Policy And Resources Committee - 28/01/2013

At a MEETING of the POLICY AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 28th January, 2013.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Councillor Ken GUILD, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 14th January, 2013 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Lord Provost Duncan, Councillors Hunter and Gordon declared non-financial interests in Article VI by virtue of being Council representatives on Leisure and Culture Dundee.

II FIVE YEAR HOUSING CAPITAL BUDGET FROM 2013/2014 TO 2017/2018

There was submitted Report No 28-2013 by the Director of Corporate Services and the Director of Housing setting out the revised five year Housing Capital Estimates which would allow the Council to achieve the Scottish Housing Standard by 2015 and maintain it thereafter.

The Committee:-

(i) approved the Housing Capital Budget for 2013/2014 and 2017/2018;

(ii) approved the action as detailed in paragraph 4 of the report;

(iii) instructed the Director of City Development, in conjunction with the Director of Housing, to invite offers for the projects included in the capital estimates and authorised the Director of Housing and the Director of City Development to continue with established methods of procurement and develop new initiatives where these were necessary to achieve the value for money required to meet the Scottish Housing Quality Standard (including partnering arrangements with contractors, where appropriate); and

(iv) authorised the Director of Housing to accept offers as detailed in paragraph 4.3 of the report.

III REVENUE BUDGET 2013/2014 - HOUSING REVENUE ACCOUNT

There was submitted Report No 44-2013 by the Director of Corporate Services relative to the above.

Councillor Guild, seconded by Councillor Black, moved approval of the 2012/2013 Revenue Budget for the Housing Revenue Account appended to the report and that it be remitted to the Housing Committee in order that it may set the 2013/2014 rent levels.

As an amendment, Councillor Gordon, seconded by Councillor Brennan, moved that the 2013/2014 Revenue Budget for the Housing Revenue Account should be amended and that expenditure on the proposed relet budget be reduced by 189,000, this will require a 43,000 increase in the void loss budget.

The above reduction includes resource for two additional Housing Officers at a cost of 46,000 per year.

If this is agreed, we will move, as an amendment to Item 2 on the agenda of the Housing Committee, that the rent rise should be 4.75% which is 3.00 per week on average, subject to a maximum increase of 4.00.

All other proposed charges remain as recommended within the report.

On a division, there voted for the motion - Councillors Guild, Alexander, Black, Bowes, Campbell, Cordell, Dawson, Hunter, Lynn, McDonald, Melville, Murray, Ross, Bailies Sawers, Borthwick, Scott, Lord Provost Duncan and Depute Lord Provost Roberts (18); and for the amendment - Councillors Keenan, Bidwell, Brennan, Cruickshank, Ferguson, Gordon, McCready, McGovern, Macpherson and Bailie Wright (10) - whereupon the motion was declared carried.

IV PROCUREMENT REFORM IN DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL

There was submitted Report No 53-2013 by the Director of Corporate Services identifying the progress made to date and presenting a proposal for the next stage of the Procurement Reform Project.

The Committee:-

(i) approved the Category Management model, incorporating a Purchase to Payment Centralised Team; and

(ii) remitted to the Director of Corporate Services to oversee the delivery of the agreed Category Management and Purchase to Payment Centralised Team model, with associated resource transfer by 1st April, 2013.

V SCOTTISH CITIES ALLIANCE

There was submitted Agenda Note AN12-2013 intimating that the Council was participating in an organisation established by the cities and the Scottish Government called the Scottish Cities Alliance, the aim of which was to foster collaboration between all seven Scottish cities on economic development issues. The Council approved a subscription fee of 10,000.

In addition, the Scottish Cities Alliance had agreed a work programme and invited each city to take a lead responsibility for developing a collaborative strategy on a particular topic. The broad topics included: connected cities, sustainable cities, knowledge cities and vibrant and cultural cities. The Scottish Cities Alliance had proposed that Dundee City Council take on a role of creating a vision for rolling out integrated smart travel in each city as part of the connected cities programme due to the Council's existing lead role in developing the smartcard for the national travel concessions scheme.

Dundee City Council would consult each city and transport sector leaders on the local priorities and propose a collaborative scheme to deliver this. A preliminary budget of 50,000 was proposed to appoint a suitably qualified consulting firm to deliver this consultation process. The Council's costs would be met in full by the Scottish Cities Alliance. The Committee approved the issue of an 'invitation to tender' to further this work.

VI BENEFIT REALISATION - ESTABLISHMENT OF AN ARMS LENGTH CHARITABLE ORGANISATION

On a reference to Article VII of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 13th June, 2011 there was submitted Report No 56-2013 by the Director, Leisure and Communities providing a summary of the benefits realised through the Changing for the Future Programme Project to establish an arms length charitable organisation with the purpose of delivering leisure, sport, library and information.

The Committee noted:-

(i) that the total savings achieved on an annual recurring basis as a result of the staff restructuring/new operating model were 1,724,000;

(ii) that Appendix 1 of the report, provided a breakdown of how these savings had been achieved;

(iii) that significant additional benefits had been derived for which no cash value had been attributed; and

(iv) that the audited accounts and annual report for 2011/2012, which were approved at the Annual General Meeting on 3rd October, 2012, could be found on the Leisure and Culture Dundee website.

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.

VII CHANGING FOR THE FUTURE BOARD

On a reference to Article II of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 23rd August, 2010 there was submitted Report No 69-2013 by the Chief Executive explaining the role and operation of the Changing for the Future Board and highlighting the outcomes it had achieved to date.

Councillor Guild, seconded by Lord Provost Duncan, moved that the content of the report be noted.

As an amendment, Councillor McCready, seconded by Councillor Keenan, moved that the functions of the Changing for the Future Board should be delegated to a Sub-Committee of the Policy and Resources Committee with the same composition as the Recess Sub-Committee but that the Sub‑Committee should also include two representatives from Trade Unions.

On a division, there voted for the motion - Councillors Guild, Alexander, Black, Bowes, Campbell, Cordell, Dawson, Hunter, Lynn, McDonald, Melville, Murray, Ross, Bailie Sawers, Lord Provost Duncan and Depute Lord Provost Roberts (16); and for the amendment - Councillors Keenan, Bidwell, Brennan, Cruickshank, Ferguson, Gordon, McCready, McGovern, Macpherson and Bailies Wright, Borthwick and Scott (12) - whereupon the motion was declared carried.

Thereafter, as an amendment, Councillor Black, seconded by Depute Lord Provost Roberts, moved the undernoted:-

(i) The content of this report is noted.

(ii) This Council commends the Changing for the Future Board which enables Councillors to discuss the implications and effectiveness of policy proposals in a constructive manner in a non-confrontational environment.

(iii) Council notes that the Changing for the Future Board allows discussion of the Administration's budget proposals three to four weeks earlier than under the previous Labour/Liberal Administration with Conservative and Independent support.

(iv) Council regards the position taken by Opposition members who decline to attend the Changing for the Future Board as a cynical dereliction of duty.

Bailie Scott, Bailie Borthwick and Councillor Macpherson left the Chamber at this point.

Councillor Keenan, on behalf of the Labour Group, indicated that they would take no further part in the proceedings and asked for their dissent to the foregoing to be recorded.

Councillor Guild agreed to accept the amendment.

Ken GUILD, Convener.