Policy And Resources Committee - 21/03/2005

At a MEETING of the POLICY AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 21st March, 2005.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Councillor Jill SHIMI, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 14th March, 2005 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I CONSULTATION DOCUMENT  PRINCIPLES AND PROPOSITIONS FOR AN AFFORDABLE AND SUSTAINABLE LOCALGOVERNMENT PENSION SCHEME IN SCOTLAND

There was submitted Report No 206-2005 by the Depute Chief Executive (Finance) and Assistant Chief Executive (Management) suggesting an appropriate response by the Council to possible changes to the Local Government Pension Scheme in Scotland contained in a consultation document issued by the Scottish Public Pensions Agency.

The Committee endorsed the proposed response as outlined in the appendix to the report and agreed that it be forwarded to the Scottish Pensions Agency.

II NON-HOUSING PROPERTY AND MAINTENANCE REPAIRS SERVICE

On a reference to Article I of the minute of meeting of the Best Value Sub-Committee of 16th March, 2005, there was submitted Report No 173-2005 by the Chief Executive.

The Committee approved the following recommendations:-

(a) to adopt the partnership agreement attached as an appendix to the report to govern the repairs service to Council departments by Contract Services to come into force on 1st April, 2005;

(b) to submit an annual report on the property maintenance partnership agreement to the Policy and Resources Committee;

(c) to replace the existing Schedule of Rates plan with a "cost plus" basis for charging repairs;

(d) to approve an interim IT solution to provide repairs and billing with the long-term aim of using the new corporate property system.

III ATM MACHINES

There was submitted Agenda Note AN142-2005 intimating that a recent early day motion in the House of Commons condemned the policy of high street banks in selling off their non-branch based ATM machines.

The motion noted that many had been replaced by machines charging an average of 1.50 per withdrawal, that such machines were disproportionately located in poorer areas where people were less able to afford to travel to free alternatives, and that this was a particular problem for people whose benefits were paid into their bank accounts. The motion called on banks to guarantee the future of free withdrawal facilities at ATMs in disadvantaged areas.

The Committee agreed to support the early day motion.

JILL SHIMI, Convener.