Best Value Performance & Efficiency Sub-committee Of The Policy & Resources Committee - 26/04/2001

At a MEETING of the BEST VALUE SUB-COMMITTEE of the POLICY AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 26 April, 2001.

Present:-

COUNCILLORS

Councillor Beattie was substituting for Councillor Elizabeth Fordyce.

Councillor Julia STURROCK, Convener, in the Chair.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I BEST VALUE REVIEW OF THE GARDEN MAINTENANCE SCHEME

There was submitted Report No 251-2001 by the Chief Executive reporting on the result of the Best Value Review of the Council's Garden Maintenance Scheme.

The Review accounted for 384,000 (2.96%) of the Leisure and Parks Department's revenue budget and represented 6.92% of the expenditure planned for review in that Department in 2000/2001.

The Sub-Committee approved the Best Value Review of the Garden Maintenance Scheme and remitted consideration of the undernoted proposals to the Leisure Services Committee:-

(a)that the eligibility criteria for the Scheme should remain largely unchanged except that, for new applicants, the qualifying age should be raised from 60 to 65. Similarly, the condition that the applicant does not live with another able-bodied adult under the age of 60 should be amended so that this also increases to 65.

(b)that the proposals for continuous improvement as detailed in paragraph 13 of the report be agreed, ie

-grass clippings to be uplifted as part of the Scheme

-administration be taken over centrally by the Leisure & Parks Department.

II BEST VALUE REVIEW OF BUILDING CONTROL SERVICE WITHIN THE PLANNING AND TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT

There was submitted Report No 6-2001 by the Chief Executive reporting on the Best Value Review of the Building Control Service provided within the Planning and Transportation Department.

The Review accounted for 2.35% (198,700) of the Department's revenue budget and was 20.04% of the total review expenditure planned in the Department in this financial year.

The Sub-Committee agreed the outcome of the review per paragraph 15 of the report and noted those areas identified for continuous improvement described in Section 16 of the report.

III BEST VALUE REVIEW - ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION AND PREVENTION (AIP)/MINOR WORKS

There was submitted Report No 51-2001 by the Chief Executive reporting the result of the Best Value Review into Accident Investigation and Prevention (AIP) and Minor Works provided by the Planning and Transportation Department as part of the Council's Best Value Review process.

The Review accounted for 1.89% of the Department's revenue budget at a budget cost examined of 236,000.

The Sub-Committee agreed the outcome of the review as contained in the report and noted those areas identified for continuous improvement in Section 12 of the report.

IV BEST VALUE REVIEW OF CENTRAL LIBRARY

There was submitted Report No 249-2001 by the Chief Executive reporting on the Best Value Review of the services provided and administered by the Central Library.

The Review accounted for 1,861,924 which was 24.5% of the Department's gross expenditure (excluding SIPS) for financial year 1999/2000.

The Sub-Committee approved the following proposals:-

(a)to agree the outcome of the Review as contained in the report

(b)to note the proposals detailed in Section 12 of the report as follows:-

(i)development of learning centres

(ii)refreshment/browsing areas

(iii)revised opening hours

(c)to note the proposals for continuous improvement as detailed in Section 13 of the report as follows:-

(i)conference facilities

(ii)customer signage

(iii)installation of new boiler

(iv)resource policy

(v)spoken word tapes for children

(vi)non-return of library materials

(vii)digitisation

Julia STURROCK, Convener.