Policy And Resources Committee - 12/06/2000

At a MEETING of the PERSONNEL AND MANAGEMENT SERVICES COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 12th June, 2000.

Present:-

COUNCILLORS

Councillor LETFORD, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 22nd May, 2000 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I NEIGHBOURHOOD RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT - REVIEW OF STAFFING, SIPS PROJECTS

There was submitted Report No 355-2000 by the Directors of Neighbourhood Resources and Development and Personnel and Management Services relative to the above.

The Committee approved the recommendations in the report that the post of Neighbourhood Development Officer, SIP, graded PO1 - 4 (22,083 - 24,009) be deleted from the establishment and that a permanent post of SIP Support Worker, graded AP2 (13,650 - 14,811) be established it being noted that there would be a saving of 10,120 including employers costs in the first full financial year.

II PERSONNEL AND MANAGEMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT - PERFORMANCE REPORT 1999/2000

There was submitted Report No 387-2000 by the Director of Personnel and Management Services relative to the above.

The Committee noted the performance of the Department as outlined at Appendix A of the report.

III ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT - TAY TRAINING - CHANGES TO STRUCTURE

There was submitted Report No 139-2000 by the Directors of Economic Development and Personnel and Management Services relative to the above.

The Committee approved the undernoted changes to the staffing structure of Tay Training:-

(a) the redesignation and regrading of the 3 posts of Instructor, graded Tech 1/2 (11,898 - 14,433) 2 Development Officers, graded AP2/3 (13,650 - 16,770) with a bar operating at the top of AP2, progress through which would depend upon the postholder having an HNC of Level 3 SVQ or equivalent in an appropriate subject and implementing commercially related expansion activities;

(b) the establishment of the post of Catering Assistant, graded GS1/2 (8,652 - 11,685);

(c) the deletion of the post of Senior Clerical Assistant (post ref no ED 122), graded GS3 (11,898 - 12,405); and

(d) the establishment of 1 post of Keyboard Assistant/Receptionist, graded GS1/3 (8,652 - 12,405) in the Economic Development Department.

It being noted that the post of Catering Assistant would be filled by an employee who was currently supernumerary and whose costs had already been included within the Departments budget and that in respect of the other staff structure alterations the additional cost would amount to 830 in the current financial year and 1,000 in a full financial year.

IV SOCIAL WORK DEPARTMENT - REVIEW OF SOCIAL WORK ASSISTANTS/ OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY ASSISTANTS

There was submitted Report No 391-2000 by the Director of Personnel and Management Services relative to the above.

The Committee approved the recommendations of the report that:-

(a) 20.5 Social Work Assistant posts currently graded GS1/2 (8,652 - 11,685) be regraded GS3/AP1 (11,898 - 13,305) and that there be a qualification bar at the top point of GS3 (SCP15, 12,405), progression beyond which would be dependent upon employees having the appropriate SVQ Level 2 qualification;

(b) 5 Occupational Therapy Assistant posts (4 full-time equivalents) currently graded GS1/2 (8,652 - 11,685) be regraded GS3/AP1 (11,898 - 13,305) and that there be a qualification bar at the top point of GS3 (SCP15, 12,405), progression beyond which would be dependent upon employees having the appropriate SVQ Level 2 qualification; and

(c) it be remitted to the Director of Social Work to identify appropriate SVQs and related training programmes to enable Social Work Assistants and Occupational Therapy Assistants to progress beyond the qualification bars within the grade, it being noted that the additional costs to the Department would be approximately 12,600 (including employers costs) in the current financial year and 16,800 in the full financial year with incremental progression thereafter.

V DUNDEE CONTRACT SERVICES DEPARTMENT - GAS SECTION - IMPLEMENTATION OF PAY AWARD

It was reported that the Gas Service Engineers and Gas Technicians in the Dundee Contract Services Department previously had their conditions of service and pay awards negotiated through the British Gas National Joint Council. This body had ceased to exist approximately 8 years ago and at that time, it was agreed that the pay award negotiated by the SJNC for Plumbers would also apply to the Gas Section employees, however, the effective date for the annual pay award to Plumbers was 1st July and for Gas Section workers was 1 January and this had caused considerable delays in implementing awards in respect of the Gas workers.

The Committee agreed that in order to enable the same pay award date for Gas workers as applies to other Craft Groups and to avoid the necessity of large annual back payments, the effective date of the pay awards to this group of employees be changed to 1st July and that the single, compensatory payment of 450 to Gas Service Engineers and 475 to Gas Technicians be made.

VI ENVIRONMENTAL AND CONSUMER PROTECTION DEPARTMENT - REGRADING AND REDESIGNATION OF POST

It was reported that at the request of the Director of Environmental and Consumer Protection, the Director of Personnel and Management Services had reviewed the duties and responsibilities of the post of Technical Assistant (Food Safety) and that having considered the role undertaken, it was recommended that the post be regraded from Technical 4 (17,322 - 19,224) to AP5 (19,827 - 21,636) and redesignated Food Safety Officer.

The Committee approved the foregoing, it being noted that the costs of the regrading would be 525 in the 2000/2001 financial year and 700 in a full financial year.

VII EDUCATION DEPARTMENT - REGRADING AND REDESIGNATION OF POST

Reference was made to the minute of meeting of this Committee of 8th November, 1999, wherein the Committee having considered Report No 469-1999 by the Director of Personnel and Management Services approved the recommendation therein that the application for regrading be refused.

It was reported that since that date, further consideration had been given to this issue and in light of new information received, the Director of Personnel and Management Services recommended that 10 posts of School Librarian in secondary schools be regraded from AP2/3 currently 13,650 - 16,770, to AP3/4, (15,240 - 19,224) with a bar being in place at the top of AP3, progression beyond which would be dependent upon the postholder obtaining chartered membership of the Library Association.

The Committee approved the foregoing and further agreed that the post for redesignated Resources Centre Co-ordinator.

VIII PLANNING AND TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT - PUBLIC TRANSPORT SECTION - REGRADING AND REDESIGNATION OF POST

Reference is made to the minute of meeting of this Committee of 21st January, 1999, wherein a report on the Planning and Transportation Department - Review of Organisational Structure which brought together the administration and clerical work was approved.

It was reported that the post of Clerical Assistant graded GS1/2 (8,304 - 11,685) in the Public Transport Section had been reviewed and the Directors of Planning and Transportation and Personnel and Management Services recommended that the post be redesignated Public Transport Assistant and regraded GS1/T3 (8,304 - 16,770).

The Committee approved the foregoing it being noted that the cost of the recommendation be 263 in a full financial year which would be met from the Departments revenue estimates.

IX SCOTTISH CHURCHES - INDUSTRIAL MISSION

Reference is made to the minute of meeting of the City Council of 3rd April, 1996 wherein approval was given to the employment of the Rev Erik Cramb as Industrial Chaplain to the Council.

It was reported that the Director of Personnel and Management Services had received a request from the Scottish Churches Industrial Mission asking the Council to consider making a contribution to the Trust Fund which supports the Chaplains.

The Committee approved a recommendation by the Director of Personnel and Management Services that a contribution of 500 be made, which sum would be met from the Revenue Budget of the Personnel and Management Services Department.

JOHN LETFORD, Convener.