Policy And Resources Committee - 20/03/2006

At a MEETING of the POLICY AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 20th March 2006.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Councillor Jill SHIMI, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 20th February 2006 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I SUPPLY OF IT EQUIPMENT - GCAT

There was submitted Report No 176-2005 by the Head of Information Technology reporting IT equipment purchased under the GCAT Government Procurement Scheme.

The Committee:

(i) noted the IT purchases amounting to 123,288 detailed in appendix 1 of the report for the period 25 November 2005 to 20 February 2006, and

(ii) approved ongoing engineering maintenance costs of 9,557 per annum.

II REGISTRATION SERVICE - FEES TO BE CHARGED FOR THE SERVICES OF A REGISTRAR FOR EVENTS OUT OF HOURS

On a reference to Article XVII of the minute of meeting of the Personnel Committee of 20th March 2006 and after considering Agenda Note AN99-2006 it was agreed that the following new fees be introduced with effect from 1st April 2006:-

Sunday 245

Public Holidays 300.

III COMMUNITY REGENERATION FUND SMALL GRANTS ALLOCATION 2005/2006

Councillors Grant and Will Dawson declared a non-financial interest in Grey Lodge by virtue of being Council representatives on the Board.

There was submitted Report No 179-2006 by the Assistant Chief Executive (Community Planning) and the Director of Leisure and Communities relative to the above.

The Committee noted the process for allocating small grants through the Local Community Regeneration Forums as agreed by the Dundee Partnership and endorsed the funding proposals detailed below.

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

IV FORTH/TAY ROAD BRIDGE ABOLITION OF TOLLS

It was reported that this item had been placed on the Agenda at the request of the Convener.

The Committee approved the undernoted resolution:

"(1) to give full support to the Tay Road Bridge Joint Board's decision to ask the Minister to rescind the Tay Bridge Tolls, and

(2) to give full support to the campaign to abolish tolls on the Tay Road Bridge and write to the appropriate Minister in conjunction with Fife and Angus Councils to ask for an early meeting to put forward the case for the abolition of the tolls."

V COMMON GOOD

There was submitted Report No 205-2006 by the Depute Chief Executive (Finance) providing details of the Council's Common Good Fund Revenue Budget for 2006-07.

The Committee agreed that the undernoted be met from the Common Good Fund Revenue Budget for 2006/07.

5,000 towards the North Carr Lightship Restoration, Apeal subject to a further report being submitted and

10,000 towards the Tayside Dermatology Skin Cancer Treatment and Research Centre Appeal.

Thereafter, Councillor Shimi seconded by Councillor Grant, moved that 46,000 be allocated to the purchase of new and improved Christmas lights.

As an amendment, Councillor Fitzpatrick, seconded by Councillor Sawers ,moved that 46,000 be allocated to kick start Hogmanay celebrations for 2006/07 and that it be remitted to the Director of Economic Development to consult with interested parties including the City Centre Community Council on the development of an organised Hogmanay celebration for Dundee. The plans to be reported to the Economic Development Committee at the earliest opportunity and that the success of the Hogmanay event be the subject of a further report in 2007 where funding from alternative sources will be decided for future Hogmanay celebrations.

On a division, there voted for the motion - Lord Provost Letford, Bailies Wright, Powrie Mackie and Borthwick and Councillors Shimi, Keenan, Regan, Grant, Hind, Morrow, MacPherson, Dick, Wallace, Webster and Scott (16); and for the amendment - Bailie Corrigan, Councillors Don, Duncan, Beattie, Andrew Dawson, Sawers, FitzPatrick, Roberts, Will Dawson and Fordyce (10) - whereupon the motion was declared carried.

Jill SHIMI, Convener