Policy And Resources Committee - 09/05/2016

At a MEETING of the POLICY AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 9th May, 2016.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Councillor Ken GUILD, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 25th April, 2016 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

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

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

II DUNDEE COMMUNITY REGENERATION FUND

There was submitted Report No 175-2016 by the Chief Executive relative to the above.

The Committee noted the Community Regeneration Fund allocations for 2016/2017 and approved the funding proposals contained in Section 5.2 of the report appended hereto (Appendix I).

III FUNDING TO DUNDEE SCIENCE CENTRE TO EXTEND EXISTING EXHIBITION SPACE AND DELIVER A NEWSCIENCE LEARNING INSTITUTE

After considering Report No 158-2016 by the Chief Executive relative to the above, the Committee approved the grant of 100,000 to the Dundee Science Centre to assist in their project to extend their existing exhibition space and create a new Science Learning facility.

IV RELIEF OF RATES - CHARITY RELIEF

There was submitted Report No 174-2016 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services relative to the above.

The Committee approved the recommendations detailed in the report.

V LOCAL SCRUTINY PLAN 2016/2017

There was submitted Report No 169-2016 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services providing elected members with a summary of the Scrutiny Plan 2016/2017 that was recently issued by Audit Scotland on behalf of the various regulatory inspection bodies responsible for scrutinising the services provided by the Council.

The Committee noted the information contained within the report and the Local Scrutiny Plan 2016/2017 appended thereto.

VI COMMON GOOD FUND

There was submitted Report No 127-2016 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services providing details of the Council's Common Good Fund Revenue Budget for 2016/2017.

The Committee:-

(i) approved the Common Good Fund 2016/2017 Revenue Budget as detailed in Appendix A of the report;

(ii) approved the payment of 9,000 to Dundee West Fest Big Sunday and also 16,807 for Community Hogmanay Celebrations; and

(iii) noted that a further report would be brought back to the Committee on the use of the uncommitted 2016/2017 balance of 94,193, following an assessment process by the Executive Director of Corporate Services.

VII SCOTTISH SHARED SCIENTIFIC SERVICE

There was submitted Report No 177-2016 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services advising the Committee of the outcome of collaborative work between Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow City Councils on a shared service model for delivering local authority public analyst services across Scotland and seeking approval to proceed with further actions necessary to set up such a service, subject to the approval of a Business Plan for the service.

The Committee:-

(i) noted the content of the report; and

(ii) agreed, in principle, to the necessary actions being undertaken to set up a Scottish Shared Scientific Service, namely:

- Determining the full financial impact on each local authority partner;

- Developing a detailed Business Plan for the new service;

- Drafting and concluding all necessary legal agreements; and

- Continuing consultation with staff, Trade Unions and other stakeholders.

(iii) noted that a further report would be submitted to the Committee upon completion of the Business Plan for the service, whereby approval would be sought to set up the shared service.

VIII MAJOR CAPITAL INVESTMENT IN COUNCILS - AUDIT SCOTLAND - FOLLOW‑UP

On a reference to Article XIV of the minute of meeting of the Scrutiny Committee of 25th June, 2013, there was submitted Report No 168-2016 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services informing members of the above national study prepared by Audit Scotland on behalf of the Accounts Commission and providing an overview of the issues raised and how these were being addressed by Dundee City Council.

The Committee noted the information contained within the report and the Audit Scotland study appended thereto.

Ken GUILD, Convener.

APPENDIX I