Policy And Resources Committee - 26/09/2011

At a MEETING of the POLICY AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 26th September, 2011.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Councillor Ken GUILD, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 12th September, 2011 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I LOCALITY BASED MODEL OF INTEGRATED CHILDRENS SERVICES - FOR GETTING IT RIGHT FOR EVERY CHILD IN DUNDEE

On a reference to Article XVI of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 13th June, 2011, there was submitted Report No 405-2011 by the Director of Social Work seeking agreement to develop, implement and evaluate a locality based model of integrated children's services using the "Getting It Right For Every Child" approach within the Lochee Community Planning Partnership area and, thereafter, roll the model out across the city.

The Committee:-

(i) approved the establishment of an integrated children's services 'pathfinder' involving all agencies and practitioners in the development and delivery of services for pre-birth to children up to five years within the Lochee Community Planning Partnership area; and

(ii) agreed that in order to better co-ordinate structures and systems and deploy services, we need to implement the "Getting It Right For Every Child" approach through culture change, systems change and services change across the field of pre-birth to five years.

II DISCRETIONARY EXPENDITURE REVIEW

On a reference to Article XIII of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 12th September, 2011, there was submitted Report No 432-2011 by the Director of Finance appraising the Committee of the findings of the recent review of discretionary expenditure.

The Convener, seconded by Councillor Duncan, moved:-

(i) that the contents of the report be noted; and

(ii) that the savings identified below be implemented with effect from 1st October, 2011 and incorporated into the provisional 2012/2013 Revenue Budget.

As an amendment, Councillor Keenan, seconded by Bailie Wright, moved that:-

Officers produce a report every two months to be brought forward to the Policy and Resources Committee that would detail the total Discretionary Budget, each Discretionary Budget by Department and a line by line detail of the expenditure to that date.

On a division, there voted for the motion - Councillors Guild, Barrie, Black, Bowes, Andy Dawson, Will Dawson, Duncan, Fordyce, Hunter, Melville, Roberts, Ross, Hay, Macpherson, Bailies Sawers, Wallace, Scott and Lord Provost Letford (18); and for the amendment - Councillors Keenan, Asif, Bidwell, Ferguson, McCready and Bailie Wright (6) - whereupon the motion was declared carried.

III PERFORMANCE REPORT 2011

There was submitted Report No 427-2011 by the Director of Finance informing elected members of the Council's performance for the financial year 2010/2011.

The Committee:-

(i) noted the Council's performance for 2010/2011 as set out in the report; and

(ii) noted the Council was required to report performance by 30th September, 2011 and this would be done through the Annual Performance Report which would be published on the internet. Excerpts from the report would also appear in the Evening Telegraph and be distributed throughout the Council to the main customer contact points.

IV STATUTORY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS 2010/2011 - CORPORATE PERFORMANCE SELF-ASSESSMENT

There was submitted Report No 393-2011 by the Director of Finance advising elected members of the performance of the City Council as defined by the specific indicators stipulated by Audit Scotland and as supplemented by those indicators which the Council intended using to measure its performance under the new self-assessment regime which was introduced for the first time for the financial year 2009/2010.

The Committee:-

(i) agreed that the performance indicators in Appendix 1 be published on the Council website in a prominent position in order that stakeholders be made aware of the Council's corporate self-assessment of its performance in 2010/2011;

(ii) agreed that all indicators in Appendix 1 which could be measured quarterly be reported on this basis to the Scrutiny Committee to ensure that performance improvements continue to be obtained in the coming year and to ensure that performance self‑assessment was fully embedded within the Council's Performance Framework; and

(iii) agreed that the results of the Corporate Performance Self-Assessment be cascaded downwards to relevant groups of stakeholders. For example, the Housing performance indicators be published in the housing newspaper to engage with tenants. Similar mechanisms required to be in place for the other performance indicator categories at the discretion of the relevant officers.

The Convener agreed that the undernoted item of business be considered as a matter of urgency in terms of Standing Order No 17(b) in view of the timescales involved.

V DUNDEE AND ABERTAY UNIVERSITIES

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

The Lord Provost declared a non-financial interest in this item of business by virtue of being a Council representative on Dundee University Court and having been invited to be a Fellow of Abertay University.

It was reported that a late deputation request had been received from Save Abertay University Group.

The Committee heard the joint deputation from Save Abertay Campaign and University of Abertay, Dundee Students' Association. Following questions and answers the joint deputation withdrew.

The Committee considered the position of both Dundee University and Abertay University and having heard the joint deputation the Convener, seconded by Councillor Duncan, moved that:-

The Council strongly supports the continued status of Dundee and Abertay Universities as independent autonomous institutions.

The Council further notes that all public sector institutions are operating in a period of severe financial constraint as a result of Westminster government policy and considers that the strong case for retaining both institutions can be greatly enhanced by closer mutual working agreements.

The Council writes to the First Minister, Education Secretary and the Chief Executive of Scottish Funding Council to make position clear.

As an amendment, Councillor Keenan, seconded by Councillor Macpherson, moved:-

That this Council is concerned at the prospect of the University of Abertay merging with the University of Dundee; considers that any attempt to do so is likely to result in the University of Abertay being subsumed into the University of Dundee; recognises the unique and distinct educational experiences offered by both universities as separate institutions; appreciates that the University of Abertay has a strong record of educating students from non-traditional backgrounds; appreciates that the University of Abertay has a pivotal role in the local Dundee economy, and believes that any merger will risk jobs in both universities.

That the Chief Executive relay this message directly to the First Minister.

The City Council recognises that it would be highly detrimental to the City of Dundee if the University of Dundee and the University of Abertay, Dundee, were forced to merge.

The City Council further recognises that both our universities are dynamic institutions but their focus is rightly different and they complement one another. That would be lost by a forced merger, with a detrimental impact on the availability and diversity of course provision.

Dundee City Council makes clear its outright and unequivocal opposition to the merger of the University of Dundee and the University of Abertay, Dundee.

It therefore instructs the Chief Executive to write to the First Minister, the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning, Mike Russell MSP, and to the Chief Executive of the Scottish Funding Council, Mark Batho, making clear the City Council's outright opposition to a merger of the University of Dundee and the University of Abertay, Dundee.

On a division, there voted for the motion - Councillors Guild, Barrie, Black, Bowes, Andy Dawson, Will Dawson, Duncan, Fordyce, Hunter, Melville, Roberts, Ross and Bailie Sawers (13); and for the amendment - Councillors Keenan, Asif, Bidwell, Ferguson, McCready, Hay, Macpherson, Bailies Wright, Wallace, Scott and Lord Provost Letford (11) - whereupon the motion was declared carried.

Ken GUILD, Convener.