Policy And Resources Committee - 21/04/2003

At a MEETING of the PERSONNEL AND MANAGEMENT SERVICES COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 21st April 2003.

 

Present:-

 

COUNCILLORS

 

Lord Provost John R LETFORD

Andrew DAWSON

Dave BEATTIE

George de GERNIER

Joe FITZPATRICK

C D P FARQUHAR

Helen WRIGHT

Allan PETRIE

Fraser MACPHERSON

Betty WARD

George REGAN

Julia M STURROCK

Jill SHIMI

Bruce D MACKIE

Neil GLEN

Neil I C POWRIE

Roderick A J WALLACE

Elizabeth F FORDYCE

Ian BORTHWICK

Kenneth J N GUILD

Fiona M GRANT

Robin PRESSWOOD

Derek J SCOTT

David BOWES

Richard BEATTIE

John CORRIGAN

Mervyn J ROLFE

 

 

Lord Provost LETFORD, Convener, in the Chair.

 

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 17th March, 2003 was held as read.

 

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

 

I MINUTES OF MEETINGS OF PERSONNEL APPEALS SUB-COMMITTEE

 

(a) The minute of meeting of the Personnel Appeals Sub-Committee of 17th March, 2003, a copy of which is appended hereto, was submitted for information.

 

(b) The minute of meeting of the Personnel Appeals Sub-Committee of 31st March, 2003, a copy of which is appended hereto, was submitted for information.

 

II SOCIAL WORK DEPARTMENT - REVIEW OF WELFARE RIGHTS SERVICE STRUCTURE

 

There was submitted Report No 189-2003 by the Director of Social Work and Director of Personnel and Management Services seeking approval for changes to the structure of the Social Work Department's Welfare Rights Service.

 

The Committee agreed to approve:-

 

(a) the establishment of one post of Senior Welfare Rights Officer, Operational, graded PO1-4, 24,888-27,015;

 

(b) the establishment of one post of Senior Welfare Rights Officer, Assessments, graded PO1-4, 24,888-27,015;

 

(c) a 2 year temporary upgrade of one Senior Clerical Assistant post, graded GS3, 13,650-14,211 to Administrative Assistant, graded AP3, 17,340-19,029

 

(d) the regrading of three posts of Welfare Rights Assistant, graded GS1/2, 10,068-13,416 to AP2 15,582-16,866;

 

(e) the deletion of three posts of Welfare Rights Officer, graded AP4, 19,632-21,732;

 

having noted that there were no additional financial implications resulting from these proposals.

 

III SOCIAL WORK DEPARTMENT - CARE MANAGEMENT - ESTABLISHMENT OF ADDITIONAL POSTS

 

There was submitted Report No 291-2003 by the Director of Social Work and Director of Personnel and Management Services seeking approval for the revised staffing arrangements within Community Care to enable the Social Work Department to meet additional workloads resulting from new legislation.

 

The Committee approved the establishment of the undernoted posts:-

 

(a) 3 posts of Care Manager in Older People's Teams, graded AP4-PO1 (19,632-24,888);

 

(b) 1 post of Care Manager for Adults with Learning Disabilities, graded AP4-PO1 (19,632-24,888);

 

(c) 1 post of Senior Care Manager in the Older People's Locality Team, dated PO1-4 (24,888-27,015);

 

(d) 1 post of Care Manager in Ninewells Hospital, graded AP4-PO1 (19,632-24,888);

 

(e) 4 0.5 FTE Care Manager posts to be located in the hospital based care management and Ninewells Hospital teams, graded AP4-PO1 (19,632-24,888);

 

having noted that the cost of these proposals would be 212,290 in 2003/04 and 226,190 in a full financial year, to be met from existing resources allocated by the Scottish Executive.

 

IV NEIGHBOURHOOD RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT - BUILDING COMMUNITY CAPACITY - ALLOCATIONOF RESOURCES 2003-2006

 

There was submitted Report No 279-2003 by the Acting Director of Neighbourhood Resources and Development and Director of Personnel and Management Services detailing the extension of the Building Community Capacity Project funded through Social Inclusion Partnership and European Regional Development Fund monies, for the period April 2003 - December 2006.

 

The Committee agreed to:-

 

(i) note the allocation of additional extension funding for Building Community Capacity as detailed;

 

(ii) approve the extension of posts 981 and 982 (FTE Community Capacity Project Worker) to December 2005, and

 

(iii) approve the continuation of the remainder of the staffing costs/budget to be used for sessional posts to undertake pieces of project work throughout the duration of the funding;

 

having noted that the costs could be contained within the allocation of funding received from the Social Inclusion Programme and European Regional Development Fund.

 

V SUPPORT SERVICES DEPARTMENT - ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES DIVISION - REGRADING OF POST

 

There was submitted Agenda Note AN174-2003 seeking approval for the regrading of a temporary post of Heating and Ventilation Technician, Tech 1-3 (13,650-19,029) to Tech 1-5 (13,650-24,396), due to the developments in work, it being noted that this was a temporary post until 30th June, 2004 and that the additional cost of this recommendation could be contained in the Department's Revenue Budget.

 

The Committee approved the regrading of post as detailed.

 

VI SOCIAL WORK DEPARTMENT - DUNDEE DRUG AND ALCOHOL TEAM - ESTABLISHMENT OF PART TIMEPOST

 

Reference was made to Article VI of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 10th March, 2003 which approved the establishment of a Lead Officer post in the Dundee Drug and Alcohol Action Team.

 

There was submitted Agenda Note AN175-2003 advising that the work generated by the Team and from other sources, both locally and via the Scottish Executive required dedicated administrative support to enable the Lead Officer to meet current demands, while maintaining the local and national objectives required by the Team and the Scottish Executive.

 

The Committee approved the establishment of a part-time Administrative Assistant post (18.5 hours) graded AP1, 14,211-15,204, it being noted that this post would be funded in full from resources allocated by the Scottish Executive for the support and development of local Drug Action Teams.

 

VII EDUCATION DEPARTMENT - TRANSFER OF POSTS TO NEIGHBOURHOOD RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENTDEPARTMENT

 

This item was withdrawn.

 

VIII HOUSING DEPARTMENT - ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR TEAM - ESTABLISHMENT OF POSTS

 

Reference was made to Article I of the minute of the meeting of the Housing Committee of 17th March, 2003 (Report on Anti-Social Behaviour), wherein the Committee agreed that additional resources be identified to fund investigation of serious cases of anti-social behaviour.

 

There was submitted Agenda Note AN177-2003 seeking Committee approval for the establishment of the following posts:-

 

(a) two posts of Investigation Officer, graded AP2 (15,582-116,866); and

 

(b) one post of Clerical Assistant, graded GS3 (13,650-14,211),

 

The Committee approved the establishment of the posts as detailed above.

 

IX LEISURE AND ARTS DEPARTMENT - CHANGES TO STRUCTURE

 

Reference was made to Article I of the minute of meeting of the Policy and Resources Committee of 18th June, 2001 wherein the Committee approved a report on the formation of a new Department of Leisure and Arts. Subsequently, the Personnel and Management Services Committee of 15th October, 12th November, 2001, 11th February and 11th March, 2002 approved amendments to the original organisational structure.

 

There was submitted Agenda Note AN178-2003 seeking Committee approval for some amendments within the current structure for Leisure and Arts, as it had been identified that customer and online information systems had increased with the introduction of the customer booking system within swim centres, leisure centres and golf courses. There had also been an introduction of the "Leisureactive" membership scheme which would relate to the council smart card.

 

The Committee agreed that:-

 

(a) the current Policy/Strategy Officer post be redesignated Business Development Officer;

 

(b) the current vacant post of Business Support Officer should report to the Business Development Officer post;

 

(c) the Quality Officer post should report to the Principal Business Development Officer post; and

 

(d) responsibility for the Photographer post should transfer to the Heritage Team at McManus reporting directly to the Principal McManus Officer;

 

having noted that the above changes would not incur any cost, but would better reflect the way in which working practices and duties were now carried out within Leisure and Arts.

 

X SUPPORT SERVICES DEPARTMENT - EARLY RETIREMENT

 

There was submitted Agenda Note AN179-2003 recommending the early retirement of an Administrative Assistant (ER3/03) within the Support Services Department.

 

The Committee approved the early retirement as detailed in the note on the grounds of the efficiency of the service from 30th June, 2003 in accordance with the Local Government Pension Scheme (Scotland) Regulations 1998.

 

XI FINANCE DEPARTMENT - TRANSFER OF POST AND EMPLOYEE TO PERSONNEL AND MANAGEMENT SERVICESDEPARTMENT

 

There was submitted Agenda Note AN180-2003 advising the Committee that at present, an Administrative Assistant was seconded from the Finance Department to the Personnel and Management Services Department to assist in the Single Status job evaluation exercise.

 

Following discussions between the employee, the Director of Finance and the Director of Personnel and Management Services, it was proposed that the post and employee should transfer on a permanent basis to the Personnel and Management Services Department.

 

Accordingly, the Committee approved the transfer of one AP2 Administrative Assistant post from the establishment of the Finance Department to the establishment of the Personnel and Management Services Department, having noted that the budget would transfer with the post and both Departments' Revenue Budgets would be adjusted accordingly.

 

XII SOCIAL WORK DEPARTMENT - SINGLE SHARED ASSESSMENT - ESTABLISHMENT OF TEMPORARY POST

 

There was submitted Agenda Note AN181-2003 wherein reference was made to the report "Community Care - A Joint Future" by the Scottish Executive which set a challenge to local authorities and health agencies to develop and progress joint working in the delivery, management and resourcing of services for older people and others receiving community care services.

 

It was noted that in Dundee, both health agencies and the Council were working closely together on an action plan which detailed the tasks to be completed to meet the recommendations outlined in the above mentioned report, and in order to achieve this, a Project Team consisting of social work/health professionals and support staff was required.

 

The Committee gave approval for the establishment of a post of Administrative Assistant, graded AP1 14,211-15,204) for a temporary period, initially until 31st March, 2004, this post to be jointly funded from the Social Work budget through additional monies received from the Scottish Executive to implement the recommendations of the Joint Future Group and through resources provided by the NHS.

 

It was noted that a further report would be submitted to this Committee in due course seeking approval to establish additional posts as part of the Project Team.

 

XIII EDUCATION DEPARTMENT - TRANSFER OF POST TO ENVIRONMENTAL AND CONSUMER PROTECTIONDEPARTMENT

 

Reference was made to Article V of the minute of meeting of the Policy and Resources Committee of 10th June, 2002 wherein it was remitted to the Director of Environmental and Consumer Protection to introduce appropriate monitoring arrangements to ensure that food safety procedures are adhered to throughout the Council.

 

There was submitted Agenda Note AN182-2003 advising the Committee that part of this exercise would include the transfer on a pilot basis of an employee of the Education Department who was currently involved in similar work.

 

The Committee therefore approved, for a pilot period of one year, the transfer and redesignation of this post to Food Safety Officer, having noted that the Revenue Budgets of the Education and Environmental and Consumer Protection Departments would be amended accordingly and that this proposal would also involve a regrading from AP4, 19,632-21,732 to AP5 22,398-24,396 the cost of which would be met from the Environmental and Consumer Protection Department's Revenue Budget.

 

 

 

 

 

LORD PROVOST JOHN LETFORD, Convener.

APPENDIX