Policy And Resources Committee - 29/10/2012

At a MEETING of the POLICY AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 29th October, 2012.

Present:-

Bailie Willie SAWERS

COUNCILLORS

Councillor Ken GUILD, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 24th September, 2012 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Councillors Ross and Cruickshank declared non-financial interests in Article XIII by virtue of being the Council's representatives on the Children's Panel Advisory Committee.

II MINUTES - PERSONNEL APPEALS SUB-COMMITTEES OF 18TH SEPTEMBER AND 1ST OCTOBER, 2012

The minutes of meetings of the above Sub-Committees, copies of which are appended hereto (Appendices I and II), were submitted for information and record purposes.

III REVENUE MONITORING

There was submitted Report No 373-2012 by the Director of Corporate Services providing the Committee with an analysis of the 2012/2013 Projected Revenue Outturn as at 31st August, 2012, monitored against the adjusted 2012/2013 Revenue Budget.

The Committee:-

(i) noted that the overall General Fund 2012/2013 Projected Revenue Outturn as at 31st August, 2012 showed an overspend of 637,000 against the adjusted 2012/2013 Revenue Budget;

(ii) noted that the Housing Revenue Account as at 31st August, 2012 was projecting a breakeven position against the adjusted HRA 2012/2013 Revenue Budget;

(iii) instructed the Director of Corporate Services to take every reasonable action to ensure that the 2012/2013 revenue expenditure was below or in line with the adjusted Revenue Budget; and

(iv) instructed the Director of Corporate Services, in conjunction with all Chief Officers of the Council, to continue to monitor the Council's 2012/2013 Projected Revenue Outturn.

IV CAPITAL EXPENDITURE

There was submitted Report No 364-2012 by the Director of Corporate Services appraising members of the latest position regarding the Council's Capital Expenditure Programme for 2012/2013.

The Committee noted the contents of the report.

V DUNDEE COMMUNITY REGENERATION FUND

There was submitted Report No 385-2012 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 III).

VI CHIEF EXECUTIVE'S DEPARTMENT SERVICE PLAN

After considering Report No 396-2012 by the Chief Executive relative to the above, the Committee approved the Chief Executive's Department Service Plan appended thereto.

VII BARNHILL PRIMARY SCHOOL EXTENSION

On a reference to Article II of the minute of meeting of the Education Committee of 29th October, 2012, there was submitted Report No 399-2012 by the Director of City Development and Director of Education seeking Committee approval to amend the agreed extension to Barnhill Primary School and to increase the scale and design of the ongoing proposal.

The Committee agreed to approve the revised proposal to extend Barnhill Primary School.

VIII VOLUNTARY EARLY RETIREMENT, PHASED RETIREMENT OR WIND DOWN SCHEME FOR TEACHING STAFF AND ASSOCIATED PROFESSIONALS

There was submitted Report No 401-2012 by the Director of Education seeking approval for a voluntary early retirement scheme for teachers and associated professionals to take effect from the end of the academic session 2012/2013.

Councillor Guild, seconded by Bailie Sawers, moved that the Committee:-

(i) approves the voluntary early retirement scheme for teaching staff aged 55 years and over with effect from 11th August, 2013, as outlined in Section 4 and the appendix to the report;

(ii) approves the additional encouragement for teaching staff, who meet the criteria, to be considered for phased retirement or winding down; and

(iii) in agreeing to the scheme notes that the Director of Education will maintain teaching numbers in line with pupil numbers.

As an amendment, Councillor Keenan, seconded by Councillor McCready, moved approval of the above, subject to annual added years' pensions in excess of 2,000 being brought to this Committee for approval.

On a division, there voted for the motion - Councillors Guild, Alexander, Black, Bowes, Campbell, Cordell, Hunter, McDonald, Melville, Murray, Ross, Lord Provost Duncan, Depute Lord Provost Roberts and Bailie Sawers (14); and for the amendment - Councillors Keenan, Asif, Bidwell, Brennan, Cruickshank, Ferguson, Gordon, McCready and McGovern (9) - whereupon the motion was declared carried.

IX DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL - VOLUNTARY EARLY RETIREMENT/VOLUNTARY REDUNDANCY SCHEME

On a reference to Article VIII of the minute of meeting of the Recess Sub-Committee of 1st August, 2011, there was submitted Report No 410-2012 by the Head of Human Resources relative to the above.

Councillor Guild, seconded by Bailie Sawers, moved that Committee approval is given for the re‑introduction of the voluntary early retirement/voluntary redundancy scheme detailed in Appendix I to the report and to also promote flexible retirement.

As an amendment, Councillor Keenan, seconded by Councillor McCready, moved approval of the above, subject to annual added years' pensions in excess of 2,000 being brought to this Committee for approval.

On a division, there voted for the motion - (14); and for the amendment - (9) - as in the division recorded immediately above - whereupon the motion was declared carried.

X EMPLOYMENT EQUALITY MONITORING

There was submitted Report No 404-2012 by the Head of Human Resources advising the Committee of the employment equality monitoring information for the calendar year 2011.

The Committee noted the employment equality monitoring statistics detailed in the appendices to the report.

XI LIVING WAGE

On a reference to Article XIII of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 12th March, 2012, there was submitted Report No 368-2012 by the Head of Human Resources proposing a timescale and outlining the necessary steps for implementing the Living Wage.

The Committee:-

(i) noted the impact of introducing the Living Wage as committed to by the Council; and

(ii) approved the implementation of the Living Wage within the Council with effect from 1st November, 2012, by paying a supplement to existing wage rates to bring them up, where applicable, to the equivalent of 7.20 per hour or 266.40 for a standard 37 hour week. (The supplement would not apply to overtime working, where existing premiums already ensure that more than 7.20 per hour was paid and should future pay increases result in existing basic rates moving closer to or exceeding the Living Wage, supplements would reduce or cease).

In addition, the Committee:-

(iii) called upon all arms-length organisations and companies contracting with the Council to pay the Living Wage, remitted officers to advise all arms-length organisations and companies tendering for contracts with the Council of the Council's position and to report back to the Policy and Resources Committee progress on this; and for officers to examine whether any legal routes were available to make this mandatory and report back to the Policy and Resources Committee.

(iv) instructed officers to consider the Living Wage (Scotland) Bill Consultation issued by John Park MSP in August 2012, together with the Procurement Reform Bill Consultation issued by Alex Neil MSP in August 2012 and any other relevant proposals, and report back to a Special Policy and Resources Committee on 26th November, 2012 so that the Council could agree its response to the Living Wage (Scotland) Bill Consultation before the closing date of 3rd December, 2012.

XII NEW OLYMPIA - RENTAL AGREEMENT FOR FITNESS EQUIPMENT

There was submitted Agenda Note AN184-2012 recommending acceptance of the most advantageous offer received, being that from D G Fitness & Leisure Ltd, amounting to 52,572 per annum.

XIII AREA SUPPORT TEAMS

There was submitted Report No 412-2012 by the Head of Democratic and Legal Services advising the Committee of the replacement of the current Children's Panel Advisory Committees with Area Support Teams with effect from June, 2013.

The Committee agreed to the establishment of a Dundee Local Area Support Team and a Tayside Area Support Team and remitted to the Head of Democratic and Legal Services, in consultation with the Dundee Children's Panel Advisory Committee and the Dundee Children's Panel, to proceed to make the necessary arrangements.

Ken GUILD, Convener.

At a MEETING of the PERSONNEL APPEALS SUB-COMMITTEE held at Dundee 18th September, 2012.

APPENDIX I

Present:-

COUNCILLORS

Councillor Stewart HUNTER, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 7th August, 2012 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

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 item of business on the grounds that it involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 1 of Part I of Schedule 7A of the Act.

APPEAL AGAINST DISMISSAL

It was reported that an appeal against dismissal from an employee of the Corporate Services Department had been submitted.

The Sub-Committee heard the Council's representative and witnesses and thereafter, the Appellant.

After questions had been put and answers given by both parties to each other and the witnesses, and by members of the Sub-Committee, the parties withdrew.

Thereafter, following careful consideration of all the information, the Sub-Committee agreed that the grounds of the appeal had not been substantiated and the appeal be not upheld.

Stewart HUNTER, Convener.

At a MEETING of the PERSONNEL APPEALS SUB-COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 1st October, 2012.

APPENDIX II

Present:-

COUNCILLORS

Councillor Stewart HUNTER, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 18th September, 2012 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

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.

I DECLARATION OF INTEREST

There were no declarations of interest.

II APPEAL AGAINST DISMISSAL

It was reported that an appeal against dismissal from an employee of the City Development Department had been submitted.

The Sub-Committee heard the Council's representative and witnesses and thereafter, the Appellant.

After questions had been put and answers given by both parties to each other and the witnesses, and by members of the Sub-Committee, the parties withdrew.

Thereafter, following careful consideration of all the information, the Sub-Committee agreed that the grounds of the appeal had not been substantiated and that the appeal be not upheld.

Councillor Asif intimated his dissent from the foregoing decision.

Stewart HUNTER, Convener.

APPENDIX III