Policy And Resources Committee - 14/02/2008

At a MEETING of the POLICY AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 14th February, 2008.

 

Present:-

 

Lord Provost John R LETFORD

 

 

 

BAILIES

 

George REGAN

Willie SAWERS

Derek J SCOTT

Helen WRIGHT

Roderick A J WALLACE

Ian BORTHWICK

 

COUNCILLORS

 

Kevin KEENAN

Fraser MACPHERSON

Bob DUNCAN

Mohammed ASIF

Helen DICK

Elizabeth F FORDYCE

Laurie BIDWELL

Ken GUILD

Stewart HUNTER

Tom FERGUSON

Jim BARRIE

Ken LYNN

Brian GORDON

Jimmy BLACK

Christina ROBERTS

Richard McCREADY

David BOWES

Alan G ROSS

Joe MORROW

Andrew DAWSON

Donald HAY

 

Will DAWSON

 

 

Councillor Joe MORROW, Depute Convener, in the Chair.

 

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 11th February, 2008 was held as read.

 

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

 

I CAPITAL PLAN 2008/2011 - GENERAL SERVICES

 

There was submitted Report No 87-2008 by the Head of Finance relative to the above.

 

The Committee:-

 

(i) approved the Council's General Services Capital Plan for 2008/2011;

 

(ii) noted the position for the 2007/2008 projected capital expenditure programme, as at 31st December, 2007; and

 

(iii) approved the Prudential Indicators for the Capital Plan 2008/2011, as shown in Appendix 1 of the report and noted that these Indicators demonstrated that the Capital Plan 2008/2011 was affordable and prudent.

 

II REVENUE BUDGET AND COUNCIL TAX 2008/2009

 

Reference was made to Article III of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 28th January, 2008.

 

The Committee had before them the following:-

 

(i) PROVISIONAL REVENUE BUDGET 2008/2011

 

(ii) REVIEW OF CHARGES 2008/2009

 

(iii) REVENUE BUDGET AND COUNCIL TAX 2008/2009 - REPORT NO 122-2008

 

(iv) LETTER DATED 7TH FEBRUARY, 2008 BY THE DEPUTE CHIEF EXECUTIVE (SUPPORT SERVICES) REGARDING RESTRICTIONS ON VOTING IN TERMS OF SECTION 112 OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT (SCOTLAND) ACT 1992

 

After considering Report No 122-2008 by the Head of Finance, the Committee:-

 

(i) noted the procedures for setting the 2008/2009 Revenue Budget and Council Tax, as previously agreed by the Policy and Resources Committee on 28th January, 2008 and as set out in Appendix A to this report;

 

(ii) noted the contents of the Provisional 2008/2011 Revenue Budget Volume; and

 

(iii) noted those factors which it required to consider when setting the final Revenue Budget and Council Tax for 2008/2009, as detailed in paragraphs 4.1 to 11.2 of the report.

 

At this stage of the proceedings, the Chief Executive intimated that the budget proposals tabled by the Administration Group, the only proposals received had been checked for legality and competence and found to be in order.

 

Thereafter, the Committee:-

 

(i) noted the contents of Report No 122-2008 by the Head of Finance, together with the estimates of revenue expenditure for the year from 1st April, 2008 to 31st March, 2009, as contained in the Provisional 2008/2011 Revenue Budget Volume;

 

(ii) approved the 2008/2009 Revenue Budget as detailed in the Budget Volume, subject to the adjustment outlined in paragraphs (iv) and (v) below;

 

(iii) approved the 2008/2009 Review of Charges as detailed in the Review of Charges document totalling 503,000 which was already included in the Budget Volume;

 

(iv) approved the budget growth items totalling 118,000, as shown in Appendix I to this minute;

 

(v) approved the budget savings totalling 936,000, as shown in Appendix II to this minute;

 

(vi) approved the calculation of the Council Tax for 2008/2009, as detailed in Appendix III to this minute; and

 

(vii) agreed that the 2008/2009 Band D Council Tax be determined at 1,211 and the Council Tax for each band be set as follows:-

 

2008/2009 Council Tax Per Band

 

Council Tax Band

Factor

2008/2009

Council Tax

 

 

A

6/9

807.33

B

7/9

941.89

C

8/9

1,076.44

D

9/9

1,211.00

E

11/9

1,480.11

F

13/9

1,749.22

G

15/9

2,018.33

H

18/9

2,422.00

 

 

 

 

Joe MORROW, Depute Convener.

 

APPENDIX I

 

 

REVENUE BUDGET 2008/2009

 

BUDGET GROWTH ITEMS

 

 

 

 

 

2008/2009

000

 

1

Education - Breakfast Clubs

 

Provide Breakfast Clubs to assist with the improvement of

educational attainment.

 

 

 

90

2

Education - After School Clubs

 

Provide After School Clubs.

 

 

28

 

 

 

118

 

APPENDIX II

 

 

REVENUE BUDGET 2008/2009

 

BUDGET SAVINGS

 

 

 

 

 

2008/2009

000

 

1

Quality of Life Fund: Planning and Transport - White Lighting

 

Considerable progress has been made in introducing White Lighting throughout the City. The reduction in expenditure may result in completion of the programme being extended. This will, however, be kept under review and if any additional priority projects are identified, the budget proposed will be reviewed in 2009/2010.

 

 

 

53

2

Quality of Life Fund: Economic Development - Upgrading of Neighbourhood Shopping Parades

 

Considerable progress has been made throughout the City and the small reduction in expenditure should not have any major effect on the programme.

 

 

 

 

51

3

Quality of Life Fund: Leisure and Communities - Roads/Footpaths

 

The reduction in expenditure will not have any major effect on the maintenance of roads and footpaths. Priority work will still continue to be undertaken.

 

 

 

26

4

Quality of Life Fund: Leisure and Communities - Parks Improvements

 

Works previously undertaken using this funding will need to be considered for mainstream funding, both revenue and capital.

 

 

 

53

5

Quality of Life Fund: Waste Management - Additional Rapid Response Squad and Cleansing Equipment

 

The dedicated Graffiti Removal team will continue. It may be necessary to purchase some equipment for the team from the Waste Management capital budget.

 

 

 

 

33

6

Quality of Life Fund: Chief Executive - Joint Health Work

 

There will be a small budget reduction in the projects previously funded from the Quality of Life funding.

 

 

 

26

7

Quality of Life Fund: Dundee Contract Services - Landscaping of Playgrounds

 

The ongoing programme of playground improvements is almost complete and a new strategy is being developed.

 

 

 

 

26

8

Quality of Life Fund: Dundee Contract Services - Public Open Spaces

 

The programme will continue but over a longer period of time.

 

 

 

53

 

9

Social Work - Changing Children's Services Fund

 

This money was used for set-up costs associated with the establishment of Integrated Community Schools. As these are now established, the Director of Education does not require this funding.

 

 

 

47

10

Social Work - Mental Health Specific Grant

 

The services funded from this grant will be subject to a review and more effective and efficient delivery of the services will generate a saving.

 

 

 

17

11

Leisure and Communities: ASB Funding - Community Safety Wardens

 

Greater use will be made of intelligence led deployment of wardens resulting in a reduction in the number of wardens required.

 

 

 

107

12

Leisure and Communities: CSP Funding - Community Safety Award

 

A review of the projects funded will be undertaken to achieve savings without affecting the effectiveness of the various projects.

 

 

 

14

13

Leisure and Communities: CSP Funding - Local Action Fund Youth Diversion

 

Projects will be scrutinised to ensure that they meet the strategic objectives of this fund and deliver value for money, achieving the required saving.

 

 

 

 

18

14

EHTS - Environmental Wardens

 

A review of services currently provided by Waste Management and Environmental Health and Trading Standards will be undertaken to ensure that the financial saving can be achieved by better utilisation of all resources.

 

 

 

13

15

EHTS - Night Time Noise Team

 

The service will be reviewed to ensure its continuity, targeting particularly the peak demand times on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. There will be a reduction in expenditure on supplies and services and a reduction in the number of staff.

 

 

 

181

16

EHTS - Contaminated Land

 

The project will still continue to be delivered.

 

 

 

28

17

Other Housing - Anti-Social Behaviour Fund

 

There will be a reduction of two posts but the service will be maintained partly through Support Services and partly from within the current staffing resources.

 

 

 

108

18

Other Housing: Homeless Services - Positive Steps (Independent Living Skills for Hostel Residents)

 

This service can be provided from within existing resources.

 

 

 

82

 

 

 

936

 

APPENDIX III

 

 

REVENUE BUDGET AND COUNCIL TAX CALCULATION 2008/2009

 

 

 

 

 

2008/2009

000

 

 

Provisional Revenue Budget Issued 31st January, 2008

 

334,275

 

 

 

 

 

Add Budget Growth:

 

 

 

1 Education - Breakfast Clubs

90

 

 

2 Education - After School Clubs

28

 

 

 

 

118

 

Less Budget Savings:

 

 

 

1 Various - See Appendix II

(936)

 

 

 

 

(936)

 

 

 

 

 

Revised Revenue Budget

 

333,457

 

 

 

 

 

Less General Revenue Funding/Non-Domestic Rates

 

(273,996)

 

Less Council Tax Freeze Grant

 

(1,762)

 

 

 

57,699

 

 

 

 

 

Less Amount to be met from Balances - General

 

(1,300)

 

- Fire Transitional Funding

 

(483)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AMOUNT TO BE MET FROM COUNCIL TAX

 

55,916

 

 

 

 

 

Council Tax Base (Band D Equivalent)

 

47,700

 

 

 

 

 

Less Provision for Non-Collection (3.2%)

 

(1,526)

 

 

 

 

 

ADJUSTED COUNCIL TAX BASE

 

46,174

 

 

 

 

 

COUNCIL TAX (BAND D)

 

1,211

 

 

 

 

 

Year-on-Year Increase/(Decrease) in Council Tax

 

0

 

 

 

 

 

% Year-on-Year Increase/(Decrease)

 

0.00

%