Recess Sub-committee - 01/08/2011

At a MEETING of the RECESS SUB-COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 1st August, 2011.

APPENDIX II

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Councillor Ken GUILD, Convener, in the Chair.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I TENDERS RECEIVED

There was submitted Report No 348-2011 by the City Architectural Services Officer detailing tenders received and requesting a decision thereon:-

(a) CLEMENT PARK 2ND AND 3RD DEVELOPMENT - HEATING, KITCHENS AND BATHROOMS

The Sub-Committee agreed to accept a partnering project with McGill Electrical Ltd, Dundee, amounting to FIVE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY FIVE THOUSAND, THREE HUNDRED AND THIRTY SIX POUNDS (585,336) STERLING, together with the undernoted allowances:-

making a total expenditure of SIX HUNDRED AND FIFTY SEVEN THOUSAND AND TWENTY NINE POUNDS (657,029) STERLING.

(b) WEST KIRKTON 2ND WHITSUN FAIRHURST BOILER AND HEATING REPLACEMENT

The Sub-Committee agreed to accept a partnering project with Dundee Contract Services, amounting to ONE HUNDRED AND TEN THOUSAND POUNDS (110,000) STERLING, together with the undernoted allowances:-

making a total expenditure of ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY FOUR THOUSAND, EIGHT HUNDRED AND SEVENTY THREE POUNDS (124,873) STERLING.

(c) DICK MCTAGGART GYMNASTIC CENTRE - EXTENSION AND ALTERATIONAL WORKS

The Sub-Committee agreed to accept the lowest offer from Hadden Construction Ltd, Aberuthven, amounting to ONE MILLION, SEVEN HUNDRED AND TWENTY THREE THOUSAND, TWO HUNDRED AND FORTY NINE POUNDS AND NINE PENCE (1,723,249.09) STERLING, as adjusted from 1,753,227.27 following a savings exercise, together with the undernoted allowances:-

making a total expenditure of ONE MILLION, NINE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY THOUSAND, NINE HUNDRED AND NINETY FIVE POUNDS AND NINE PENCE (1,980,995.09) STERLING.

The Sub-Committee also noted the undernoted sub-contractors had been listed by Hadden Construction:-

Down Takings - W MacMillan, Glasgow

Electrical Work - E W Edwardson (Electrical Contractors) Ltd, Glenrothes

Mechanical Works - Select Building Engineering Services Ltd, Glasgow

Cladding - McKay Roofing Ltd, Kirkintilloch

Gym Equipment - Gymnova, Lancashire

(d) BALDRAGON ACADEMY - NEW DIRECT HOT WATER DISTRIBUTION TO TECHNICAL/SCIENCE/TWO STOREY BLOCK

The Sub-Committee agreed to accept the lowest offer from Taylor Mechanical Services Ltd, Dundee amounting to FORTY TWO THOUSAND, SEVEN HUNDRED AND FORTY FOUR POUNDS AND SEVENTY PENCE (42,744.70) STERLING, together with the undernoted allowances:-

making a total expenditure of FIFTY THOUSAND, ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY NINE POUNDS AND SEVENTY PENCE (50,139.70).

The Sub-Committee also noted the undernoted sub-contractors had been listed by Taylor Mechanical Services Ltd:-

Builder Works - Land and Building Services Ltd, Dundee

Insulation Work - Angus Insulation Ltd, Montrose

Painter Work - Arbroath Decorators, Arbroath

II TENDERS RECEIVED BY CITY ENGINEER

There was submitted Report No 331-2011 by the City Engineer detailing tenders received in respect of Dundee Central Waterfront Stage 3 Contract 3 Northern Ramp Replacement and Northern Boulevard provision.

The Sub-Committee agreed to accept the offer with the highest ranking score for cost and quality received from Sir Robert McAlpine Ltd, in the sum of EIGHT MILLION, ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY EIGHT THOUSAND, FIVE HUNDRED AND NINETY FOUR POUNDS AND TWELVE PENCE (8,148,594.12) STERLING, together with the undernoted allowances:-

making a total expenditure of ELEVEN MILLION, THREE HUNDRED AND FORTY FIVE THOUSAND POUNDS (11,345,000) STERLING.

III FOOD TRAIN SERVICE

There was submitted Report No 286-2011 by the Director of Social Work informing of the proposed establishment of the Food Train Service, a grocery delivery service for older people.

The Convener, seconded by Councillor Barrie, moved:-

(i) to endorse the establishment of the Food Train Service;

(ii) to endorse the measures being taken in order to support community capacity building and co-production in order to meet the demands of demographic changes and future demand for services;

(iii) to instruct the Director of Social Work to proceed with developing a contractual arrangement with the Food Train; and

(iv) that a report be submitted to the Committee after a period of 12 months on the operation of the service.

As an amendment, Councillor Keenan, seconded by Councillor Gordon, moved to continue the deferment of this report to allow negotiations to continue with the relevant Trade Unions.

On a division, there voted for the motion - the Convener and Councillors Barrie, Duncan and Macpherson and Bailies Sawers and Wallace (6); and for the amendment - Councillors Keenan and Gordon (2) - whereupon the motion was declared carried.

IV ELMGROVE HOUSE REPLACEMENT

There was submitted Report No 341-2011 by the Director of Social Work seeking approval to agree the mechanisms for providing a joint Housing Support and Care at Home Service as a replacement for Elmgrove House which was a residential care facility for adults with severe learning disabilities.

The Sub-Committee agreed:-

(i) to a partnership with Hillcrest Housing Association to replace the building with the development of a very sheltered model of care provision. This Housing Association had been selected through the Strategic Housing Investment Programme (SHIP) and the model of operation was based on the successful partnership model with another Housing Association operated at Rockwell Gardens, as outlined in Option 5 of the report;

(ii) to the rephasing of the Social Work Capital Plan to fund the shortfall in funding caused by a reduction in Housing Association Grant available; and

(iii) to the transfer of Elmgrove House and surrounding land to Hillcrest Housing Association in order that Housing Association Grant funding could be secured for the project.

V ACCOMMODATION AND SUPPORT FOR PEOPLE WITH COMPLEX NEEDS RELATED TO ALCOHOL USE

There was submitted Report No 343-2011 by the Director of Social Work outlining plans for procuring accommodation with support for 10 individuals with complex needs related to alcohol use, many of whom were in homeless accommodation.

The Sub-Committee agreed:-

(i) to note the contents of the report; and

(ii) to instruct the Director of Social Work to procure accommodation with support for 10 individuals as indicated in paragraph 4.9 of the report.

VI TENDERS FOR THE SUPPLY OF A CONSUMER AND SOCIAL SURVEY ON BEHALF OF DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL, THE DUNDEE PARTNERSHIP ANDANGUS COUNCIL

There was submitted Report No 344-2011 by the Chief Executive reporting on the tenders returned from market research companies for the conduct of a survey on behalf of the Council and the Dundee Partnership in the years 2011, 2012 and 2013.

The Sub-Committee agreed to accept the lowest tender from Research Resource at a cost to Dundee City Council of 55,650 over three years.

VII OUTSIDE BODIES - OFFICER REPRESENTATION

Councillor Guild declared a non-financial interest in this item of business by virtue of his Council appointment to the Board of Dundee Repertory Theatre.

Councillors Duncan and Macpherson declared a non-financial interest in this item of business by virtue of their Council appointment to the Board of Dundee Contemporary Arts.

There was submitted Agenda Note AN119-2011 requesting that following the recent changes to the departmental structures and designation posts that the undernoted appointments be approved.

VIII VOLUNTARY EARLY RETIREMENT/VOLUNTARY REDUNDANCY SCHEME

Reference was made to Article VIII of the minute of meeting of the Policy and Resources Committee of 26th April, 2010, wherein "Dundee City Council - Voluntary Early Retirement/Voluntary Redundancy Scheme" was approved. The scheme provided for employees meeting defined criteria to receive up to five added years pensionable service on a sliding scale linked to years of service with the Council. Applications had to be made by 31st August, 2010.

There was submitted Agenda Note AN120-2011 reporting that the scheme was successful in contributing towards the Council's efficiency savings for 2011/2012. Since then, the Council's Changing For The Future programme had made progress in achieving further long term efficiencies via a number of projects and initiatives, some of which had been completed, while others continued. Amongst the latter was the Chief Executive's review and restructure of Council departments. The move towards larger, but fewer in number, departments was producing ongoing opportunities for rationalisation and efficiency savings.

In the course of this, a number of employees had indicated that they would have applied for the early retirement provisions offered last year had they appreciated the extent of the mergers and integrations of functions now being implemented. Internal restructurings currently underway could be assisted if certain employees were able to retire voluntarily. Further direct savings towards 2012/2013 would also be generated by not filling and deleting posts.

In order to continue the process begun last year, it was reported that it would assist matters greatly if the previous VER/VR Scheme arrangement of up to five added years was offered now and in future, as an incentive, in order to facilitate departmental reviews, restructurings, rationalisations and efficiency savings, etc.

The Sub-Committee agreed:-

(i)                                          that in order to facilitate the implementation of Changing For The Future projects and in other appropriate circumstances, as listed above, the Chief Executive be given delegated authority to consult relevant heads of departments, approve voluntary early retirals/voluntary redundancies and agree up to five added years of pensionable service in accordance with the Voluntary Early Retirement/Voluntary Redundancy Scheme provisions in Report No 227‑2010; and

(ii)                                         to note that approval would be subject to the usual decision-making process, whereby the Chief Executive, Director of Finance and the Head of Personnel considered applications based on cost and service provision.

IX COMMUNITY REGENERATION FUND GRANT TO KIRKTON COMMUNITY CENTRE

There was submitted Agenda Note AN123-2011 requesting approval of a community regeneration grant of 850 to enable Kirkton Community Centre to run "Kirkton Kids", a nine day programme of diverse activities for primary school age children during early August, reaching 450 local children. Funding will be allocated from the Strathmartine Community Regeneration Forum budget leaving a balance of 73,991 for 2011/2012.

The Sub-Committee agreed to the award of grant as outlined.

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 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.

X EARLY RETIREMENT

Reference was made to Article VIII of the minute of meeting of the Policy and Resources Committee held on 26th April, 2010, wherein the grounds of voluntary retiral were agreed. Reference was also made to Article VI of the minute of meeting of the Policy and Resources Committee held on 14th March, 2011, wherein the transfer of departmentally based IT staff into the IT Division was agreed and which also indicated that further savings may be made as workloads were consolidated.

There was submitted Agenda Note AN121-2011 reporting that an early opportunity had arisen to consolidate workloads and the Sub-Committee agreed to the voluntary retiral of employee ERO3/11, within the Information Technology Department with effect from 31st August, 2011 on the terms outlined in the note.

XI APPOINTMENTS - LEISURE AND CULTURE DUNDEE BOARD

Bailie Wallace and Councillors Duncan and Gordon declared a non-financial interest in this item of business by virtue of their Council appointments as Directors of Leisure and Culture Dundee.

Reference was made to Article IX of the minute of meeting of the Policy and Resources Committee of 25th April, 2011, wherein the constitution of Leisure and Culture Dundee was approved.

There was submitted Agenda Note AN122-2011 reporting that following 61 expressions of interest, the Nominations Committee of Leisure and Culture Dundee agreed at its meeting on 20th July, 2011 to recommend to the Council the appointment of the following individuals as independent charity trustees:-

Sinclair Aitken

Alice Bovill

Sandy Cameron

Val Dinsmore

Iain Luke

Alan Rae

Gary Robinson

The Sub-Committee agreed to the appointments as listed above.

Ken GUILD, Convener.