Policy And Resources Committee - 26/10/2015

At a MEETING of the POLICY AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 26th October, 2015.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Councillor Ken GUILD, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 14th September, 2015 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I DECLARATION OF INTEREST

No declarations of interest were made.

II DUNDEE COMMUNITY REGENERATION FUND 2015/2016

There was submitted Report No 380-2015 by the Chief Executive relative to the above.

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

III COUNCIL PLAN ANNUAL REVIEW

There was submitted Report No 323-2015 by the Chief Executive reviewing the Performance of the Council in delivering the Council Plan 2012-2017.

The Committee:-

(i) noted the contents of the Council Plan Review;

(ii) approved the new actions contained in paragraph 4.4 of the report; and

(iii) noted that it was proposed to review the 2017 targets listed in the report to ensure these remain relevant and challenging with a view to driving continuous improvement.

IV CAPITAL EXPENDITURE MONITORING

There was submitted Report No 398-2015 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services appraising members of the latest position regarding the Council's Capital Plan 2016-2021.

The Committee noted the contents of the report.

V COLLECTIONS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM CONTRACT

There was submitted Report No 391-2015 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services seeking approval for the award of a contract for a Museum Collections Management System.

The Committee:-

(i) approved the outcome of the tender evaluation to procure a Museum Collections Management System from Axiell ALM Ltd for a five year period with the option to extend; and

(ii) noted the annual maintenance and hosting costs would be funded by Leisure & Culture Dundee.

VI PROVISION OF MERCHANT SERVICES - TENDER

After considering Report No 396-2015 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services, the Committee approved acceptance of a tender from Worldpay for the provision of merchant services at an estimated cost of 109,395.38.

VII ANNUAL PROCUREMENT AND COMMUNITY BENEFITS REPORT

On a reference to Article IV of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 20th January, 2013, there was submitted Report No 390-2015 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services relative to the above.

The Committee:-

(i) noted progress made within the Corporate Procurement Team and approved the planned actions and activities to realise the savings and benefits targets included in the report;

(ii) noted progress made within the area of Community Benefits as shown in Appendices 2 and 3 of the report; and

(iii) approved the priorities outlined in Key Future Workstreams detailed in paragraph 11.0 of the report.

VIII CO-ORDINATION AND IMPROVEMENT OF ADVICE SERVICES

There was submitted Report No 385-2015 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services detailing future arrangements for Council based advice services in Dundee.

The Committee:-

(i) approved the proposed arrangements for advice service functions to be integrated and co-ordinated following reorganisational changes as described in paragraph 4.7 of this report;

(ii) approved the transfer of the Welfare Rights Section (including income maximisation functions), Dundee Energy Efficiency Advice Project and duties of Corporate Appointeeship to the Corporate Services Department to create a new distinct service area alongside the Scottish Welfare Fund and Connect Service under the direction of the Head of Customer Services and IT in order to provide a wrap around service at a local level for people experiencing financial and social exclusion; and

(iii) approved an improved model of advice delivery that provided a more co-ordinated local authority information and advice service whilst meeting the aspirations of Dundee City Councils Single Outcome Agreement and the national Health and Wellbeing Outcomes.

IX FINANCIAL OUTLOOK 2016-2018

On a reference to Article III of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 12th February, 2015, there was submitted Report No 372-2015 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services advising members of the current position of the Council's Revenue Budget for 2016-2018 in light of projected grant settlement figures, together with the Council's updated medium-term financial strategy.

The Committee:-

(i) noted the current position on the Council's Revenue Budget for 2016-2018;

(ii) noted the projected levels of savings and efficiencies that were required in the next two financial years;

(iii) noted the Councils updated medium-term financial strategy; and

(iv) noted that a further report would be submitted to the Policy and Resources Committee in January, 2016, detailing the Council's actual grant settlement and the associated implications. The proposed procedure for setting the Council's Revenue Budget and Council Tax for 2016/2017 would also be included in this report.

X CHANGING FOR THE FUTURE PROGRAMME - PHASE 4

There was submitted Report No 379-2015 by the Chief Executive seeking approval of the projects that would form Phase 4 of the Changing for the Future programme.

The Committee:-

(i) approved the proposed Changing for the Future work programme as set out in Appendix 1;

(ii) noted that the work within the programme would be the key vehicle to enable the Council to deliver a balanced budget in financial years 2016/2017 and 2017/2018; and

(iii) noted that regular reports would be brought back to the Policy and Resources Committee outlining progress with the Changing for the Future programme and reports would be submitted to the appropriate Committees as decisions were required.

XI WOMEN 50/50

There was submitted Agenda Note AN191-2015 intimating that this item had been placed on the Committee at the request of Councillor Brennan.

Councillor Brennan, seconded by Bailie Wright, moved approval of the undernoted:-

(i) Council notes that women are underrepresented across Councils in Scotland and make up only 25% of Councillors. This Council further acknowledges that whilst voluntary mechanisms such as all women shortlists have made some progress, women are still not represented fairly.

(ii) The Council congratulates the Women 5050 campaign who have been working across all political parties and have gained support from the SNP, Scottish Labour, Scottish Liberal Democrats and Scottish Green Party leaders.

(iii) This Council welcomes and supports Women 5050's call for legislated candidates quotas in the Scottish Parliament and Council elections and backs the campaign's call for fair representation of women in Scotland.

As an amendment, Councillor McDonald, seconded by Councillor Murray, moved:-

(a) approval of paragraphs (i) and (ii) above; and

(b) the deletion of paragraph (iii) above and it be replaced with the undernoted:-

Council recognises that alongside gender equality there are also challenges in relation to under represented groups such as those with disabilities and supports the 1 in 5 Campaign. As a result, Council backs the call for the Scottish Parliament to have the legislative powers over equality in relation to elections so that a debate can take place on legislation to improve equality in office.

On a division, there voted for the motion - Councillors Keenan, Asif, Bidwell, Brennan, Cruickshank, Ferguson, Gordon, McCready, McGovern, Bailies Wright and Borthwick (11); and for the amendment - Councillors Guild, Alexander, Black, Bowes, Campbell, Cordell, Dawson, Hunter, Lynn, McDonald, Melville, Murray, Ross, Macpherson, Bailie Sawers, Lord Provost Duncan and Depute Lord Provost Roberts (17) - whereupon the amendment was declared carried and became the motion before the meeting.

As a further amendment, Bailie Scott moved that no action be taken but failed to find a seconder, whereupon he asked that his dissent be recorded - whereupon the motion was declared carried.

XII TRADE UNION BILL

There was submitted Agenda Note AN192-2015 intimating that this item was placed on the Committee at the request of Councillor McCready.

The Committee agreed to hear a deputation from Mike Arnott, Dundee Trades Union Council and after he had stated his case and answered questions from members of the Committee he was thanked for his attendance and withdrew.

Thereafter, Councillor McCready, seconded by Councillor Gordon, moved approval of the undernoted:-

Dundee City Council notes the Conservative Government are proposing a Trade Union Bill that will restrict the ability of this council to engage in good industrial relations practices with our workforce and their representatives. Council believes the collection of union dues through the check-off arrangement, from which the Council receives income, is part of our collective and contractual arrangements with the trades unions and one which we will defend and support. Council commits not to use agency staff to break or weaken industrial action and to continue to support arrangements that afford trade union representatives sufficient resources to enable them to carry out their functions to ensure the continuation of good industrial relations. The Leader of the Council will write to the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills stating the Councils opposition to this Bill and our resolve not to co-operate with any attacks on facility time or check off. The Council notes the differing approach to industrial relations advocated by the Scottish Government and the recent Memorandum of Understanding signed by the First Minister and the STUC.

As an amendment, Bailie Scott moved that no action be taken but failed to find a seconder, whereupon he asked that his dissent be recorded - whereupon the motion was declared carried.

XIII DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL 2014/2015 - ACCOUNTS AND AUDIT

(a) AUDITED STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS 2014/2015

(i) Dundee City Council

The above report was submitted and noted (Report No 374-2015).

(ii) Dundee City Council Charitable Trusts

The above report was submitted and noted (Report No 375-2015).

(iii) Lord Lord Provost of Dundee Charity Fund

The above report was submitted and noted (Report No 376-2015).

(b) EXTERNAL AUDITOR'S REPORT

The above report was submitted and noted (Report No 377-2015).

(c) DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL 2014/2015 - ACCOUNTS AND AUDIT (RESPONSE TO THE EXTERNAL AUDITOR'S ANNUAL AUDIT REPORT)

There was submitted Report No 378-2015 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services in response to the report by the Council's External Auditor on the audit of Dundee City Council for the year to 31st March, 2015.

The Committee:-

(i) noted the contents of the External Auditor's report including the completed action plan at Appendix 4, and in particular, that KPMG had issued an unqualified audit opinion on each of the 2014/2015 annual accounts noted above; and

(ii) endorsed the report as the Council's formal response to the External Auditor's report.

XIV TAYSIDE PENSION FUNDS 2014/2015

(a) TAYSIDE PENSION FUNDS 2014/2015 ACCOUNTS AND AUDIT

There was submitted Report No 382-2015 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services in response to the report by the Council's External Auditor on the audit of the Tayside Pension Funds for the year to 31st March, 2015.

The Committee noted the contents of the External Auditor's Annual Audit Report and, in particular, the KPMG LLP had issues on the unqualified audit opinion.

(b) EXTERNAL AUDITOR'S ANNUAL REPORT

The above report was submitted and noted (Report No 383-2015).

(c) AUDITED ANNUAL REPORTS AND ACCOUNTS 2014/2015

The above report was submitted and noted (Report No 384-2015).

Ken GUILD, Convener.

APPENDIX