Policy And Resources Committee - 12/02/2007

At a MEETING of the PERSONNEL COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 12th February, 2007.

 

Present:-

 

Lord Provost John R LETFORD

 

 

 

BAILIES

 

C D P FARQUHAR

Helen WRIGHT

Ian BORTHWICK

 

Neil I C POWRIE

 

 

COUNCILLORS

 

Jill SHIMI

Helen DICK

Christina ROBERTS

Kevin KEENAN

Nigel DON

Jim BARRIE

George REGAN

Bob DUNCAN

Will DAWSON

Julia M STURROCK

Andrew DAWSON

Elizabeth F FORDYCE

Christopher HIND

Willie W SAWERS

Roderick A J WALLACE

Joe MORROW

Joe FITZPATRICK

Charles A WEBSTER

Fraser MACPHERSON

 

Derek J SCOTT

 

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

 

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 15th January, 2007 was held as read.

 

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

 

I FINANCE DEPARTMENT REVENUE DIVISION - CHANGES TO ESTABLISHMENT

 

There was submitted Agenda Note AN39-2007 advising that the Assistant Chief Executive (Management) and the Depute Chief Executive (Finance) had undertaken a review of the workload within the Fraud Section. They had advised that there was a requirement to support the Specialist Investigation Officer in taking action on Benefit Fraud and it was necessary to make staffing changes to ensure an efficient service delivery.

 

Accordingly, the Committee approved:-

 

(i) the establishment of a post of Sanction Assistant, graded GS3/AP1 (14,829 - 16,518); and

 

(ii) the deletion of a post of Benefit Fraud Assistant, graded GS3/AP1 (14,829 - 16,518);

 

having noted that this proposal would have no cost implications for the Revenue Budget.

 

II SOCIAL WORK DEPARTMENT CRIMINAL JUSTICE SERVICE - ESTABLISHMENT OF POST

 

There was submitted Agenda Note AN40-2007, making reference to Article II of the minute of meeting of the Social Work Committee of 24th October, 2005 wherein the Committee approved the introduction of ViSOR (The Violent and Sex Offenders Register) and to Article III of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 9th January, 2006 wherein the establishment of one post of Senior Clerical Assistant was approved.

 

In order to adequately support the use of ViSOR, the Committee agreed to approve the establishment of an additional Senior Clerical Assistant post, graded GS3 (14,829 - 15,441), having noted that the cost of the proposal would be 18,516 in a full financial year and would be fully funded from Dundee City Council's Criminal Justice Grant allocation from the Scottish Executive.

III SOCIAL WORK DEPARTMENT - WORKING FOR FAMILIES PROJECT - ESTABLISHMENT OF FIXED TERM POST

 

There was submitted Agenda Note AN41-2007 making reference to Article IV of the minute of meeting of the Economic Development Committee of 18th October, 2004 which advised that the Social Work Department Welfare Rights Service had been successful in the tender for the Money Advice Project, and to Article XI of this Committee of 13th December, 2004 which established two posts of Money Advice Workers.

 

It was proposed that Working for Families fund an additional Money Advice Worker who would provide the capacity to offer additional financial education in conjunction with the two existing Money Advice Workers currently employed within the Welfare Rights Team.

 

Accordingly, the Committee approved the establishment of one post of Money Advice Worker, graded AP4 (21,327 - 23,610) on a fixed term basis until 31st March, 2008 having noted that the costs of the proposal, including employer costs, would be 28,280 in a full financial year, which would be funded from the Working for Families budget awarded to the Council by the Scottish Executive.

 

IV SUPPORT SERVICES DEPARTMENT - ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND TRADING STANDARDS - ESTABLISHMENT OF POSTS

 

There was submitted Agenda Note AN42-2007 making reference to Article VI of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 14th June, 2004 wherein approval was given for the establishment of two temporary Pest Control Officer posts for a period of two years. This period was subsequently extended by a further six months to 31st March, 2007. The additional two posts had enabled the Pest Control Service to effectively meet the increasing and changing demands placed on the service.

 

Accordingly, the Committee agreed to approve the establishment of two posts of Pest Control Officer graded Tech 3 (18,324 - 20,673), having noted that the financial cost of implementing this change was 40,000 which could be met from the Department's 2007/08 revenue budget.

 

V SUPPORT SERVICES DEPARTMENT - ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND TRADING STANDARDS - REGRADING AND REDESIGNATION OFPOST

 

There was submitted Agenda Note AN43-2007, making reference to Articles, X, IX and IV of the minutes of meetings of this Committee of 15th April, 2002, 20th October, 2003 and 14th March, 2005, and advising that the Assistant Chief Executive (Management) and the Head of Environmental Health and Trading Standards had undertaken a review of the duties and responsibilities of the posts required to meet the Council's statutory obligations in terms of contaminated land. In order to continue to meet the statutory obligations and to ensure that the grade accurately reflects the duties and responsibilities of the post, the Assistant Chief Executive (Management) had recommended that the post of Assistant Contaminated Land Officer, be redesignated to Contaminated Land Officer and regraded from AP4 (21,327 - 23,610) to PO1-4 (27,039 - 29,349).

 

The Committee approved this regrading and redesignation, having noted that the cost in this current financial year was 650 inclusive of employer's costs and for financial year 2007/08, 5,400, inclusive of employer's costs, which could be met from resources identified in the Environmental Health and Trading Standards Department's Revenue Budget.

 

VI ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT - ESTABLISHMENT OF POST

 

There was submitted Agenda Note AN45-2007, wherein the Committee was asked to approve the establishment of a post of Employability Programme Finance/Administration Officer, grated AP2 (16,929 - 18,324) on a fixed term basis until 31st March, 2008, in order to manage the budgets and administration associated with the Dundee Partnership Employability Programme.

 

The Committee approved this proposal, having noted that the costs would be 3,800 for the financial year 2006/07, and 23,375 for the financial year 2007/08, which would be met from the City Strategy Initiative.

 

VII LEISURE AND COMMUNITIES DEPARTMENT - ESTABLISHMENT OF POST

 

There was submitted Agenda Note AN46-2007, making reference to Article III of the minute of the meeting of the Communities Committee of 24th October, 2005 wherein the Committee approved the transfer of the Management of Whitfield Activity Complex to the Leisure and Communities Department.

 

It was reported that as a result of this decision, employees of Whitfield Activity Complex transferred to Dundee City Council under TUPE Regulations and at the time of transfer, some employees had been supernumerary. Following a successful pilot at The Shore, the Committee was asked to establish the additional post of Community Learning and Development Worker, graded CEW (AP3/4 +1) (18,840 - 24,333).

 

The Committee approved this proposal, having noted that the cost would be 32,415 in a full year and could be contained within the Additional Youth Work allocation within the Leisure and Communities Revenue Budget.

 

VIII MODERNISING GOVERNMENT FUND PROJECTS - EXTENSION OF POSTS

 

There was submitted Agenda Note AN47-2007 advising that the Chief Executive and the Assistant Chief Executive (Management) had undertaken a review of the current projects being funded by the Modernising Government Fund and other sources of external monies. To fulfil current and future commitments, they recommended that four temporary IT Officer posts, graded AP3-PO10 (18,840 - 34,260), be established on a permanent basis.

 

In addition, it was recommended that the following temporary posts be extended and that the Process Review Officer posts transfer from Personnel to Support Services and Corporate Planning to carry out specific roles relating to Modernising Government and efficiency:-

 

Post

Current End Date

Proposed End Date

 

Data Cleansing/Matching Officer, GS3 (14,829 - 15,441)

 

23rd October, 2007

31st March, 2008

Process Review Officer, AP5-PO4 (24,333 - 29,349) (Customer Services Department)

 

31st March, 2007

31st March, 2008

Process Review Officer AP5-PO4 (24,333 - 29,349)

 

31st March, 2007

31st March, 2008

DNAS/CAG Project Officer, AP5-PO4 (24,333 - 29,349)

30th September, 2007

31st March, 2008

 

The Committee approved these proposals, having noted that the cost would be 254,173, inclusive of employer's costs, in 2007/08 and 142,403 for 2008/09 onwards, which could be met from the Modernising Government Fund monies, other sources of external funds for related IT projects, and savings identified.

 

IX SOCIAL WORK DEPARTMENT - STRATEGY AND PERFORMANCE SERVICE - ESTABLISHMENT OF POST OF STRATEGY AND PERFORMANCEASSISTANT

 

There was submitted Agenda Note AN48-2007, advising that as a result of EFQM self assessment, inspection processes, self-evaluation and other activity it had become clear that process improvement and the management of performance were becoming increasingly important activities within the Social Work Department, both internally and in conjunction with planning and service delivery partners. In addressing this changing and growing need, the Strategy and Performance Service had reviewed its staffing structure and redefined roles and responsibilities. This had resulted in the work of a Senior Officer being refocused on process improvement and performance management across the department. In order to support this growing agenda and the increasing need for regular, relevant and robust performance information for all staff to enable them to continuously improve what they do, it was proposed that a new post of Strategy and Performance Assistant should be created.

 

Accordingly, the Committee approved the establishment of one post of Strategy and Performance Assistant, graded AP3 (18,840 - 20,673), having noted that the costs including employer's costs would be 23,980 in a full financial year, which would be funded from within the existing Social Work Department Revenue Budget.

 

It was reported 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 HOUSING DEPARTMENT - HOMELESS SERVICES UNIT - ESTABLISHMENT OF POSTS

 

There was submitted Agenda Note AN44-2007, advising that due to increased demand for temporary accommodation from homeless persons arising from the legislative provisions of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987 (as amended), and the Homelessness etc (Scotland) Act 2003, Dundee City Council required to increase its supply of supervised temporary accommodation by setting up a new unit. In order to ensure that residents received the support which they require and that the local community is not inconvenienced by the operation of this unit, there would be two staff on duty at all times.

 

The Committee therefore approved the establishment of the following posts to staff the unit on a 24 hour shift rota basis:-

 

7                     9 posts of Assistant Housing Officer, graded GS3 (14,829 - 15,411) plus shift allowance and enhancements for weekend working; and

 

7                     4 posts of part-time (18 = hours) Assistant Housing Officer, graded GS3 (14,829 - 15,411) plus shift allowance and enhancements for weekend working;

 

having noted that the costs, including employer's costs, of establishing these posts would amount to 282,469 for a full year, which would be met from the overall Homelessness budget within the Housing Department's Revenue Budget.

 

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.

 

XI DEVELOPMENT OF CUSTOMER SERVICES TEAM AND CUSTOMER 1ST STRATEGY AND REVIEW OF STRUCTURE OF TELEPHONE SERVICES TEAM

 

On a reference to Article VIII of the minute of meeting of the Policy and Resources Committee of 12th February, 2007 there was submitted Report No 123-2007 by the Depute Chief Executive (Support Services).

 

The Committee approved the recommendations detailed in the report.

XII LEISURE AND COMMUNITIES DEPARTMENT - THE CORNER - APPLICATION FOR REGRADING

 

There was submitted Agenda Note AN49-2007, advising that a Senior Clerical Assistant based at the Corner, Leisure and Communities Department had submitted an application that the post be regraded.

 

It was reported that following a review of the application for regrading and of the duties and responsibilities of the post, the Assistant Chief Executive (Management) confirmed that the application had been substantiated in part.

 

The Committee agreed that the post be redesignated Administrative Assistant and regraded in accordance with the Assistant Chief Executive (Management)'s recommendation.

 

XIII SUPPORT SERVICES DEPARTMENT - LEGAL DIVISION - REGRADING OF POSTS

 

There was submitted Agenda Note AN41-2007 advising that as a consequence of higher duties and responsibilities arising from the early retirement of the Administration Manager and the consequent re-allocation of functions to the Legal Division, the Depute Chief Executive (Support Services) and the Assistant Chief Executive (Management) had recommended the regrading of the post of Team Leader (with Additional Duties) and the regrading of two posts of Team Leader.

 

The Committee approved these regradings, having noted that the costs would be met from the savings from the Administration Manager's retirement.

 

 

 

 

Lord Provost John R LETFORD, Convener.