Policy And Resources Committee - 19/05/2003

At a MEETING of the FINANCE COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 19th May, 2003.

Present:-

COUNCILLORS

Councillor Regan, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 21st April, 2003 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I SUPERANNUATION INVESTMENT SUB-COMMITTEE

There was submitted Agenda Note AN247-2003 relative to the formation of a Superannuation Investment Sub-Committee.

The Committee agreed to set up a Superannuation Investment Sub-Committee, comprising of 3 members of the Administration, 3 members of the SNP Group and 1 member of the Conservative Group.

II AUDIT AND RISK MANAGEMENT SUB-COMMITTEE

There was submitted Agenda Note AN248-2003 relative to the formation of an Audit and Risk Management Sub-Committee.

The Committee agreed to set up an Audit and Risk Management Committee, comprising of 3 members of the Administration, 2 members of the SNP Group and 1 member of the Conservative Group.

III ELECTED MEMBERS' TELEPHONE EXPENSES

There was submitted Agenda Note AN249-2003 relative to the payment of telephone allowances to elected members under Section 69 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973.

The Committee agreed to increase the allowance by 2.5% in line with inflation, bringing the allowance for 2003/04 to 308.

The Committee noted that the Convener had agreed that the undernoted items be considered as a matter of urgency in terms of Standing Order No 52(3)(b) in view of the timescales involved.

IV SPECIAL RESPONSIBILITY ALLOWANCES

There was submitted Report No. 356-2003 by Director of Finance proposing the level of Convener, Lord Provost and Special Responsibility Allowances (SRA) payable to the City Council's Elected Members from 1st May 2003.

The Convener, seconded by Councillor Shimi moved approval of the report.

As an amendment Councillor Borthwick moved that the Committee notes Report No. 356-2003 and reduces the allowances in the Appendix by 20%, excluding the Special Responsibility Allowance of the Lord Provost, in recognition of the serious difficulties of Dundee Families and Council Tax payers, but failed to find a seconder whereupon the amendment fell.

Thereafter the Committee agreed:-

(a) to approve the maximum Convener, Lord Provost and Special Responsibility Allowances as detailed in Appendix A to the report;

(b) that the Special Responsibility Allowances referred to in the report be paid with effect from 1 May 2003;

(c) that only one additional allowance to the Basic Allowance may be paid to any Elected Member;

(d) that where a Committee Convener is also a Group Officer, that the applicable allowance would not be increased to the next highest band;

(e) to note that each political group has discretion as to how it may allocate the total of its Special Responsibility Allowances between the individual members of the political group; and

(f) to instruct the Director of Finance to prepare a Scheme of Allowances and submit this to an early meeting of the Finance Committee.

V NATIONAL CIPFA CONFERENCE

There was submitted Agenda Note AN270-2003 reporting that the National CIPFA Annual Conference would be held in Harrogate from 10th to 12th June 2003, at an estimated cost per delegate of 520, excluding travel and subsistence.

The Committee approved the attendance of one member from the Administration Group, one member from the SNP Group and one member from the Conservative Group.

GEORGE REGAN Convener.