Policy And Resources Committee - 23/02/2009

At a MEETING of the POLICY AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 23rd February, 2009.

 

Present:-

 

Lord Provost John R LETFORD

 

 

 

Depute Lord Provost Ian BORTHWICK

 

 

 

BAILIES

 

George REGAN

Willie SAWERS

Roderick A J WALLACE

Helen WRIGHT

 

Derek J SCOTT

 

COUNCILLORS

 

Kevin KEENAN

Ken GUILD

Bob DUNCAN

Mohammed ASIF

Jim BARRIE

Elizabeth F FORDYCE

Laurie BIDWELL

Jimmy BLACK

Stewart HUNTER

Tom FERGUSON

David BOWES

Ken LYNN

Brian GORDON

Andrew DAWSON

Christina ROBERTS

Richard McCREADY

Will DAWSON

Alan G ROSS

Helen DICK

 

Donald HAY

 

Councillor Kevin KEENAN, Convener, in the Chair.

 

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 12th February, 2009 was held as read.

 

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

 

I COMMUNITY USE OF ST PAULS ACADEMY

 

The Lord Provost, Bailie Wallace and Councillors McCready, Asif and Duncan declared a non-financial interest in this item by virtue of their Council appointment on Dundee Leisure Board.

 

In addition, Councillor McCready declared a non-financial interest by virtue of his wife's employment as a teacher at St Paul's Academy.

 

Reference was made to Article III of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 24th November, 2008.

 

There was submitted Agenda Note AN50-2009 providing the Committee with an update on the outcome of negotiations between Dundee City Council and Dundee Leisure in relation to the community use of St Paul's Academy.

 

It was noted that a series of meetings had been held between representatives of the Board of Dundee Leisure and Departments of Education and Leisure and Communities of Dundee City Council. Agreement had been reached under which Dundee Leisure would programme community use of the new leisure facilities at St Paul's Academy; this would recognise the need for access to the sports facilities by the school up to six occasions during the year.

 

By mutual agreement, the proposed start date for the use of the swimming pool would be March 2009; the dry facilities would be June 2009. The opening times for sports halls would be brought forward to 6.00 pm, which would match the start times for use of the swimming facilities.

 

This would include the pool, gym, sports halls, dance studio and fitness room. Operational protocols would be agreed between the Education Department and Dundee Leisure.

 

There were ongoing discussions between Dundee Leisure and the Education Department and Robertsons FM in relation to the specific arrangements for the operation of the facility.

 

The Committee noted the positive outcome of these negotiations which should result in a significant enhancement in the access for Dundee citizens, particularly in the north of the City, to high quality leisure, fitness and sports facilities. As previously agreed, the Director of Leisure and Communities would bring an update on progress to Committee in December 2009.

 

II HOUSING BENEFIT OVERPAYMENT RECOVERY POLICY UPDATE

 

After considering Report No 129-2009 by the Depute Chief Executive (Finance) relative to the above, the Committee approved the revised Housing Benefit overpayment recovery policy.

 

III EQUALLY WELL IMPLEMENTATION PLAN

 

There was submitted Report No 97-2009 by the Assistant Chief Executive advising the Committee of recommended actions outlined in the Scottish Government's Equally Well Implementation Plan and action already underway across the Council to address these.

 

The Committee:-

 

(i) noted the recommended actions contained in the Scottish Government's Equally Well Implementation Plan, as detailed in Appendix 1 to the report;

 

(ii) noted the action already underway across Council departments to address issues identified in the Equally Well Implementation Plan;

 

(iii) endorsed the selection of the Stobswell area as the focus for the Equally Well test site in Dundee; and

 

(iv) remitted to the Corporate Planning Department to produce a revised Corporate Health Improvement Plan which reflected both the Equally Well Implementation Plan and the emerging Single Outcome Agreement for Dundee.

 

IV INSURANCE AND RISK MANAGEMENT PROGRAMME - 2009/2012

 

There was submitted Report No 117-2009 by the Head of Finance providing elected members with an overview of the proposed insured/self-insured risk management arrangements for the period 1st January, 2009 to 1st January, 2012. It was noted that this report required to be considered prior to the Policy and Resources Committee called for 12th February, 2009 to approve the final Revenue Budget and Council Tax for 2009/2010.

 

In the circumstances, the Head of Finance had ratified the renewal of the 2009 insurance programme and approved the extension of the Council's long-term agreements from their current expiry date of 1st January, 2010 to 1st January, 2012 at a meeting with Group Leaders and the Depute Lord Provost.

 

The Committee noted accordingly.

 

V CHILD PROTECTION AND THE FINDINGS OF THE JOINT AREA REVIEW OF HARINGEY CHILDRENS SERVICES AUTHORITY AREA

 

There was submitted Report No 94-2009 by the Chief Executive informing members of the Children and Young Persons' Protection Committee response and the steps that had been taken to address the findings of the Joint Area Review of Haringey Children's Services Authority Area and the recommendations from the significant case review into the case of Baby P.

 

The Committee:-

 

(i) noted the content of the report;

 

(ii) requested the Children and Young Person's Protection Committee to implement the updating of child protection procedures and action plans; and

 

(iii) instructed the Chief Executive to provide further reports following the HMIe Inspection of Child Protection Services.

 

 

 

 

Kevin KEENAN, Convener.