Policy And Resources Committee - 27/04/2015

At a MEETING of the POLICY AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 27th April, 2015.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Councillor Ken GUILD, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 9th March, 2015 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I DECLARATION OF INTEREST

Councillor Hunter declared a non-financial interest in Article V - Administrative Grants to Community Councils and Neighbourhood Representative Structures 2015/2016 - Ardler Village Trust by virtue of being the Council's representative on the Trust.

Councillors McDonald, Lynn, Murray and Bidwell declared a non-financial interest in Article VI - Third Party Payments - Dundee Contemporary Arts Ltd - Management Fee by virtue of being the Council's representatives on the Board.

Councillor Murray declared a non-financial interest in Article VI - Third Party Payments - Dundee Science Centre by virtue of being the Council's representative on the Board.

Councillor McDonald declared a non-financial interest in Article VI - Third Party Payments - Dundee Industrial Heritage by virtue of being the Council's representative on the Board.

Lord Provost Duncan and Councillors Guild, Black and McCready declared a non-financial interest in Article VI - Third Party Payments - Dundee Repertory Theatre by virtue of being the Council's representatives on the Board.

Councillors Black and Asif declared a non-financial interest in Article VI - Third Party Payments - Grey Lodge Settlement by virtue of being the Council's representatives on the Association.

Depute Lord Provost Roberts declared a non-financial interest in Article VI - Third Party Payments - Dundee International Women's Centre by virtue of being the Council's representative on the Board.

Lord Provost Duncan and Councillors Hunter, Gordon and McCready declared a non-financial interest in Article VI - Third Party Payments - Leisure and Culture Dundee by virtue of being the Council's representatives on the Board.

Lord Provost Duncan and Councillors Hunter, Gordon and McCready declared a non-financial interest in Article VII - Relief of Rates - Charity Relief - Leisure and Culture Dundee by virtue of being the Council's representatives on the Board.

II HOGMANAY GRANTS - COMMUNITY GRANTS SCHEME 2015

On a reference to Article V of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 9th June, 2015, there was submitted Agenda Note AN138-2015 intimating that, following the first year of grant support for community celebrations, 10 applications were received and 9 grants were offered. In total, 7,938 was awarded in grants to support Hogmanay 2014 events.

A balance of 10,000 was carried forward from the allocation previously approved and it was recommended that the Hogmanay Grants Scheme be repeated for events which would take place between 30th December, 2015 and 3rd January, 2016.

It was also recommended that the maximum amount of grant be increased from 2,500 to 3,000 but the applicants be expected to meet at least one third of the cost of the event and that, with these exceptions, the criteria would remain as previously approved.

The Committee approved accordingly.

III DUNDEE COMMUNITY REGENERATION FUND 2015/2016

There was submitted Report No 151-2015 by the Chief Executive relative to the above.

The Committee noted the allocations to the Community Regeneration Fund for 2015/2016 and approved the funding proposals contained in Section 5.2 of the report appended hereto.

IV LITERACY DELIVERY PARTNERS 2015/2016

There was submitted Report No 142-2015 by the Director, Leisure and Communities detailing a request for an extension of Service Level Agreements with Dundee and Angus College.

The Committee approved a six month extension of the Service Level Agreement with Dundee and Angus College to deliver literacy services focused on those wishing to progress to college for the period 1st April, 2015 to 30th September, 2015 at a cost of 17,500, it being noted that this allowed for a review of the funding arrangements for digital literacies to be undertaken and a decision to be made, if necessary, to redirect funding to community based digital literacies provision.

V ADMINISTRATIVE GRANTS TO COMMUNITY COUNCILS AND NEIGHBOURHOOD REPRESENTATIVE STRUCTURES 2015/2016

On a reference to Article I of the minute of meeting of the Leisure, Arts and Communities Committee of 25th October, 2010, there was submitted Report No 155-2015 by the Director, Leisure and Communities relative to the above.

The Committee agreed:-

(i) that administrative grants be awarded to all Community Councils currently in existence or established during 2015/2016 in accordance with the Council's Revised Scheme for the Operation of Community Councils;

(ii) that administrative grants be also awarded to other Neighbourhood Representative Structures which meet the eligibility criteria set out in Committee Report No 725-2002 which was approved by the Neighbourhood Resources and Development Committee on 11th November, 2002 (Article II refers);

(iii) that 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) that Community Councils or Neighbourhood Representative Structures established beyond 1st April, 2015 be only eligible for a grant for the part of the year from their inception.

VI THIRD PARTY PAYMENTS FOR 2015/2016

There was submitted Report No 143-2015 by the Chief Executive relative to the above.

The Committee:-

(i) remitted to the Chief Executive, on behalf of Dundee City Council, to update the Management Agreement with Dundee Contemporary Arts Ltd;

(ii) remitted to the Chief Executive, on behalf of Dundee City Council, to enter into a Service Contract with Dundee Science Centre, Dundee Industrial Heritage Ltd, Dundee Repertory Theatre Ltd - Main House, Creative Learning Team and Scottish Dance Theatre;

(iii) remitted to the Chief Executive, on behalf of Dundee City Council, to award grants to Dundee International Women's Centre and Grey Lodge Settlement;

(iv) agreed that the existing Service Level Agreements be changed to a standard Council Service Contract to be agreed during 2015 with each organisation affected;

(v) noted Leisure and Culture Dundee's performance;

(vi) agreed the proposed changes to the monitoring framework for Leisure and Culture Dundee in the future; and

(vii) noted Leisure and Culture Dundee's complaints statistics.

VII RELIEF OF RATES - CHARITY RELIEF

There was submitted Report No 160-2015 by the Director of Corporate Services relative to the above.

The Committee approved the recommendations detailed in the report.

VIII ESTABLISHMENT OF A CORPORATE FRAUD TEAM

There was submitted Report No 180-2015 by the Director of Corporate Services proposing the establishment of a Corporate Fraud Team.

The Committee agreed that a Corporate Fraud Team be established with effect from 1st June, 2015 as set out in Appendix 1 of the report and that the Team be transferred from the Revenues Division to the Internal Audit Service.

IX MAINSTREAMING EQUALITY PROGRESS REPORT 2013-2015

There was submitted Report No 156-2015 by the Chief Executive seeking approval for the Mainstreaming Equality Progress Report 2015 in accordance with the Equality Act 2010, (Specific Duties) (Scotland) Regulations.

The Committee:-

(i) approved the Mainstreaming Equality Progress Report 2015; and

(ii) approved the Education Department's Mainstreaming Equality Progress Report 2015.

X PURCHASE OF IT SOFTWARE

There was submitted Report No 170-2015 by the Director of Corporate Services seeking approval for the purchase of additional software licences accompanied by an additional license entitlement in order to renew and significantly enhance the technology that provides the Corporate Desktop for Dundee City Council to enable Council staff and elected members to exploit mobile technology (including tablet devices and smart phones) in the workplace.

The Committee agreed to approve the purchase of the Citrix Workspace Suite, it being noted that the funding could be accommodated within the 2015/2016 Capital Plan at a total cost of 800,000.

Ken GUILD, Convener.

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