Policy And Resources Committee - 20/02/2023

At a MEETING of the POLICY AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE held remotely on 20th February, 2023.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 23rd January, 2023 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

Councillor John ALEXANDER, Convener, in the Chair.

I DECLARATION OF INTEREST

There were no declarations of interest.

II DEFEND THE RIGHT TO STRIKE

This Item was placed on the agenda at the request of Councillor Shears who asked that the Committee agree that the Leader of the Council writes to the Prime Minister, The Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP, expressing the Councils opposition to the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Bill 2023 and its support for workers taking industrial action.

The Committee acceded to a request for a deputation from Mike Arnott on behalf of Dundee Trades Union Council, to address the Committee in relation to this item of business. After the deputation had stated their case and answered questions from members of the Committee, they were thanked for their attendance and withdrew.

Councillor Shears, seconded by Councillor Tolland, moved approval of the following:-

Dundee City Council stands against the UK Governments move to impose minimum service levels on certain sectors - effectively banning the right to strike.

Dundee City Council supports the right of all workers in dispute with their employer to take industrial action up to and including withdrawing their labour. Any attack on our right to strike is an attack on our democracy and must be opposed.

The removal of these rights is particularly concerning considering the Retained EU Bill; causing fears that workers rights, such as fair treatment, reasonable working hours and rest breaks, will be threatened.

Dundee City Council welcomes the opposition to the Tories Anti-Strike Bill from MPs and MSPs representing Dundee and North East Scotland. Dundee City Council stands, as part of this broad alliance, in protection of our democratic and human right to strike.

Dundee City Council mandates the leader of the Council to write to the Prime Minister expressing our opposition to the Anti-Strike Bill, and support for the right of all workers to take industrial action.

As an amendment, Bailie Scott moved the direct negative. There being no seconder, the amendment proposed by Bailie Scott fell and was not voted upon and the motion became the finding of the meeting. Bailie Scott intimated his dissent from the decision.

III DISPOSABLE VAPES

This item was placed on the agenda at the request of Bailie Macpherson and Councillor Crichton who requested that the Committee agrees to lend its support to the campaign for a ban on disposable vapes in Scotland.

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

Bailie Macpherson seconded by Councillor Crichton, moved approval of the following:-

Committee notes concerns in the city and across the country as to the adverse environmental effects of disposable vapes, which are causing considerable levels of additional litter on streets and other public places.

Research by Material Focus, an independent not-for-profit organisation, has identified that 1.3 million single-use vapes are thrown away every week in the UK.

Furthermore, disposable vapes contain valuable materials like lithium batteries and copper, as well as plastic. There is concern about the potential risk of fires in waste facilities caused by them.

Committee welcomes the decision by Scottish Government to commission a review - being undertaken by Zero Waste Scotland - into the environmental impact of disposable vapes.

It therefore agrees to instruct the Chief Executive to write, on behalf of the City Council, to Lorna Slater MSP, Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity in the Scottish Government, and to Iain Gulland, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer at Zero Waste Scotland making clear the Councils view that, in light of the environmental damage caused by disposable vapes, a ban on their sale should be introduced in Scotland as soon as practicable.

The Committee agreed to lend its support to the campaign for a ban on disposable vapes in Scotland as outlined.

IV CAPITAL EXPENDITURE MONITORING 2022/2023

The Committee agreed that this item of business be deferred.

V REVENUE MONITORING 2022/2023

The Committee agreed that this item of business be deferred.

VI CORPORATE SERVICES SERVICE PLAN

The Committee agreed that this item of business be deferred.

VII RISK MANAGEMENT ANNUAL REPORT

The Committee agreed that this item of business be deferred.

VIII DUNDEE ALCOHOL AND DRUGS PARTNERSHIP STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK AND DELIVERY PLAN

There was submitted Report No 72-2023 by the Chief Executive, submitting the Dundee Alcohol and Drug Framework 2023/2028 and supporting delivery plan, providing an overview on recent developments in the provision of drug and alcohol services and support.

The Committee agreed:-

(i) to note the content of the report and the Dundee Alcohol and Drug Partnerships Strategic Framework 2023/2028, Working Together to Prevent Harm and Support Recovery, and supporting delivery plan as set out in Section 4.1 and Appendices 1 and 2 of the report;

(ii) to note the intention for the Alcohol and Drug Partnership to develop a performance management framework, investment plan and strategic risk register to support the implementation of the strategic framework and delivery plan as set out in Section 4.2.6 of the report;

(iii) to note the key areas of progress achieved over the last six months in reducing harm associated with drug and alcohol use as set out in Section 4.3 of the report; and

(iv) to instruct the Chief Executive to bring forward further updates regarding progress in implementing the strategic framework and delivery plan in-line with the Alcohol and Drug Partnerships future public reporting schedules.

IX LOCAL AUTHORITY TENANT HARDSHIP FUND - POLICY UPDATE

There was submitted Report No 41-2023 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services, advising of an amendment to the Local Authority Tenant Hardship Policy.

The Committee agreed to the revised Local Authority Tenant Hardship Policy as detailed in Appendix 1 to the report from 1st April 2023.

X PLANNING AND BUILDING STANDARDS MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE

There was submitted Report No 50-2023 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services, seeking consideration of future contract arrangements for the provision and licensing of Planning and Building Standards Management Software.

The Committee agreed:-

(i) to the renewed purchase of Planning and Building Standards Management Software for a three year period with an option to extend for a further two years; and

(ii) to remit the Head of Customer Services and IT to purchase Planning and Building Standards Management Software, licensing and support from Idox PLC following a compliant procurement process using Crown Commercial Data and Applications Solutions (DAS) RM3821 Framework.

XI FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE

There was submitted Report No 52-2023 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services, seeking consideration of future contract arrangements for the provision and licensing of Financial Management Software.

The Committee agreed:-

(i) to the renewed purchase of Financial Management Software for a five year period; and

(ii) to remit the Head of Customer Services and IT to purchase Financial Management Software, licensing and support from Civica UK Ltd following a compliant procurement process using the Crown Commercial Data and Applications Solutions (DAS) RM3821 Framework.

XII NON-DOMESTIC RATES - EMPTY PROPERTY RELIEF POLICY

There was submitted Report No 42-2023 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services, advising of the devolution from the Scottish Government to local authorities of responsibility for non-domestic rates Empty Property Relief (EPR) and seeking approval to adopt a policy for Dundee for the period 1st April, 2023 to 31st March, 2024.

The Committee agreed:-

(i) to note the background of the devolution to the Council of responsibility for the Empty Property Relief Policy from 1st April, 2023 and the funding arrangements as set out in the report;

(ii) to adopt the same Empty Property Relief scheme in Dundee as currently applied at a national level, as detailed at Appendix A of the report, for a period of one year from 1st April, 2023 to 31st March, 2024;

(iii) to authorise the Executive Director of Corporate Services to take the necessary steps to implement the scheme from 1st April, 2023; and

(iv) to note that a report would be brought to a future Committee on proposals for a local scheme for Dundee to operate from 1st April, 2024.

The 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 item of business on the grounds that it involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 3, 6 and 9 of Part I of Schedule 7A of the Act.

XIII BUSINESS SUPPORT FUNDING

There was submitted Report No 64-2023 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services, seeking approval to provide an organisation with financial support as outlined in the report.

The Committee agreed to note that in view of the timescales this report had been approved by the Executive Director of Corporate Services in consultation with the Convener of the Policy and Resources Committee, Labour Group Spokesperson, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson and the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party Member.

John ALEXANDER, Convener.