Policy And Resources Committee - 11/06/2012

At a MEETING of the POLICY AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 11th June, 2012.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Councillor Ken GUILD, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 23rd April, 2012 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I RELIEF OF RATES - CHARITY RELIEF

There was submitted Report No 222-2012 by the Director of Corporate Services seeking authorisation to grant charity relief on the undernoted non-domestic properties:-

The Committee approved accordingly.

II DUNDEE COMMUNITY REGENERATION FUND 2011/2012

Councillor Hunter declared a non-financial interest in this item by virtue of being the Council's representative on the Ardler Village Trust.

Lord Provost Duncan and Councillor Hunter declared a non-financial interest in this item by virtue of being members of Camperdown Parish Church.

There was submitted Report No 225-2012 by the 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 I).

III SOLAR CITIES SCOTLAND

Depute Lord Provost Roberts declared a non-financial interest in this item by virtue of being the Council's representative on SOLAR Cities Scotland.

There was submitted Report No 179-2012 by the Chief Executive recommending the award of funding of up to 30,000 to enable Solar Cities Scotland to continue to progress an application for further funding from Keep Scotland Beautiful in conjunction with other funding applications. It would also ensure the delivery of the annual conference on 15th June, 2012.

In view of the timescales involved, it was noted that this report had been approved by the Chief Executive in consultation with the Convener and Spokespersons from the Labour, Conservative and Liberal Democrats and was therefore submitted for information and record purposes.

IV POLICE REFORM - PATHFINDER PROJECT FOR LOCAL SCRUTINY AND ENGAGEMENT

Councillor Macpherson declared a non-financial interest in this matter by virtue of his brother being a Police Officer involved in this project.

On a reference to Article XI of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 23rd January, 2012, there was submitted Report No 175-2012 by the Chief Executive recommending the trialling of new arrangements for local scrutiny and engagement with the Police as part of a pathfinder project in preparation for the establishment of a Scottish Police Service.

The Committee:-

(i) noted that Dundee had been accepted as a pathfinder to trial new local scrutiny and engagement arrangements with the Police in preparation for the establishment of a Scottish Police Service;

(ii) agreed that, as part of the pathfinder project, the remit of the Policy and Resources Committee should be extended to include approval of the Local Policing Plan and scrutiny of Police performance reports, with additional quarterly meetings of the Committee being arranged to allow sufficient time for discussion;

(iii) noted that the local Police Commander would brief members on a strategic assessment, consult with members on a draft Local Policing Plan, provide reports on the force's performance for the scrutiny of members, and formally submit the Local Policing Plan for approval, in line with the provisional timetable set out in paragraph 5.9 of the report; and

(iv) remitted to the Chief Executive to bring forward a report evaluating Dundee's pathfinder, and the outcome of pathfinders in other areas, to inform a decision on the longer-term structures for scrutiny and engagement with both the Police and Fire and Rescue services.

V RECESS SUB-COMMITTEE

There was submitted Agenda Note AN85-2012 intimating that the Council's Recess commenced on 30th June, 2012 and ended on 11th August, 2012.

To facilitate the smooth, continuous conduct of the Council's business, it was proposed that a Recess Sub-Committee of the Council be set up to deal with matters of an urgent nature which the Chief Executive or Head of Democratic and Legal Services believed could not wait for the next ordinary meeting of the Committee concerned during that period. The Committee approved the undernoted operating arrangements:-

(i) Membership - 4 members of the Administration, 2 members of the Labour Group and Bailie Borthwick.

(ii) Chair - Leader of the Administration or nominee.

(iii) Substitutes - in terms of Standing Order No 45(3) it shall be competent for substitutions to be intimated and effected for individual meetings.

(iv) Quorum - 3 members.

(v) Dates - to be arranged on a Monday, when required.

(vi) Remit - to deal with any urgent business arising during the recess period.

(vii) Power - full delegated powers to deal with business laid before it.

VI ASSURANCE AND IMPROVEMENT PLAN UPDATE 2012/2015

There was submitted Report No 206-2012 by the Director of Corporate Services providing elected members with an update on the Assurance and Improvement Plan 2012/2015 that was recently issued by Audit Scotland on behalf of the various regulatory bodies responsible for scrutinising the services provided by the Council.

The Committee noted the information contained within the report and the Assurance and Improvement Plan Update 2012/2015 appended thereto.

VII AN OVERVIEW OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN SCOTLAND - CHALLENGES AND CHANGES 2012

There was submitted Report No 205-2012 by the Director of Corporate Services providing elected members with a summary of the above national study that had been undertaken by Audit Scotland on behalf of the Accounts Commission.

The Committee noted the key findings arising from this national study, including Appendix 1 to the report, which identified key areas for both new and returning elected members to consider and assess where further action points may be required.

VIII SUPPLY OF IT EQUIPMENT

There was submitted Report No 193-2012 by the Head of Information Technology relative to the above.

The Committee noted the IT purchases amounting to 696,886 for the period 1st October, 2011 to 18th May, 2012 and approved ongoing engineering maintenance costs of 38,997 per annum.

IX COUNTER-FRAUD REPORT - AS AT 31ST MARCH, 2012

There was submitted Report No 209-2012 by the Director of Corporate Services informing elected members on the Revenue Division's Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit Counter-Fraud activity as at 31st March, 2012.

The Committee approved the performance report.

X ANTI-FRAUD AND CORRUPTION POLICY AND THE BENEFIT SANCTION POLICY

After considering Report No 208-2012 by the Director of Corporate Services relative to the above, the Committee approved the revised the Anti-Fraud and Corruption Policy and the Benefit Sanction Policy.

XI DUNDEE STRATEGY FOR THE SAFE USE OF ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS

There was submitted Report No 186-2012 by the Director, Leisure and Communities detailing the work undertaken in developing a Dundee E-Safety Strategy and Action Plan 2012/2015 linked to the Child Protection Inspection in February, 2012.

The Committee:-

(i) approved the Dundee Strategy for the Safe Use of Electronic Communications (E‑Safety Strategy) and Action Plan 2012/2015;

(ii) agreed that the Dundee Community Safety Partnership lead the implementation of E‑Safety Strategy and Action Plan;

(iii) confirmed the Community Safety Manager as Dundee City Council's E-Safety Lead Officer;

(iv) agreed to the formation of a Dundee E-Safety Group comprising representatives from Dundee City Council and its partner agencies; and

(v) referred the report to the Dundee Partnership Management Group for their endorsement.

XII ADMINISTRATIVE GRANTS TO COMMUNITY COUNCILS AND NEIGHBOURHOOD REPRESENTATIVE STRUCTURES 2012/2013

Councillor Hunter declared a non-financial interest in this item by virtue of being a member of Ardler Village Trust.

There was submitted Report No 190-2012 by the Director, Leisure and Communities seeking approval of the payment of administrative grants for the financial year 2012/2013 to Community Councils and Neighbourhood Representatives Structures in existence or established during the year.

The Committee agreed that:-

(i) administrative grants be awarded to all Community Councils currently in existence or established during 2012/2013 in accordance with the Council's Revised Scheme for the Operation of Community Councils;

(ii) administration grants be also awarded to other Neighbourhood Representative Structures which meet the eligibility criteria set out in Committee Report No 725-2002;

(iii) grants be awarded according to the following formulae: a lump sum of 330 per community council/neighbourhood representative structure plus 1.2p per resident in each area; and

(iv) community councils or neighbourhood representative structures established beyond 1st April, 2012 would only be eligible for a grant for the part of the year from their inception.

XIII SERVICE LEVEL AGREEMENT BETWEEN DUNDEE COMMUNITY SAFETY PARTNERSHIP AND TAYSIDE POLICE

There was submitted Report No 192-2012 by the Director, Leisure and Communities providing information on the impact of the Service Level Agreement (SLA) between the Dundee Community Safety Partnership and Tayside Police. The report also highlighted an area of weakness in performance in relation to the DUNCAN initiative which had been addressed and would be subject to ongoing monitoring and evaluation.

The Committee:-

(i) noted the contents of the SLA monitoring report for the period 2011/2012, including the areas of high performance which had had a positive impact on local communities and the area of concern around the DUNCAN initiative; and

(ii) agreed to a review of the DUNCAN initiative process, inputs and outputs and a further period of monitoring and evaluation.

XIV CAMPERDOWN HOUSE - FUTURE USE STRATEGY

There was submitted Report No 198-2012 by the Director, Leisure and Communities providing a briefing on the options for the future use of Camperdown House.

The Committee:-

(i) noted the options for the future strategy of Camperdown House;

(ii) instructed the Directors of City Development and Leisure and Communities to collaborate in market testing commercial interest in Camperdown house being used in whole or part as one or a combination of the following: restaurant, boutique hotel and commercial gallery;

(iii) instructed the Director, Leisure and Communities to consult more widely with other partners to establish their interest in the future operation of Camperdown House; and

(iv) noted that a further report would be brought back to Committee in order to seek approval for the final preferred option and way forward.

XV JOINT INSPECTION OF SERVICES TO PROTECT CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL AREA

On a reference to Article XIX of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 31st October, 2012, there was submitted Report No 223-2012 by the Chief Executive informing the Committee of the outcome of the recent inspection of child protection services and seeking the Committee's direction in respect of ongoing improvements.

The Committee:-

(i) noted the contents of the report published by the Care Inspectorate;

(ii) directed the Chief Executive to work alongside his fellow Chief Officers from NHS Tayside and Tayside Police, to oversee and review the Child Care and Protection Committee's ongoing development and implementation of improvement plans that incorporate key learning points from the Care Inspectorate's report; and

(iii) approved the proposal that the Best Value Review of Child Protection became part of the wider Best Value Review of Children's Services.

It has been agreed that the Items XVI and XVII be considered as a matter or urgency in terms of Standing Order No 17(b) in view of the timescales involved.

XVI SUMMER SWIMMING PILOT - LOCHEE PATHFINDER

There was submitted Report No 237-2012 by the Chief Executive providing a number of promotional swimming opportunities for families and young people who attended primary school in the Lochee Ward during the 2012 school summer holidays.

The Committee approved the Summer Swimming Pilot project for families and young people in the Lochee Ward.

XVII ASSOCIATION OF DIRECTORS OF SOCIAL WORK - ANNUAL CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION

It was reported that the Annual Conference of the Association of Directors of Social Work would be held in Crieff on 20th June and 21st June, 2012 with the theme "innovation, integration and transformation".

Councillor Guild, seconded by Councillor Hunter, moved that the Convener of Social Work and Health and the Shadow Convener of Social Work and Health be authorised to attend at a cost of 395 per delegate, excluding travel and subsistence.

As an amendment, Bailie Scott, seconded by Councillor Macpherson, moved that no elected member be authorised to attend.

On a division, there voted for the motion - Councillors Guild, Alexander, Black, Bowes, Campbell, Cordell, Dawson, Hunter, Lynn, McDonald, Melville, Murray, Keenan, Asif, Bidwell, Brennan, Cruickshank, Ferguson, Gordon, McCready, McGovern, Bailies Sawers and Wright and Depute Lord Provost Roberts (24); and for the amendment - Bailies Borthwick and Scott and Councillor Macpherson (3) - Lord Provost Duncan being absent when the vote was taken - whereupon the motion was declared carried.

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.

XVI BALDOVIE WASTE TO ENERGY PLANT

After considering Agenda Note AN86-2012 relative to the above, the Committee noted that in view of the timescales involved, the recommendations detailed therein had been approved by the Chief Executive in consultation with the Convener and Spokespersons from the Labour, Conservative and Liberal Democrats and was submitted for information and record purposes.

The Committee noted accordingly.

Ken GUILD, Convener.

APPENDIX I