Policy And Resources Committee - 12/03/2007

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

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

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

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 12th February, 2007 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I MINUTE OF MEETING OF PERSONNEL APPEALS SUB-COMMITTEE OF 12TH FEBRUARY, 2007

The minute of the above meeting, a copy of which is appended hereto, was submitted for information.

II DUNDEE CONTRACT SERVICES DEPARTMENT - REVIEW OF KEYBOARD SERVICES

There was submitted Joint Report No 49-2007 by the Director of Dundee Contract Services and the Assistant Chief Executive (Management) proposing a revised staffing structure for Keyboard Services within the Employee Services Section of Dundee Contract Services to reflect changes in demand.

The Committee agreed:-

(a)                    the deletion of one post of Senior Keyboard Operator, graded GS3, 14,829 - 15,441; and

(b)                    that the Assistant Chief Executive (Management) makes appropriate arrangements to redeploy the existing postholder.

III MATERNITY LEAVE AND PAY GUIDELINES FOR EMPLOYEES

There was submitted Report No 97-2007 by the Assistant Chief Executive (Management) seeking the Committee's approval of proposed revised Maternity Leave and Pay Guidelines for Employees.

The Committee:-

(a)                    approved the revised Maternity Leave and Pay Guidelines for Employees, attached as Appendix 1 to the report; and

(b)                    agreed that employees who commenced with Dundee City Council in the year prior to 1st April, 2007 be exempt from one year's service requirement and receive enhanced maternity leave and pay, where applicable.

IV PERSONNEL DEPARTMENT - EMPLOYMENT DISABILITY UNIT - REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE

There was submitted Agenda Note AN78-2007, advising that the Manager of the Council's Employment Disability Unit (EDU) had received a formal request from the Catalan Association for Supported Employment [Associacis Catalan de Treball Amb Support (ACTAS)] to deliver a one day presentation and workshop on planning and job finding strategies on 30th March, 2007.

The Committee noted this invitation and approved the EDU Manager's participation, having noted that travel and accommodation costs would be met fully by the Catalan Association for Supported Employment.

V WASTE MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT - REVIEW OF ADMINISTRATION SECTION

There was submitted Joint Report No 137-2007 by the Head of Waste Management and Assistant Chief Executive (Management) seeking approval for changes to the establishment of the Waste Management Department following a review of the Administration Section.

The Committee approved:-

(a)                    the deletion of 1 post of Property Assistant, AP1, 15,441 - 156,518;

(b)                    the redesignation of 2 posts of Clerical Assistant (Payroll), GS1/3, 10,938 - 15,441, to Clerical Assistant (Expenditure) with no change of grade;

(c)                    the redesignation of 1 post of Clerical Assistant (Allocations), GS1/3, 10,938 - 15,441, to Clerical Assistant (Expenditure) with no change of grade;

(d)                    the redesignation of 1 full time post of Clerical Assistant (Collections), GS1/3, 10,938 - 15,441, to 1 part-time (20 hours per week) post of Clerical Assistant (Collections) with no change of grade;

(e)                    the redesignation and regrading of 1 post of Clerical Assistant (Invoicing), GS1/2, 10,938 - 14,577, to Clerical Assistant (Expenditure), GS1/3, 10,938 - 15,441;

(f)                     the redesignation and regrading of 1 post of Clerical Assistant (Reception) and 1 part-time (22 hours per week) post of Clerical Assistant (Reception), both GS1/2, 10,938 - 14,577, to Clerical Assistant (Collections), GS1/3, 10,938 - 15,441;

(g)                    the deletion of 1 post of Clerical Assistant (Invoicing) and 1 part-time (22 hours per week) post of Clerical Assistant (Reception), both GS1/2, 10,938 - 14,577;

(h)                    the redesignation and regrading of 1 post of Stores Assistant, GS1/2, 10,938 - 14,577, to Stores/Workshop/Transport Assistant, GS1/3, 10,938 - 15,441; and

(i)                     a review of the effectiveness of the implementation of these proposals by the Head of Waste Management and the Assistant Chief Executive (Management) within 6 months of the approval of this report.

VI EDUCATION DEPARTMENT - ESTABLISHMENT OF POST OF GENERAL ASSISTANT (HEALTH ANDSAFETY)

There was submitted Agenda Note AN68-2007, making reference to Articles V and VI of the minutes of meetings of the Personnel and Education Committees of 15th January, 2007, wherein a review of Management Support Staff Structures was approved.

It was reported that following the implementation of this process, two part-time Senior Clerical Assistant posts remained vacant and the Director of Education, following consultation with the Assistant Chief Executive (Management) proposed to delete the vacancies and create a post of General Assistant (Health and Safety), grade GS1/2, currently 10,938 - 14,577.  It was proposed to match an existing long term temporary employee, who had been identified as having the necessary skills, into this post.

The Committee approved accordingly, having noted that the financial implications of this proposal resulted in a saving of 1,421 in a full financial year.

VII ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT - ESTABLISHMENT OF POST

There was submitted Agenda Note AN69-2007, making reference to the approval by the Chief Executive of the establishment of two posts of Keyboard Operator/Clerical Assistant graded GS1/3, 10,938 - 15,441 for a period of twelve months to 31st March, 2005 in order to enable the Economic Development Department to update and maintain the Grimley Valuation & Asset System (Property Management) Database (GVA).

Reference was also made to Article IV and X of the minutes of meetings of this Committee of 9th May, 2005 and 20th March, 2006, whereby these posts were extended.

The Committee agreed to establish two posts of Keyboard Operator/Clerical Assistant GS1/3, 10,938 - 15,441 on a permanent basis as the GVA system continued to expand and required ongoing updating and maintenance, having noted that the costs, including employer's costs, of establishing these posts would be 29,367 for a full financial year, and would be contained within the Economic Development Department Revenue Budget.

VIII LEISURE AND COMMUNITIES DEPARTMENT - ENVIRONMENTAL DEVELOPMENT SECTION -ESTABLISHMENT OF POST

There was submitted Agenda Note AN71-2007, relative to a request from the Dundee Biodiversity Partnership that Dundee City Council employ a Biodiversity Officer for a period of three years.

The Committee approved the establishment of the following posts, within the Environmental Development Section of the Leisure and Communities Department, for a fixed term period of three years:-

-          one post of Biodiversity Officer, grade AP4, 21,327 - 23,610;  and

-          one part-time (18.5 hours) post of Clerical Assistant, graded GS1/2, 10,938 - 14,577.

It was noted that the officer currently occupying this post in Perth and Kinross Council would transfer to Dundee City Council in accordance with the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006.

IX LEISURE AND COMMUNITIES DEPARTMENT - HERITAGE SECTION - REVIEW OF POST

There was submitted Agenda Note AN70-2007, advising that the Director of Leisure and Communities and the Assistant Chief Executive (Management) had undertaken a review of the organisation structure, the requirements of the service and the responsibilities of posts within the Heritage Section of the Leisure and Communities Department, and had recommended:-

(a)                    the deletion of a part-time (18.5 hours) post of Heritage Officer (Mills Observatory) graded AP3/5, 18,840 - 26,502;  and

(b)                    the establishment of a full-time post of Heritage Officer (Mills Observatory) graded AP3/5, 18,840 - 26,502.

The Committee approved this proposal, having noted that the financial implications of these changes would amount to 11,401 in a full financial year and could be met from the Leisure and Communities Department's Revenue Budget.

X WASTE MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT - ESTABLISHMENT OF POST

There was submitted Agenda Note AN72-2007, making reference to Article II of the minute of meeting of the Environmental Services and Sustainability Committee of 23rd October, 2006 wherein the Committee approved the introduction of an on-street Recycling Service within the City which was scheduled to commence in April 2007.

The Committee agreed to establish one post of on-street Recycling Inspection Officer, graded AP1, 15,441 - 16,518, having noted that the financial cost of establishing this post would be 20,065 in a full financial year which would be met from the Strategic Waste Fund.

XI HOUSING DEPARTMENT - HOMELESS SERVICES UNIT - EXTENSION OF FIXED TERM POSTS

There was submitted Agenda Note AN73-2007, making reference to Article II of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 10th November, 2003 wherein the Committee approved the establishment of a number of posts until 31st March, 2007, in order to assist with the delivery of expanded legislative duties to homeless persons as contained in the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001.

It was reported that the Scottish Executive had now allocated further funding and the requirements of the service had been further reviewed.  The Committee therefore approved the extension of the following posts in the Homeless Services Unit until 31st March, 2008:-

-          1 post of Housing Officer, graded AP2, 17,352 - 18,783;

-          1 post of Homeless Persons Officer, graded AP3, 19,311 - 21,189; and

-          1 post of Homelessness Advice and Development Officer, graded AP4, 21,861 - 24,201,

having noted that the costs, including employer's costs, of extending these posts, amounted to 78,419 for the financial year 2007/08, and would be met from the specific grant awarded by the Scottish Executive.

XII HOUSING DEPARTMENT - HOMELESSNESS ASSESSMENTS/STRATEGY TEAM - EXTENSION OFFIXED TERM POSTS

There was submitted Agenda Note AN74-2007 making reference to Article VIII of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 14th January, 2002 wherein the Committee approved the establishment of a number of posts for a period of 12 months in order to implement the homelessness provisions of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001.

It was reported that at further meetings on 10th March, 2003, 9th February, 2004, 14th February, 2005 and 13th February, 2006 (Articles VIII, VII, VI and IV refer), the Committee had approved the extension of these posts until 31st March, 2007.  The Scottish Executive had now allocated further funding and the requirements of the service had been further reviewed.  The Committee therefore approved:-

-    the extension of the post of Principal Housing Officer graded PO1/4, 27,714-30,084 until 31st March, 2008;

-    the extension of the post of Senior Housing Officer graded AP5, 24,942-27,165 until 31st March, 2008;  and

-    the extension of the post of Housing Officer graded AP3, 19,311-21,189 until 31st March, 2008;

having noted that costs, including employer's costs amounted to 93,714 for the financial year 2007/08 and would be met from the specific grant awarded by the Scottish Executive.

XIII FINANCE DEPARTMENT - INSURANCE AND RISK SECTION - CHANGES TO ESTABLISHMENT

There was submitted Agenda Note AN75-2007 advising that the Assistant Chief Executive (Management) and the Depute Chief Executive (Finance) had undertaken a review of the staffing requirements in the Insurance and Risk Management Section.

The Committee agreed to approve:-

-              the establishment of the post of Insurance and Risk Management Assistant, graded AP1/2, 15,441-18,324;  and

-              the deletion of the post of Senior Administrative Assistant, graded AP4, 21,327-23,610;

having noted that this proposal would result in a saving of 460 in 2006/07 and 9,337 in a full financial year, inclusive of employer's costs.

XIV RENEWAL OF ADVERTISING CONTRACT

There was submitted Agenda Note AN88-2007, making reference to Article IX of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 18th August, 2003 wherein it was agreed to appoint Euro RSCG Riley as the Council's advertising agency for a minimum period of two years, with the option to extend to three at the end of the two year period.

It was reported that detailed review of the advertising requirements had been carried out and agencies had been invited to bid for the work.

The Committee agreed that TMP Worldwide be offered the contract, with effect from 1st April, 2007 for a minimum period of one year, with the option to extend to two at the end of the first year, having noted that the annual value of the contract was currently in the region of 4,690.

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.

XV DUNDEE CONTRACT SERVICES DEPARTMENT - EARLY RETIREMENT

There was submitted Agenda Note AN77-2007 seeking approval that ER02/07, an employee within Dundee Contract Services, be retired with effect from 31st August, 2007 in the interests of efficiency of the service in accordance with the Local Government Pension Scheme (Scotland) Regulations 1998.  The employee would also receive 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 and in addition, approved the redesignation and regrading of the vacated post as detailed in the note, having noted the financial implications.

XVI FINANCE DEPARTMENT - ESTABLISHMENT OF POST

There was submitted Agenda Note AN79-2007 proposing the introduction of a relatively senior post dealing exclusively with systems research and the transfer of an employee of the Leisure and Communities Department to this post.

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

Lord Provost John R LETFORD, Convener.

APPENDIX