Policy And Resources Committee - 11/02/2002

At a MEETING of the PERSONNEL AND MANAGEMENT SERVICE COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 11th February, 2002.

 

Present:-

 

COUNCILLORS

 

Lord Provost John R LETFORD

Willie W SAWERS

Dave BEATTIE

George de GERNIER

Joe FITZPATRICK

C D P FARQUHAR

Helen WRIGHT

Allan PETRIE

Fraser MACPHERSON

Betty WARD

George REGAN

Julia M STURROCK

Neil I C POWRIE

Bruce D MACKIE

Neil GLEN

Ian BORTHWICK

Roderick A J WALLACE

Elizabeth F FORDYCE

Robin PRESSWOOD

Kenneth J N GUILD

Fiona M GRANT

Richard BEATTIE

Derek J SCOTT

David BOWES

Andrew DAWSON

John CORRIGAN

Mervyn J ROLFE

 

 

Lord Provost LETFORD, Convener, in the Chair.

 

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 28th January, 2002 was held as read.

 

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

 

I EDUCATION DEPARTMENT - ESTABLISHMENT OF FIXED TERM POST AND TEMPORARY REGRADING

 

Reference was made to Article XII of the minute of meeting of the Education Committee of 21st May, 2001, wherein the Committee approved Report No 315-2001, Education Maintenance Allowances - Pilot Scheme, for sessions 2001/2002 to 2003/2004.

 

It was reported that the additional administrative and clerical work attached to the scheme had initially been achieved by the short term temporary employment of a Senior Clerical Officer, grade GS3, SCP13-15, currently 12,624 - 13,164 per annum, and the payment of acting up allowances to two existing Senior Clerical Officers and experience to date indicated that this level of additional support would be required for the duration of the pilot.

 

The Committee agreed therefore, to establish a fixed term post of Senior Clerical Officer, grade GS3, SCP13-15, currently 12,624 - 13,164, and to temporarily regrade 2 posts of Senior Clerical Officer, grade GS3, to Administrative Officer, grade AP1, SCP15-18, currently 13,164 - 14,118, for the duration of the pilot, which will terminate on 30th June, 2004, having noted that the cost of this arrangement in a full financial year is 18,000, and would be fully funded by the Scottish Executive for the duration of the pilot.

 

II NEIGHBOURHOOD RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT - LITERACY AND NUMERACY ACTION PLAN - ESTABLISHMENT OF FIXED TERM POSTS

 

Reference was made to Article V of the minute of meeting of the Neighbourhood and Resources and Development Committee of 14th January, 2002, which approved Report No 26-2002, "Literacy and Numeracy Action Plan", and remitted the Director of Personnel and Management Services to bring forward a report to establish posts to manage and administer the project.

 

The Committee approved the undernoted posts, for a fixed term period not exceeding three years from the commencement of the initiative:-

 

Literacies Implementation Manager, grade PO7-10 (SCP41-44), currently 27,687 - 29,823.

 

Administrative Officer, AP1/2 (SCP15-22), currently 13,164 - 15,717.

It was noted that there were no direct financial implications to the Council arising from these proposals, all costs being met from the Literacy Initiative.

 

III LEISURE AND ARTS DEPARTMENT/DUNDEE CONTRACT SERVICES - CHANGES TO ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE

 

Reference was made to Article I of the minute of meeting of the Policy and Resources Committee of 18th June, 2001, wherein approval was given to Report No 363-2001, "Formation of New Department of Leisure and Arts" and to Articles IV and III of the minutes of the meeting of the Personnel and Management Services Committee of 15th October, 2001 and 12th November, 2001, wherein amendments to the original organisational structure were approved. The Committee approved the undernoted amendments which occur as a result of the merger, but which affect Dundee Contract Services and noted that further reports may be submitted to future Committees as the situation evolves:-

 

(a) It was originally proposed that the post of Senior Clerical Assistant (Garden Maintenance) based at Dundee Contracts would be graded GS3, 12,624 - 13,164. However, the grade of the post has been reviewed and it was agreed to redesignate the post to Garden Maintenance Assistant and regrade the post to Tech 1, 12,624 - 13,476 which would more accurately reflect the work carried out.

 

(b) It was originally proposed to transfer 8 posts of Supervisor to Dundee Contracts to oversee the Grounds Maintenance employees who were transferring across. However, following further examination of the organisational structure, it became apparent that operational efficiency would be improved by the introduction of an Assistant Operations Manager to co-ordinate activity between the Operations Manager (PO 5-8, 26,301 - 28,404) and the Supervisors (Tech 4, 18,378 - 20,397). Accordingly, it was agreed to redesignate one of the posts to Assistant Operations Manager and grade this post Tech 5, 21,036 - 22,959. This would now result in 7 posts of Supervisor transferring to Dundee Contracts. It was agreed to match a current Leisure Inspector/Assistant Parks Officer to the Assistant Operations Manager post.

 

(c) It was originally proposed to transfer a Clerical Assistant GS1/2, 9,180 - 12,399 to the Wages Section at Dundee Contract Services. The job description has been further reviewed and the duties of this post extended. Accordingly, it was agreed that this post be re-designated Senior Clerical Assistant and graded GS3, 12,624 - 13,164.

 

The Committee noted that these revisions would cost an additional 1,051 in a full financial year.

 

IV HOUSING DEPARTMENT - REGRADING OF POST

 

It was reported that at the request of the Director of Housing, the Director of Personnel and Management Services had reviewed the duties and responsibilities of the post of Caretaking Supervisor and recommended that this post be regraded from AP4 (18,378 - 20,397) to AP3 (16,173 - 17,796).

 

The Committee approved accordingly, having noted that the savings generated by this recommendation would be 1,284 in this financial year and 5,136 in a full financial year.

 

V SOCIAL WORK DEPARTMENT - RE-ALIGNMENT OF COMMUNITY CARE MANAGEMENT ARRANGEMENT

 

There was submitted Joint Report No 87-2002 by the Director of Social Work and Director of Personnel and Management Services recommending a re-alignment of the management structure of community care services.

 

The Committee approved the revised reporting arrangements to Service Managers as detailed in the report.

VI HOUSING DEPARTMENT - PRIVATE SECTOR GRANT UNIT AND HOUSING ACTION AREA SECTION - REVIEW OF ESTABLISHMENT

 

There was submitted Report No 3-2002 by the Director of Housing and Director of Personnel and Management Services advising the Committee of the findings and recommendations emanating from a review of the Private Sector Grant Unit and Housing Action Area Section of the Housing Department.

 

The Committee agreed to approve:-

 

(i) the proposed staffing structure detailed in the report;

 

(ii) the deletion of a post of Housing Officer, AP3, SCP23-26 (16,173 - 17,796);

 

(iii) the deletion of 2 posts of Clerical Officer, GS3, SCP13-15 (12,624 - 13,164); and

 

(iv) the deletion of a post of Clerical Officer, GS1/2, SCP3-12 (9,180 - 12,399).

 

It was noted that further consultation and discussion required to take place with the Trade Unions and further recommendations would be submitted to the Committee in due course, if appropriate.

 

It was reported that the Convener had agreed that the undernoted additional items be considered in terms of Standing Order 52(3)(b) in view of the timescales involved.

 

VII EDUCATION DEPARTMENT - TIED HOUSING

 

This item was withdrawn.

 

VIII EDUCATION DEPARTMENT - REVIEW OF CLERICAL SUPPORT STAFF IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS

 

This item was withdrawn.

 

IX PLANNING AND TRANSPORTATION CAREER GRADE AND STAFFING STRUCTURE

 

The Committee agreed to defer consideration of this item to a meeting of the Personnel and Management Services Committee to be held on 18th February, 2002.

 

X SOCIAL WORK DEPARTMENT - WHITETOP CENTRE HYDROTHERAPY POOL - ESTABLISHMENT OF PHYSICAL EDUCATION ASSISTANT POST

 

Reference was made to Article II of the minute of meeting of the Social Work Department of 21st January, 2002 wherein authority was granted to recommission the swimming and hydrotherapy pool at the Whitetop Centre.

 

The Committee approved the establishment of Physical Education Assistant, graded GS2, 11,796 - 12,399, to be responsible for the operational running of the pool, having noted that the cost in a full year of this post would be 13,638 including employers costs and would be met from the existing community care budget.

XI INVITATION TO THE 8TH EUROPEAN CONGRESS ON EPILEPSY + SOCIETY

 

The Committee agreed to defer consideration of this item to a meeting of the Personnel and Management Services Committee to be held on 18th February, 2002.

 

 

 

 

LORD PROVOST LETFORD, Convener.