Policy And Resources Committee - 16/08/2004

At a MEETING of the POLICY AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 16th August 2004.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Councillor SHIMI, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 28th June 2004 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I CAMPAIGN TO SAVE THE SCOTTISH REGIMENTS

Bailie Farquhar and Councillor Regan declared non-financial interests in this item by virtue of being members of the Black Watch Association.

The Committee agreed to hear a deputation from the City of Dundee Combined Ex-Services Association in support of the Black Watch and after they had stated their case and answered questions put by members of the Committee they were thanked for their attendance and withdrew.

Thereafter, the Committee approved the undernoted resolution:-

"Dundee City Council agrees to support the retention of the Black Watch Regiment and to write in support of the following motion to the Ministry of Defence:-

Dundee City Council expresses strongly its disappointment at the announcement by the Ministry of Defence that one Scottish Regiment will be disbanded, the fact that a decision will not be made to October and the negative impact that this drawn out process, and media speculation, is having on the morale of servicemen and women and their families.

The Council recognises the importance that regimental identity and strong local identification within the community makes to recruitment to the Black Watch in Dundee and our neighbouring local authorities in Tayside and Fife and affirms its opposition to any proposal which will jeopardise these ties.

The Council formally communicates its support for the Black Watch to the Patron and Colonel in charge of the Regiment.

The Council agrees to write to Geoff Hoon, the Secretary of State for Defence, and Adam Ingram, the Minister for the Armed Forces, to express its disappointment, emphasise the support of the Council for the Regiment and ask that they consider carefully the long and distinguished record of the Black Watch before any decision is made.

The Council also seeks assurances from the Secretary of State and the Minister for the Armed Forces on the long-term future of the Regiment."

The Committee also agreed to forward this motion to local MPs and MSPs and religious leaders urging them to support it.

II MINUTE - RECESS SUB-COMMITTEE

The minute of meeting of the Recess Sub-Committee of 19th July 2004, a copy of which is appended hereto, was submitted for information and record purposes.

III BEST VALUE REVIEW OF SHELTERED HOUSING WARDEN SERVICE

There was submitted Report No 532-2004 by the Chief Executive seeking approval for the Best Value Review of the Sheltered Housing Warden Service.

The Committee agreed:-

(i) that a member/officer review of the Sheltered Housing Warden Service be added to the list of best value reviews previously approved by this Committee;

(ii) that the review group be chaired by the Chief Executive and that the membership consist of three members from the Administration, two from the SNP Group and one from the Conservative Group; and

(iii) that the scope, objectives, membership and consultation processes of the review be as detailed in Section 6 of the report.

IV APPLICATION FOR BETTER NEIGHBOURHOOD SERVICES FUNDING

There was submitted Report No 519-2004 by the Assistant Chief Executive (Community Planning) and Head of Communities seeking approval for funding proposals in respect of footways and carriageways in the Kirkton and Hilltown Areas to be met from the Better Neighbourhood Services Fund.

The Committee approved the funding proposals set out in the report.

V PHOTOCOPIER CONTRACT

After considering Report No 518-2004 by the Director of Education reviewing the provision of photocopying services to Dundee City Council, Angus Council, Perth and Kinross Council and other participating organisations, the Committee agreed:-

(i) to let a contract for photocopiers for a period of four years commencing 1st October 2005 with an additional I year if required;

(ii) to approve the Council's participation in a composite photocopier contract along with Angus Council, Perth and Kinross Council and other qualifying bodies, eg Police, Fire Services, Colleges etc, the contract to run for a period of four years from 1st October 2005 with the option of an additional one year if required;

(iii) to act on behalf of other participants with their agreement as the Contract Co-ordinator, the main participants being Dundee City Council, Angus Council, Perth and Kinross Council, Police, Fire Service, Colleges and various voluntary bodies;

(iv) that in any negotiations with contractors, Dundee City Council would act as the co-ordinating authority, as agreed by the other participants, the Director of Education on behalf of Dundee City Council would have the delegated power to adopt a monitoring role through the use of the Education Contracts Officer to be known as the "Co-ordination Manager" for contract purposes to ensure the efficient operation of the contract and therefore maximise the benefit to the Council and participating members; and

(v) that in any negotiations, the interests of voluntary bodies would be taken into account, whether they were to be part of the contract or not, in order that they received similar value for money copy charges, it being noted that voluntary bodies would be billed directly by the contractor.

VI SUPPLY OF IT EQUIPMENT - GCAT

There was submitted Report 542-2004 by the Head of Information Technology detailing IT equipment purchased under the GCAT Government Procurement Scheme.

The Committee noted that the IT purchases amounting to 468,446 detailed in the report for the period 2nd April 2004 to 28th July 2004 and approved the ongoing engineering and maintenance costs of 18,386 per annum.

VII PERFORMANCE REPORT 2004

There was submitted Report No 577-2004 by the Depute Chief Executive (Finance) advising the Committee on the publication of the Council's Performance Report 2004.

The Committee noted the contents of the report.

VIII FUTURE OF FIRE SERVICE CONTROL ROOMS IN SCOTLAND

Bailie Farquhar and Councillor Roberts declared non-financial interests in this item by virtue of being members of the Tayside Fire Joint Board.

There was submitted Report No 593-2004 by the Depute Chief Executive (Finance) seeking the Committee's views on the independent report published by the Scottish Executive on the Future of Fire Service Control Rooms in Scotland.

The Committee agreed to respond to the Scottish Executive that the City Council would wish to see the retention of the current eight Fire Service Control Rooms in Scotland for the reasons set out in the report.

IX NUCLEAR FREE LOCAL AUTHORITIES - AGM AND ANNUAL POLICY BRIEFING

There was submitted Agenda Note AN208-2004 indicating that the above AGM and Annual Policy Briefing would be held in Hull on 14th and 15th October 2004.

The Committee authorised one member of the Administration to attend at an estimated cost, excluding travel and subsistence, of 65.

JILL SHIMI, Convener.