Policy And Resources Committee - 21/08/2017

At a MEETING of the POLICY AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 21st August, 2017.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Councillor John ALEXANDER, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 26th June, 2017 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Councillors Dawson, Hunter, McCready and Gordon declared non-financial interests in relation to the item of business at Article IV of this minute by virtue of their Council appointments as Trustees of Leisure and Culture Dundee.

II MINUTES

(a) PERSONNEL APPEALS SUB-COMMITTEE - 21ST JUNE, 2017

(b) PERSONNEL APPEALS SUB-COMMITTEE - 26TH JUNE, 2017

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

III DUNDEE FAIRNESS ACTION PLAN PROGRESS REPORT

There was submitted Report No 273-2017 by the Chief Executive presenting progress on the Fairness Action Plan for Dundee.

The Committee noted the contents of the report.

IV RELIEF OF RATES

There was submitted Report No 269-2017 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services relative to the above.

The Committee approved the recommendations detailed in the report.

V CAPITAL EXPENDITURE MONITORING 2017/2018

There was submitted Report No 264-2017 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services appraising elected members of the latest position regarding the Councils Capital Plan 2017-2022.

The Committee noted the contents of the report.

VI TAY CITIES REGION JOINT COMMITTEE

On a reference to Article II of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 27th June, 2016 there was submitted Report No 274-2017 by the Chief Executive proposing a new interim Minute of Agreement between Angus Council, Dundee City Council, Fife Council and Perth and Kinross Council to allow the establishment of a Joint Committee to progress the Tay City Deal. This document would be strengthened by a further agreement setting out the specific governance arrangements.

The Committee:-

(i) agreed to the Minute of Agreement establishing a Joint Committee between Angus Council, Dundee City Council, Fife Council and Perth and Kinross Council to oversee the governance arrangements for the Tay Cities Deal, a copy of which was attached to the report as an Appendix;

(ii) remitted the Joint Committee to come back with a report setting out the more detailed governance agreement by 31st December, 2017; and

(iii) delegated authority to officers to negotiate and agree other minor amendments as appropriate.

VII LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN SCOTLAND PERFORMANCE AND CHALLENGES 2017

There was submitted Report No 272-2017 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services providing elected members with a summary of the above national report undertaken by Audit Scotland on behalf of the Accounts Commission.

The Committee:-

(i) noted the key message arising from the Audit Scotland report; and

(ii) noted the action points for elected members arising from the Audit Scotland report.

John ALEXANDER, Convener.

At a MEETING of the PERSONNEL APPEALS SUB-COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 21st June, 2017.

APPENDIX I

Present:-

COUNCILLORS

Stewart HUNTER

Gregor MURRAY

Georgia CRUICKSHANK

Councillor Stewart HUNTER, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 24th April, 2017 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 involve 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 and his representative.

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 been substantiated in part and that the appeal be upheld to the extent that the final written warning be removed and that an oral warning be imposed from 10th February, 2017 for a period of six months.

Stewart HUNTER, Convener.

At a MEETING of the PERSONNEL APPEALS SUB-COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 26th June, 2017.

APPENDIX II

Present:-

COUNCILLORS

Councillor Stewart HUNTER, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 21st June, 2017 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 involve 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 Neighbourhood Services Department had been submitted.

The Sub-Committee heard the Councils representative and witnesses and, thereafter, the Appellant and his representative.

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 been substantiated in part in that the appellant was no longer summarily dismissed. This penalty had been replaced with a Final Written Warning imposed from 26th June, 2017 for a period of 15 months and a period of suspension without pay from the time of the original decision to dismiss on 27th January, 2017 until 26th June, 2017.

Stewart HUNTER, Convener.