Policy And Resources Committee - 10/05/2004

At a MEETING of the PERSONNEL COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 10th May 2004.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Lord Provost John R LETFORD, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 19th April 2004 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I MINUTE OF MEETING OF PERSONNEL APPEALS SUB-COMMITTEE OF 19TH APRIL 2004

The minute of meeting of the Personnel Appeals Sub-Committee of 19th April 2004, a copy of which is appended hereto, was submitted for information.

II HOUSING DEPARTMENT - ESTABLISHMENT OF POST OF COMMON HOUSING REGISTERDEVELOPMENT OFFICER

There was submitted Joint Report No 323-2004 by Director of Housing and Assistant Chief Executive (Management) seeking approval to establish a post of Common Housing Register Development Officer within the Housing Department for a period of two years following the announcement by the Scottish Executive that grants would be awarded to local authorities to set up Common Housing Registers.

The Committee approved the creation of one post of Common Housing Register Development Officer, graded PO1-4 (24,888 - 27,015) for a temporary period of two years, having noted that this post would be funded from a specific grant from the Scottish Executive.

III SUPPORT SERVICES DEPARTMENT - REVIEW OF STAFFING STRUCTURE FOR SENIOR COUNCILOFFICER'S TEAM IN CITY CHAMBERS

There was submitted Joint Report No 315-2004 by Depute Chief Executive (Support Services) and Assistant Chief Executive (Management) recommending changes to the staffing structure of the Senior Council Officer's team in the City Chambers to ensure that the structure reflects the operational arrangements and meets the workload demands experienced on a day to day basis.

The Committee approved the structure outlined in the report.

IV INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT - ESTABLISHMENT OF TEMPORARY POSTS

There was submitted Agenda Note AN188-2004 seeking approval for the extension of the temporary post of IT Officer (Software) graded AP3/PO10, 17,340 - 31,536, until February 2006 and the establishment of an additional temporary post of IT Officer (Software) graded AP3/PO10, 17,340 - 31,536.  The additional post would be for a period of 12 months initially with the option of extending it to 24 months if MGF3 funding was obtained.

These posts would be required to enable the development of the Client Tracking System for the Support for Young People Initiative and other Modernising Government initiatives.

The Committee approved accordingly.

V SOCIAL WORK DEPARTMENT - COMMUNITY SERVICE SUPERVISORS - ADDITION TO STAFFINGESTABLISHMENT

There was submitted Agenda Note AN189-2004 seeking approval for the increase in establishment by converting 0.6 post of Community Service Supervisor to one full-time post of Community Service Supervisor, graded AP2, 15,582 - 16,866 in order to allow Criminal Justice Services to maintain a high standard of service to the courts and the Dundee Community.

The Committee approved accordingly, having noted that the cost of the above increase in establishment would be 100% funded by the Scottish Executive through monies allocated within the Criminal Justice Grant allocation 2004/05.

VI SOCIAL WORK DEPARTMENT - CRIMINAL JUSTICE SERVICES - ESTABLISHMENT OF POST

There was submitted Agenda Note AN190-2004 making reference to Article I of the Personnel and Management Committee of 20th October 2003 wherein a report on Throughcare Service for Ex-Prisoners, was approved.

It was reported that additional funding had now been granted from August 2004 from the Scottish Executive, and it was agreed that a further post would be established in Dundee.  The Committee approved the establishment of an additional post of Social Worker, graded AP4/5 + 1, 19,632 - 24,888, having noted that the cost of the post would be 15,860 in 2004/05 (27,188 in a full financial year) and this would be 100% funded by the Scottish Executive through additional monies allocated within the Criminal Justice grant allocation 2004/05.

VII WASTE MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT - REDESIGNATION AND REGRADING OF POST

There was submitted Agenda Note AN191-2004 whereby reference was made to Article III of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 30th June 2003 whereby the Environmental and Consumer Protection Department was restructured into two separate departments:  Waste Management and Environmental Health and Trading Standards.

It was reported that following the restructure, the post of Quality Control Officer in the Waste Management Department had remained vacant.

With the advent of Best Value and the additional operational responsibilities which the department was required to undertake, particularly in relation to the National Waste Strategy, Keep Scotland Beautiful and the monitoring of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations, the Committee agreed to approve the redesignation of this post to Cleansing Services Officer and the regrading of the post from Tech 3, 16,866 - 19,029, to PO5-8, 27,873 - 30,060.

VIII LEISURE AND ARTS DEPARTMENT - ESTABLISHMENT OF FIXED TERM POST

There was submitted Agenda Note AN192-2004 advising the Committee that following the recent successful launch of the LeisureActive membership scheme and continued development of the golf membership scheme, there had been a significant increase in the number of memberships to their current totals of 1,600 and 1,700 respectively.

It was noted that an increased proportion of customers were preferring to pay by monthly direct debit.  There was now a significant workload involved in supporting and developing the membership database and supporting administrative processes, including the maximisation of income. In order to ensure the continued successful operation of the schemes, it was recommended that a post of Memberships Administrator, graded AP1 (14,211 - 15,204), be established on a fixed term of three years.

It was also recommended that tasks relating to bookings be transferred to the Business Development section along with one post of Invoicing/Bookings Assistant, graded GS1/2 (10,068 - 13,416).

The Committee approved accordingly.

IX LITERACY AND NUMERACY ACTION PLAN

There was submitted Agenda Note AN195-2004 whereby reference was made to Article II of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 11th February 2002 wherein the Committee approved the fixed term post for an Administrative Officer graded AP1/2 (14,898 - 17,288) until 31st March 2004, and Article I of the minute of meeting of Neighbourhood Resources and Development Committee of 10th February 2003 whereby the Committee was informed of the confirmation of the Scottish Executive's intention to extend the period of committed funding for the Literacy and Numeracy Initiative from March 2004 to March 2006. 

The Committee approved the regrading of this post from AP1/2 (14,898 - 17,288) to AP1 (14,898 - 15,584) and the extension of this post to 31st March 2006, having noted that this post would be funded in full from the resources allocated by the Scottish Executive to the Literacy and Numeracy Initiative. 

The Committee noted that the Convener had agreed that the undernoted item be considered as a matter of urgency in terms of Standing Order No 17(b) in view of the timescales involved.

X COMMUNITIES DEPARTMENT - RENAMING OF THE CENTRAL LIBRARY DEPARTMENTS ANDADJUSTMENTS TO LIBRARY AND INFORMATION STAFFING STRUCTURE

There was submitted Joint Report No 313-2004 by Head of Communities and Assistant Chief Executive (Management) advising the Committee of the re-naming of the Central Library Departments and to seek approval for proposed adjustments to the staffing structure of Library and Information Staff within the Communities Department.

The Committee noted the re-naming of the Central Library Departments as detailed below:-

and approved the undernoted adjustments to the structure;

(a)the deletion of two posts of Library and Information Worker, graded AP2-4, 15,972 - 22,275.

(b)the establishment of the following posts:-

                     one post of Senior Library and Information Worker, graded PO1-4, 25,510 - 27,690, based on the Central Library;

                     one post of Senior Library and Information Worker, graded PO1-4, 25,510 - 27,690 based in a Community Library;

(c)the regrading and redesignation of the post of Community Information Worker, graded AP4, 20,123 - 22,275, to Library and Information Worker, graded AP3-4, 17,774 - 22,275. This would not take effect until the post becomes vacant;

(d)the relocation of one post of Library and Information Worker, graded AP3-4, 17,774 - 22,275, to community libraries; and

(e)the redesignation of the post of Community Information Assistant (Webgate), graded AP2, 15,972 - 17,288, to Senior Information Assistant (Training).

LORD PROVOST JOHN R LETFORD, Convener.

APPENDIX I