Policy And Resources Committee - 28/01/2019

At a MEETING of the POLICY AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 28th January, 2019.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Bailie Willie SAWERS, Depute Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 7th January, 2019 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I DECLARATION OF INTEREST

No declarations of interest were made.

II HOUSING (HRA) REVENUE BUDGET 2019/2022 AND REVIEW OF RENTS AND OTHER HOUSING CHARGES FOR2019/2020

The Committee acceded to a request for a deputation to address the Committee relative to this item. After the deputation had stated their case and answered questions from members of the Committee, they were thanked for their attendance, and withdrew.

There was submitted Joint Report No 50-2019 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services and Executive Director of Neighbourhood Services advising members of the outcome of the rent consultation exercise in order to approve the Housing (HRA) Revenue Budget and rent and other housing charges for the financial year 2019/2020.

The Committee:-

(i) noted the outcome of the rent consultation exercise detailed in section 6 and Appendix 4 of the report;

(ii) approved the Housing (HRA) Revenue Budget for 2019/2020 as detailed in Appendix 1 of the report;

(iii) noted the Provisional Revenue Budgets for 2020/2021 and 2021/2022 detailed in Appendix 1 of the report;

(iv) approved rents be increased by 3.75% equal to an average increase of 2.74 per week and subject to a maximum increase of 3.75 with effect from 1st April, 2019;

(v) approved that all other housing charges be set as outlined in Appendix 2 of the report with effect from 1st April, 2019;

(vi) noted that, in order to ensure that Housing Benefit legislation was adhered to, week commencing 30th March, 2020 would be a rent free week;

(vii) agreed that the level of rents held on the Housing (HRA) be similarly applied to miscellaneous houses ie the properties which were leased to the Richmond Fellowship, Dundee Health and Social Care Partnership and City Development, subject to categorisation where appropriate; and

(viii) agreed that tenants' allowances remain unchanged, with the exception of the decant allowances for tenants making their own arrangements for alternative accommodation, where the limit of three weeks could be extended in exceptional circumstances and where it was more economical than the alternatives.

III TAYSIDE MEAL CENTRE

There was submitted Joint Report No 48-2019 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services and the Executive Director of Children and Families Services proposing to change and modernise the way primary schools, Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) and community meals were delivered across Tayside. The rationale for intervention, within Dundee, was in response predominantly to ongoing meal production capacity pressures arising from the introduction of ELC provision in August, 2020. The proposed change would also benefit meal production within secondary schools and community meals.

The Committee:-

(i) noted the content of the report and agreed to proceed with the implementation of a cook-freeze centralised meals production facility method for the delivery of the primary school, community and ELC meals service which was equal in quality to freshly cooked meals;

(ii) noted that delivery of community meals would also be included in this change, they would initially move locations for continued preparation of the cook-fresh meals while Tay Cuisine was converted. Thereafter, this kitchen would become the community meals hub and be supplied with frozen meals from the Tayside Meal Centre;

(iii) noted that Angus and Perth and Kinross Councils were progressing the report within their Councils and would require to seek approval from their respective Committees. The Joint Committee of Tayside Contracts was also required to approve this proposal;

(iv) approved the contribution from Dundee City Council of 100k to fund the estimated infrastructure costs. There would be a similar contribution of 100k from both Angus Council and Perth and Kinross Council to cover their estimated infrastructure costs as detailed in paragraph 3.3 of the report; and

(v) gave approval to Tayside Contracts to borrow up to 1.9m from Dundee City Councils Prudential Loans Fund and for Tayside Contracts to make a capital investment of up to 1.9m in order to develop and implement the centralised production facility model.

Willie SAWERS, Depute Convener.