Policy And Resources Committee - 11/09/2000

At a MEETING of the POLICY AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 11th September, 2000.

Present:-

COUNCILLORS

Councillor Julia STURROCK, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 28th August, 2000 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I REVIEW OF DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL CHILDRENS SERVICES PLAN 1998/2001

There was submitted Report No. 583-2000 by the Director of Social Work informing the Committee about the 2000 Review of the Childrens Services Plan.

The Committee

(i) Noted and approved the content of the Children's Services Plan Review.

(ii)Instructed the Director of Social Work, in co-operation with the Directors of Education, Housing, Neighbourhood Resources & Development, and Leisure & Parks, the General Manager of Tayside Health Board, the Children's Reporter, the Chief Constable, the Chief Executives of the NHS Trusts and Dundee Local Health Care Co-operative to ensure a wide distribution of the Children's Services Plan Review throughout Dundee and to relevant agencies outside the City.

II SERVICE PLAN 1999/2002 - REVIEW OF PERFORMANCE 1999/2000

There was submitted Report No. 570-2000 by the Director of Support Services providing details of the Department's performance against indicators and targets in the 1999/2002 Service Plan.

The Committee noted accordingly.

III COUNCILLOR DEVELOPMENT PLAN

There was submitted Report No. 592-2000 by the Director of Corporate Planning on the analysis of a development needs questionnaire issued to members.

The Committee:-

(i)approved the Councillor Development Plan for 2000/2001 as set out in paragraph 6.3 of the report and

(ii)remitted to the Director of Corporate Planning, in consultation with each of the political groups, to evaluate the implementation of the Plan and bring forward annual updates.

IV NUCLEAR FREE LOCAL AUTHORITIES

(a) AFFILIATION FEES

Councillor Sturrock seconded by Councillor Grant moved that the affiliation fee amounting to 1,421 be paid.

As an amendment Councillor Mackie seconded by Councillor Wallace moved that the affiliation fee be not paid.

On a division, there voted for the motion - Lord Provost Wright, Councillors Sturrock, de Gernier, Letford, Ward, Shimi, Presswood, Regan, Farquhar, Luke, Glen, Grant, Rolfe, Barrie, Richard Beattie, Dawson, Sawers, FitzPatrick, Petrie, Guild, Corrigan, Dave Beattie, Fordyce and Bowes (24); and for amendment - Councillors Powrie, Mackie, Wallace, Scott and Borthwick (5) - whereupon the motion was declared carried.

(b) AGM AND CONFERENCE

It was reported that the AGM and Conference of Nuclear Free Local Authorities would be held in Oxford on 14th and 15th September 2000.

Councillor Sturrock seconded by Councillor Grant moved that one member of the Majority Group and one member of the Major Opposition Group be authorised to attend the Conference at an estimated cost excluding travel and subsistence of 155 per delegate.

As an amendment, Councillor Mackie seconded by Councillor Wallace moved that no representatives attend.

On a division, there voted for the motion - (24); and for the amendment - (5), as recorded in the division immediately above - whereupon the motion was declared carried.

V PURCHASE OF COMPUTER FACILITIES - TENDERS

There was submitted Report No. 557-2000 by the Acting Director of Information Technology.

The Committee:-

(i)approved acceptance of the Tender ITD/2000/03 amounting to 12,350.18 from Specialist Computer Centres for the purchase of I.T. equipment detailed in Appendix 1 of the report and

(ii)approved ongoing engineering maintenance costs of 1,000 per annum.

VI THE PORSGRUNN CHALLENGE

After considering Report No. 486-2000 by the Chief Executive the Committee approved the adoption of the North Sea Commission's Porsgrunn Challenge.

VII THE REPORT OF THE RENEWING LOCAL DEMOCRACY WORKING GROUP

There was submitted Report No. 591-2000 by the Director of Corporate Planning on the findings of the Renewing Local Democracy Working Group and how they might apply in regard to the City Council.

Councillor Sturrock seconded by Councillor Mackie moved approval of the Report and in particular the Committee;

"(i)Agrees that First Past the Post is the most suitable form of democratic representation for local government as it is best understood by the electorate and best retains the ward/member link. Failing this the Alternative Vote System would be the best alternative as it also retains the ward/member link.

(ii)Agrees the number of Councillors for Dundee City Council should be set at 33 in recognition of the heavier workload for Councillors in areas of deprivation.

(iii)Welcomes the concept of parity of esteem between the different layers of government and therefore on that basis agrees that:-

(a)the age for standing for election should only be lowered to 18 if the age for MSP's and MP's is similarly lowered to allow for consistency;

(b)local government elections should be held on a separate date from national elections in order that the issues relevant to each level of government are addressed separately at the relevant election;

(c)the suggested flat rate allowance for a Councillor recognises that Councillors across the country carry the same kind of workload and that pension rights and that allowances for Councillors be introduced in line with those in salaried positions within local government;

(d)Councils should be able to determine the distribution of special responsible allowances from a quantum sum allocated to each Council."

As an amendment, Councillor Corrigan seconded by Councillor Sawers moved that the Kerley Report be accepted in full.

On a division, there voted for the motion - Lord Provost Wright, Councillors Sturrock, de Gernier, Letford, Ward, Shimi, Presswood, Regan, Farquhar, Luke, Rolfe, Glen, Grant, Powrie, Mackie and Wallace (16); and for the amendment - Councillors Barrie, Richard Beattie, Dawson, Sawers, FitzPatrick, Petrie, Guild, Corrigan, Dave Beattie, Fordyce and Bowes (11); - Councillor Scott being absent when the vote was taken and Councillor Borthwick declining to vote - whereupon the motion was declared carried.

As a further amendment, Councillor Borthwick moved approval of the foregoing subject to the status quo prevailing in respect of paragraph 3(c) but failed to find a seconder whereupon he asked that the amendment be recorded and the motion was declared carried and became the finding of the meeting.

VIII ANNUAL CONSUMERS SURVEY 2000

There was submitted Report No. 569-2000 by the Director of Corporate Planning summarising the main findings from the 2000 Annual Consumer Survey.

The Committee approved the undernoted:-

(i)noted the results contained in this report and agreed that the issues raised should continue to be addressed as part of the Council's commitment to continuous improvement.

(ii)authorised officers to publish the report on the Council's website and distribute copies to partner organisations and representative bodies as part of the Council's commitment to Public Performance Reporting.

(iii)remitted to the Director of Corporate Planning to arrange in-depth qualitative research as agreed by Committee in April 2000 to explore relevant findings in greater detail.

IX MANAGING CHANGE IN THE WATER INDUSTRY - CONSULTATION PAPER FROM THE SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE

There was submitted Report No. 593-2000 by the Director of Corporate Planning advising members of the Consultation Paper issued by the Scottish Executive on "Managing Change in the Water Industry".

Councillor Sturrock seconded by Councillor Grant moved that a copy of this Report be forwarded to the Scottish Executive as this Council's response to the consultation paper.

As an amendment, Councillor FitzPatrick seconded by Councillor Sawers moved that a copy of this Report be forwarded to the Scottish Executive as this Council's response to the consultation paper subject to paragraph 6.2.4 being deleted and the following being added - this Council calls for the return of water to local democratic control.

On a division, there voted for the motion - Lord Provost Wright, Councillors Sturrock, de Gernier, Letford, Ward, Shimi, Presswood, Regan, Farquhar, Luke, Rolfe, Glen, Grant, Mackie and Wallace (15); and for the amendment - Councillors Barrie, Richard Beattie, Dawson, Sawers, FitzPatrick, Petrie, Guild, Corrigan, Dave Beattie, Fordyce, Bowes and Borthwick (12) - Councillors Powrie and Scott being absent when the vote was taken - whereupon the motion was declared carried.

Julia STURROCK, Convener.