Policy And Resources Committee - 13/11/2006

At a MEETING of the PERSONNEL COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 13th November, 2006.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

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

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 16th October, 2006 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I MINUTES OF MEETING OF PERSONNEL APPEALS SUB-COMMITTEE OF 17TH OCTOBER AND 30TH OCTOBER,2006

There were submitted and noted the minutes of meeting of the Personnel Appeals Sub-Committee of 17th and 30th October, 2006, copies of which are appended hereto.

II HOUSING DEPARTMENT - HOMELESS SERVICES UNIT - REVIEW OF STRUCTURE

There was submitted Report No 623-2006 by the Assistant Chief Executive (Management) setting out proposals for the Homeless Services Unit as part of the review of the structure of the Housing Department.

The Committee approved the following proposals:-

(a) the integration of the Homeless Strategy Team (consisting of three externally funded posts) into the Homeless Services Unit, subject to continuation of Scottish Executive grant funding;

(b) the establishment of additional posts within the Homeless Services Unit structure as follows:-

— 1 post of Assistant Housing Officer graded GS3, (14,829-15,441) to provide reception and security service at Lily Walker Centre

— 1 post of Housing Officer (Dispersed Accommodation Support) graded AP1/2, (15,441-18,324). This post was previously transferred to Homeless Services Unit on a temporary basis;

(c) the redesignation and regrading of the following posts:-

— Supervised Accommodation Officer, graded AP5, (24,333-26,502), to Supervised Accommodation Team Leader, graded PO1-4, (27,039-29,349);

— 1 post of Housing Officer, graded AP2, (16,929-18,324), to Senior Housing Officer, graded AP3 (18,840-20,673);

— 3 posts of Assistant Housing Officer (Dispersed Accommodation Support), graded GS3, (14,829-15,441), to Housing Officer, graded AP1/2, (15,441-18,324); and

(d) the regrading of the following posts:-

— Homeless Assessment Team Leader, graded AP5 (24,333-26,502), to Homeless Assessment Team Leader, graded PO1-4, (27,039-29,349);

— 4 posts of Homeless Officer, graded AP2, (16,929-18,324), to Homeless Officer graded AP3, (18,840-20,673).

III PERSONNEL DEPARTMENT - EMPLOYMENT DISABILITY UNIT - REVIEW OF POST

There was submitted Agenda Note AN355-2006, advising that the Assistant Chief Executive (Management) had undertaken a review of the Administrative Section in the Employment Disability Unit, and recommended that the post of Senior Clerical Assistant, graded GS1/3, (10,938-15,441), be redesignated Clerical Assistant, and regraded GS1/2, (10,938-14,577), and the hours of the post be reduced to 20 hours per week.

The Committee approved the redesignation and regrading of the post, and reduction in hours, having noted the financial implications.

IV LEISURE AND COMMUNITIES DEPARTMENT - THE HIGHWAYMAN YOUTH AND COMMUNITY CENTRE -ESTABLISHMENT OF FIXED TERM POST

There was submitted Agenda Note AN356-2006, advising that the Highwayman Youth and Community Centre, funded by the Community Regeneration Fund, had applied for and secured additional funding for a part-time Support Worker for a fixed term period of two years.

A gap had been identified in the provision of one one-to-one support for users of the Highwayman and this post would identify and support this group of citizens in addressing their needs.

The Committee, therefore, approved the establishment of one part-time post of Support Worker (25 hours), graded CEW, 18,840-24,333, for a fixed term period until 31st March, 2008, having noted the financial implications.

V EDUCATION DEPARTMENT - LOOKED AFTER CHILDREN PROJECT - ESTABLISHMENT OF FIXED TERM POSTS

There was submitted Agenda Note AN357-2006, advising that a funding bid submitted jointly between Dundee City Council's Education and Social Work Departments to establish a Looked After Children Project, had been successful and confirmed by the Scottish Executive in May 2006, resulting in an allocation of 134,200 in 2006/2007 and 203,000 in 2007/2008.

The Committee therefore approved the establishment of two posts of Project Worker, graded AP3, (18,840-20,673), and two posts of part-time Clerical Officer (18.5 hours), graded GS1/2, (10,938-14,577), for a fixed term period until 31st March, 2008, having noted the financial implications.

VI SUPPORT SERVICES DEPARTMENT - CITY CHAMBERS CATERING - CHANGES TO ESTABLISHMENT

There was submitted Agenda Note AN358-2006 advising that the Depute Chief Executive (Support Services) had reviewed the service provided in respect of the City Chambers catering team and had concluded that an additional full-time post was required but that the number of part-time posts should be reduced. The new full-time post would be filled by one of the part-time employees after interview, if necessary.

Accordingly, the Committee approved the establishment of one additional full-time post of Chambers Attendant, grade GSA, 10,938-12,063, and the deletion of 2 part-time posts of Chambers Attendant, grade GSA, having noted that there were no financial implications arising from the above proposals.

VII HOUSING DEPARTMENT - REDESIGNATION AND REGRADING OF POST

There was submitted Agenda Note AN359-2006, advising that, as a result of the recent review of Establishment of Lettings and Rent Recovery Contact Centres and Review of Area Housing Office Restructure, the duties and responsibilities of the post of Caretaking Supervisor, graded AP3, (18,840-20,673), had increased. At the request of the Director of Housing, the Assistant Chief Executive (Management) had reviewed the post and recommended that the post be redesignated Estates Caretaking Co-ordinator and the post be regraded to AP5, (24,333-26,502).

The Committee approved this recommendation, having noted the financial implications.

VIII ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT - ESTABLISHMENT CHANGE

There was submitted Agenda Note AN370-2006, advising that in order to more accurately reflect the role of the post, the Director of Economic Development proposed redesignating the vacant post of Estates Manager to Property Manager.

The Committee approved accordingly, having noted that there were no financial implications.

The Committee resolved under Section 50(A)(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act, 1973 that the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the undernoted items of business on the grounds that they involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 1 of Part I of Schedule 7A of the Act.

IX SOCIAL WORK DEPARTMENT - CHANGES TO CONDITIONS OF SERVICE

There was submitted Agenda Note AN360-2006, advising that, at local government re-organisation in 1996, the City Council decided that the salaries and conditions of service of second tier officers should be those stipulated in the former National Scheme of Salaries and Conditions of Service for Administrative, Professional, Technical and Clerical Staff. That scheme was superseded by the National Agreement on Pay and Conditions of Service for Local Government Employees.

Since 1996, the roles and responsibilities of many second tier officers had changed and, to recognise such development, the Chief Executive and the Assistant Chief Executive (Management) had, on several occasions, requested this Committee to agree that a number of second tier officers should be remunerated in accordance with the National Scheme of Salaries and Conditions of Service for Chief Officials. The Chief Executive and Assistant Chief Executive (Management) only recommended such changes if there were no overall additional costs to departments' budgets.

The roles and responsibilities of all 5 second tier Social Work posts had been examined and, as part of the continuing process, it was recommended that the post of Manager (Strategy and Performance) be regraded from SCP72-75, (65,385-69,921), to CO34, (69,909); that the posts of Manager (Community Care), Manager (Children's Services) and Manager (Finance and Support Services) be regraded from SCP69-72, (60,981-65,385), to CO31, 65,241; and that the post of Manager (Criminal Justice) be regraded from SCP66-69, (56,787-60,981), to CO28, (60,573). The Assistant Chief Executive (Management) had discussed this proposal with all postholders and they had agreed to this change to the terms and conditions of their employment.

The Committee approved these changes, having noted that there were no financial implications.

X FINANCE DEPARTMENT - EARLY RETIREMENT

There was submitted Agenda Note AN361-2006, requesting approval for the retiral of ER26/06, an employee in the Finance Department with effect from 31st March, 2007 in the interest of efficiency of the service, in accordance with the Local Government Pension Scheme (Scotland) Regulations 1998 and with enhanced benefits in accordance with the Local Government (Discretionary Payments and Injury Benefits) (Scotland) Regulations 1998 (as amended) and in accordance with the decision of the Personnel Committee of 14th March, 2005.

The Committee approved the proposal, having noted the financial implications and having noted that the Head of Finance would review the workloads of the section and submit further proposals to this Committee at a later date.

XI SUPPORT SERVICES DEPARTMENT - (ADMINISTRATION DIVISION) - REVIEW OF STAFF STRUCTURE

There was submitted Agenda Note AN365-2006, making reference to Article VII of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 16th October, 2006, wherein the Committee approved the early retirement of the Administration Manager and noted that the employee would not be replaced and that the Depute Chief Executive (Support Services) would allocate higher duties to other employees.

It was reported that as a consequence of this review, the Depute Chief Executive (Support Services) and Assistant Chief Executive (Management) recommended the regrading of the posts of Principal Administration Officer, Principal Committee Services Officer and Principal General Services Officer.

The Committee approved the regradings as detailed in the note, having noted the financial implications.

Lord Provost John R LETFORD.

APPENDIX I