSONNEL APPEALS SUB-COMMITTEE

The minute of meeting of the Personnel Appeals Sub-Committee of 24th January, 2011, a copy of which is appended hereto (Appendix I), was submitted for information and record purposes.

II REVENUE MONITORING 2010/2011

There was submitted Report No 55-2011 by the Director of Finance providing the Committee with an analysis of the 2010/2011 Projected Revenue Outturn as at 31st December, 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 31st December, 2010 showed an overspend of 1,140,000 against the adjusted 2010/2011 Revenue Budget;

(ii) noted that the Housing Revenue Account as at 31st December, 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; and

(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.

III CAPITAL EXPENDITURE MONITORING 2010/2011

There was submitted Report No 50-2011 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.

IV DUNDEE COMMUNITY REGENERATION FUND 2010/2011 TO 2012/2013

There was submitted Report No 63-2011 by the Assistant Chief Executive relative to the above.

The Committee approved the funding process and proposals contained in Section 5.2 of the report appended hereto (Appendix II).

V DUNDEE CITIZENS' ADVICE BUREAU - FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE 2010/2011 AND 2011/2012

Councillor Black declared a non-financial interest in this item by virtue of being the Council's representative on the Dundee Citizens' Advice Board.

After considering Report No 30-2011 by the Director of Finance relative to the above, the Committee approved a revenue grant for Dundee Citizens' Advice Bureau of 110,000 for the financial year 2010/2011 and 2011/2012.

VI ANNUAL CONSUMER SURVEY 2010

There was submitted Report No 43-2011 by the Assistant Chief Executive summarising the main findings from the 2010 Annual Consumer Survey.

The Committee:-

(i) noted the results contained in the report and agreed that the issues raised should continue to be addressed as part of the Council's commitment to continuous improvement using the Public Sector Improvement Framework model;

(ii) remitted to the Assistant Chief Executive to disseminate the customer contact results to departments for use in staff training on customer care;

(iii) invited each Local Community Planning Partnership to consider the key neighbourhood results for their area once the detailed information had been analysed and disseminated; and

(iv) authorised officers to publish the report on the Council's website and make available copies on request as part of the Council's commitment to public performance reporting.

VII SUPPLY OF IT EQUIPMENT

There was submitted Report No 67-2011 by the Head of Information Technology relative to the above.

The Committee:-

(i) noted the IT purchases amounting to 343,804 detailed in Appendix 1 of the report for the period 4th August, 2010 to 25th January, 2011; and

(ii) approved ongoing engineering maintenance costs of 21,137 per annum.

VIII ADULT SUPPORT AND PROTECTION COMMITTEE BIENNIAL REPORT AND BUSINESS PLAN 2010/2011

There was submitted Report No 111-2011 by the Director of Social Work advising the Committee that the Chairman of the Adult Support and Protection Committee (the Committee) had submitted a Biennial Report for 2010/2011 detailing the progress that had been made towards the objectives and recommendations contained within that report and that a multi-agency communication event hosted by the Chairman of the Committee had been arranged for elected members and other stakeholders for 16th February, 2011.

The Committee:-

(i) noted the Biennial Report of the Committee had been issued by the Chairman of the Committee;

(ii) noted the progress that had been made towards meeting the objectives of the Committee Business Plan 2010/2011 as outlined in paragraph 4.2 of the report; and

(iii) noted that the recommendations of the Chairman contained within the Biennial Report would be incorporated into the Business Plan of the Committee.

IX JOINT FOLLOW-THROUGH INSPECTION OF SERVICES TO PROTECT CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL AREA

On a reference to Article VII of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 8th March, 2010 there was submitted Report No 49-2011 by the Chief Executive providing members with the outcome of the joint follow-through of services to protect children and young people in the Dundee City Council area conducted by HMIe.

The Committee:-

(i) noted the content of the HMIe report which stated that progress across the seven main points for action identified in the original HMIe report had been rated:-

- Very Good in respect of: Providing clear leadership and direction to the work of the Children and Young Person's Protection Committee (CYPPC).

- Very Good in respect of: Introducing a systematic approach to self-evaluation across services.

- Very Good in respect of: Reviewing and updating policies and procedures to guide staff in their work to protect children.

- Good in respect of: Improving the actions taken in immediate response to concerns about children.

- Good in respect of: Improving the processes for joint planning to meet children's individual needs.

- Satisfactory in respect of: Improving the processes of assessment of risks and needs and the system for jointly assessing the risks associated with parental substance misuse;

- Satisfactory in respect of: Improving the joint planning of integrated children's services to take full account of the needs of children and risk of harm, abuse and neglect.

(ii) noted the comments in the report which highlight that:-

- leadership had resulted in a very positive and encouraging progress in driving forward improvements in performance.

- significant developments had taken place in the early recognition, immediate response and initial risk assessment of concerns about children and risk of abuse or neglect.

- improved child protection procedures, information-sharing and standardised formats were having a positive impact on the effectiveness of key processes.

- effective co-ordination of multi-agency groups have created a successful model for the delivery of service improvements.

- services to protect children were being strengthened due to better integrated systems.

(iii) requested the Child Officers' Group of Dundee City Council, NHS Tayside and Tayside Police to ensure that the Children and Young Persons' Protection Committee noted the points for continuous improvement made in the report and that it delivered on these via the implementation of its Business and Action Plan; and

(iv) requested the Child Officers' Group and Children and Young Persons' Protection Group to ensure that all points in the report relating to continuous improvement were implemented.

X DUNDEE PARTNERSHIP BID FOR EUROPEAN STRUCTURAL FUNDS 2011/2012

There was submitted Report No 38-2011 by the Director of City Development regarding the allocation of the approved European Structural Fund (ESF) programme from April 2011 for two years.

The Committee approved the award of ESF and the allocation for each of the named delivery partners as detailed below:-

XI CORPORATE INSURANCE RENEWAL 2011

There was submitted Report No 76-2011 by the Director of Finance providing elected members with an overview of the insured, self-insured and risk management arrangements for the financial year 2011/2012.

The Committee approved the report.

XII ANNUAL REPORT - DUNDEE CITY COUNCILS SINGLE EQUALITY SCHEME 2009/2010

After considering Report No 70-2011 by the Director of Leisure and Communities informing the Committee of the progress of the first year of the City Council's Single Equality Scheme, the Committee noted the contents of the report and approved the recommendations contained within Appendix 1 of the report.

XIII SCOTTISH PARLIAMENTARY CROSS-PARTY GROUP ON SUPPORTING VETERANS

After considering Report No 95-2011 by the Depute Chief Executive (Support Services) relative to the above, the Committee adopted the Scottish Veterans' Charter appended to the report.

XIV ANNUAL CONFERENCE - CIPFA

It was reported that the annual CIPFA Conference would be held in Dundee on 17th and 18th March, 2011.

The Committee authorised the attendance of the Leader of the Administration or his nominee at an estimate cost, excluding travel and subsistence, of 395.

XV ROYAL WEDDING

After considering Agenda Note AN17-2011, the Committee granted an additional day of annual leave to celebrate the wedding of His Royal Highness Prince William to Miss Catherine Middleton on 29th April, 2011, it being noted that offices would remain open to the public on 29th April, 2011 and employees would be required to apply should they wish to take leave on this day. Applications for leave would be subject to the exigencies of the service.

Schools subject to the approval of an application to Scottish Ministers for exceptional school closure, would close on this day. Employees who worked on 29th April, 2011 would be entitled to take an annual leave day at a later date.

The Committee approved accordingly.

XVI FIGHT FOR FAIRER FUEL CAMPAIGN

It was reported that this item was placed on the agenda at the request of Councillor Guild.

Councillor Guild, seconded by Councillor Duncan, moved approval of the undernoted:-

(i) notes that the oil price has reached $100 a barrel, and that diesel in the UK is the most expensive in Europe;

(ii) further notes that the combination of the 1st January, 2011 duty rise and the increase in value added tax is estimated to have added 3.5 pence to the cost of a litre of fuel;

(iii) acknowledges the sharp rises in fuel prices over the past year and the resulting impact on headline inflation figures;

(iv) recognises the financial pressure this places on hard-pressed families and businesses already struggling with high inflation and the impact of the recent rise in value added tax;

(v) condemns the Government's continued dithering over the implementation of a fuel duty regulator (or stabiliser) as neither a sustainable or stable way to make tax policy;

(vi) further recognises the specific additional fuel costs for those living in remote and rural parts of the UK;

(vii) is concerned that diesel in such places is approaching 7 per gallon;

(viii) condemns the Government for its failure to prioritise the implementation of a fuel duty derogation;

(ix) calls for the introduction of a fuel duty derogation to the most remote areas at the earliest opportunity; and

(x) calls upon the UK Government to take action to limit rises in the cost of living and instructs the Chief Executive to write to the Prime Minister expressing the concerns of the City Council.

As an amendment, Bailie Wallace, seconded by Councillor Macpherson, moved that this Council supports the "Fight for Fairer Fuel" campaign being led by the Courier and Advertiser. This includes a call to the UK Government to take urgent action to address the rising price of fuel by postponing the schedule duty increase in April 2011 in order to relieve pressure on households and businesses.

On a division, there voted for the motion - Councillors Guild, Barrie, Black, Bowes, Will Dawson, Duncan, Fordyce, Hunter, Lynn, Melville, Roberts, Ross, Keenan, Asif Ferguson, Gordon, McCready, Bailies Sawers and Wright and Lord Provost Letford (20); and for the amendment - Councillors Hay, Macpherson, Bailies Wallace and Scott and Depute Lord Provost Borthwick (5) - whereupon the motion was declared carried.

XVII NEW OLYMPIA AND ALLAN STREET CAR PARK

On a reference to Article VI of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 8th November, 2010 and after considering Agenda Note AN18-2011, it was reported that Mansell Construction Perth, the main contractor for the above project, had requested a change to the ground work sub-contractor from BBGE (Balfour Beatty) Ltd, Aberdeen, to Dundee Plant Company Ltd, Dundee.

The Committee approved accordingly.

The Depute Chief Executive (Support Services) reported that the Committee may resolve 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.

The Committee agreed that the item be held in public.

XVIII SOLAR TECHNOLOGY

Councillor Will Dawson declared a non-financial interest in this item by virtue of his employment with Scottish and Southern Energy.

It was reported that Scottish and Southern Energy plc and HIMIN Solar, a manufacturer of solar technologies in Shandong, China had asked the Council to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding relative to the above.

The Committee agreed that the Leader of the Administration be authorised to sign the Memorandum of Understanding on behalf of the Council.

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.

XIX RELIEF OF NON-DOMESTIC RATES ON THE GROUNDS OF HARDSHIP - (HARDSHIP RELIEF)

After considering Report No 62-2011 by the Director of Finance relative to the above, the Committee approved the recommendation detailed therein.

Ken GUILD, Convener.

APPENDIX I

At a MEETING of the PERSONNEL APPEALS SUB-COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 24th January, 2011.

Present:-

COUNCILLORS

Councillor Stewart HUNTER, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 19th August, 2010 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

The Sub-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.

APPEAL AGAINST DISMISSAL (PA10/10)

It was reported that an appeal against dismissal from an employee of the Education Department had been submitted.

The Sub-Committee heard the Council's representative and witnesses and thereafter, the Appellant's representative and witnesses.

After questions had been put and answers given by both parties to each other and the witnesses, and by members of the Sub-Committee, the parties withdrew.

Thereafter, following careful consideration of all the information, the Sub-Committee agreed that the grounds of the appeal had not been substantiated and that the appeal be not upheld.

Stewart HUNTER, Convener.

APPENDIX II