Policy And Resources Committee - 24/03/2008

At a MEETING of the POLICY AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 24th March, 2008.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Councillor Kevin KEENAN, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 10th March, 2008 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I SINGLE OUTCOME AGREEMENT

There was submitted Report No 174-2008 by the Chief Executive seeking the Committee's approval of the first Single Outcome Agreement prepared for Dundee as part of the new arrangements between the Scottish Government and Local Government as agreed in the concordat with COSLA.

The Committee:-

(i)                            approved the Single Outcome Agreement appended to the report and agreed that it be submitted to the Scottish Government; and

(ii)                           remitted to the Chief Executive to report back to this Committee by the Summer Recess on any changes to the document following discussion with the Scottish Government and Community Planning partners.

II CORPORATE HEALTH AND SAFETY PLAN

There was submitted Report No 180-2008 by the Assistant Chief Executive (Management) relative to the above.

The Committee approved the Council's Corporate Health and Safety Plan for 2008/2011 appended to the report, it being noted that the plan would ensure the continuous improvement of Health and Safety management within the Council and support the Governments Revitalising Health and Safety Strategy and the Health and Safety's Executive's programme "Fit for Work, Fit for Life and Fit for Tomorrow".

III CORPORATE MANSLAUGHTER AND CORPORATE HOMICIDE ACT 2007

There was submitted Report No 182-2008 by the Assistant Chief Executive (Management) and the Corporate Health and Safety Adviser, advising the Committee on the implications of the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007 in the event of the Council's Senior Management being found to have managed or organised activities in such a manner to cause the death of any person.

The Committee noted the content of the report and agreed to actively promote the effective management of Health and Safety risks in all Council Departments as a Senior Management responsibility and issue.

IV TREASURY MANAGEMENT STRATEGY 2008/2009

There was submitted Report No 172-2008 by the Head of Finance relative to the above.

The Committee:-

(i)                            noted that in terms of the Treasury Policy Statement, the Head of Finance was obliged to present the annual Treasury Management Strategy at the start of each financial year; and

(ii)                           approved the strategy proposed by the Head of Finance for 2008/2009 as set out in the document "Treasury Management Strategy 2008/2009".

V TREASURY POLICY STATEMENT

After considering Report No 172-2008 by the Head of Finance relative to the above, the Committee approved the revised policies and procedures set out in the Treasury Policy Statement appended to the report.

VI COMMON GOOD FUND

There was submitted Report No 142-2008 by the Head of Finance providing details of the Council's Common Good Fund Revenue Budget for 2008/2009.

The Committee:-

(i)                            approved the Common Good Fund 2008/2009 Revenue Budget as detailed in Appendix A to the Report; and

(ii) noted that a further report would be brought back to the Committee on the use of uncommitted balance of 92,000.

VII COMMUNITY REGENERATION FUND SMALL GRANTS ALLOCATIONS 2007/2008

There was submitted Report No 177-2008 by the Assistant Chief Executive (Community Planning) and Director of Leisure and Communities relative to the above.

The Committee noted the process for allocating small grants through the Local Community Re-generation Forums as agreed by the Dundee Partnership and endorsed the funding proposals detailed below.

VIII LOCAL HEALTHCARE BILL - CONSULTATION DOCUMENT

Bailie Wright declared a financial interest in this item by virtue of being the Councils representative on the Tayside Health Board and left the meeting for the duration of this item.

There was submitted Report No 197-2008 by the Assistant Chief Executive (Community Planning) advising members of a Scottish Government consultation document which set out proposals for a local Health Care Bill.

Councillor Keenan, seconded by Councillor Morrow, moved that the response to the consultation document should:-

(i)                            support the principle of encouraging greater public and patient involvement in the planning and delivery of local health services and the greater democratisation of the NHS;

(ii)                           express concern that the introduction of direct elections to NHS Boards would be costly and divert resources from frontline services;

(iii)                          support the strengthening of existing policies to ensure that the views of local communities are heard effectively;

(iv)                          suggest that increasing the number of elected members nominated by local authorities to health boards would be a cost effective way of increasing democratic accountability in the NHS.

As an amendment, Councillor Guild, seconded by Bailie Sawers, moved approval of the above subject to the deletion of (ii) and (iv) above and it be suggested that any candidates for direct election should (a) be resident in a Board area, and (b) should not stand as a representative of a political party.

On a division, there voted for the motion - Lord Provost Letford, Bailies Regan, Wallace, Scott, Borthwick, Councillors Keenan, Asif, Bidwell, Ferguson, Gordon, McCready, Morrow, Macpherson and Dick (14); and for the amendment - Bailie Sawers, Councillors Guild, Black, Bowes, Andy Dawson, Will Dawson, Duncan, Fordyce, Hunter, Lynn, Roberts and Ross (12) - Bailie Wright being absent when the vote was taken - whereupon the motion was declared carried.

IX SUPPLY OF IT EQUIPMENT - OGC CATALIST

There was submitted Report No 199-2008 by the Head of Information Technology relative to the above.

The Committee:-

(i)             noted the IT purchases amounting to 306,997 detailed in Appendix 1 to the report for the period 21st November, 2007 to 11th March, 2008; and

(ii)            approved ongoing engineering and maintenance costs, at a cost of 17,204 per annum.

X PROPOSED MULTI-STOREY CAR PARK, ALLAN STREET

This item was withdrawn.

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 item of business on the grounds that it involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 6 and 9 of Part I of Schedule 7A of the Act.

XI SJC EMPLOYEES IN LAST YEAR OF SERVICE

After considering Agenda Note AN58-2008 relative to the above, the Committee approved the terms of the note.

Kevin KEENAN, Convener.