Policy And Resources Committee - 14/11/2011

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

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Councillor Ken GUILD, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 31st October, 2011 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I REVENUE MONITORING

There was submitted Report No 493-2011 by the Director of Finance providing the Committee with an analysis of the 2011/2012 Projected Revenue Outturn as at 30th September, 2011 monitored against the adjusted 2011/2012 Revenue Budget.

The Committee:-

(i) noted that the overall General Fund 2011/2012 Projected Revenue Outturn as at 30th September, 2011 showed an overspend of 5,000 against the adjusted 2011/2012 Revenue Budget;

(ii) noted that the Housing Revenue Account as at 30th September, 2011 was projecting a breakeven position against the adjusted HRA 2011/2012 Revenue Budget;

(iii) instructed the Director of Finance to take every reasonable action to ensure that the 2011/2012 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 2011/2012 Projected Revenue Outturn.

II CAPITAL MONITORING

There was submitted Report No 477-2011 by the Director of Finance appraising members of the latest position regarding the Council's Capital Expenditure Programme for 2011/2012.

The Committee noted the contents of the report.

III DUNDEE COMMUNITY REGENERATION FUND 2011/2012

Councillors Black and Asif declared non-financial interests in this item by virtue of being Council representatives on the Grey Lodge Settlement Board.

There was submitted Report No 498-2011 by the Chief Executive relative to the above.

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

IV VOLUNTARY EARLY RETIREMENT SCHEME FOR TEACHING STAFF AND ASSOCIATED PROFESSIONALS

This item was withdrawn.

V VOLUNTARY EARLY RETIREMENT/VOLUNTARY REDUNDANCY SCHEME

Reference was made to Article VIII of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 26th April, 2010, wherein approval was given to Report No 227-2010 "Dundee City Council - Voluntary Early Retirement/Voluntary Redundancy Scheme". The scheme was open to applications and where savings could be achieved, 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.

Reference was also made to Article VIII of the minute of meeting of the Recess Sub-Committee of 1st August, 2011, wherein approval was given to Agenda Note AN120-2011 "Voluntary Early Retirement/Voluntary Redundancy Scheme". In order to facilitate the implementation of the Changing for the Future projects and in other appropriate circumstances, the Chief Executive was given delegated authority to consult relevant heads of departments and apply the provisions in Report No 227-2010 as an incentive, in order to facilitate departmental reviews, restructurings, rationalisations and efficiency savings, etc.

There was submitted Agenda Note AN180-2011 reporting that preparatory work had begun on proposals for the 2012/2013 Revenue Budget and whilst individual Council funding allocations from the Scottish Government would not be notified until early December 2011, there were clear indications that further savings would be required. In view of the success of the original scheme in contributing towards the Council's efficiency savings for 2011/2012, it was considered that it would be beneficial to the current Revenue Budget preparations to re-open the scheme to applications from interested employees who met the criteria, subject to the usual decision-making process whereby the Chief Executive, Director of Finance and the Head of Personnel consider applications based on cost and service provision.

The Committee noted that as a result of the abolition of the default retirement age, employees who reached the age of 65 on or after 1st October, 2011 would be eligible to apply for voluntary redundancy and statutory redundancy pay, and in accordance with the Regulations, if they were members of the Local Government Pension Scheme, they would also be entitled to receive their pensions with no added years.

It was therefore recommended that approval be given to the reintroduction of the Voluntary Early Retirement/Voluntary Redundancy Scheme with up to five added years pensionable service, as detailed in Report No 227-2010 "Dundee City Council - Voluntary Early Retirement/Voluntary Redundancy Scheme". The closing date for applications would be 14th December, 2011.

The Committee approved accordingly.

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.

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

After considering Report No 506-2011 by the Director of Finance relative to the above, the Committee approved the recommendation detailed therein.

Ken GUILD, Convener.

APPENDIX I