Policy And Resources Committee - 08/06/2009

At a MEETING of the POLICY AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 8th June, 2009.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Councillor Ken GUILD, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 11th May, 2009 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I MINUTES

(i) BEST VALUE PERFORMANCE AND EFFICIENCY SUB-COMMITTEE OF 28TH APRIL, 2009

(ii) AUDIT AND RISK MANAGEMENT SUB-COMMITTEE OF 29TH APRIL, 2009

(iii) PERSONNEL APPEALS SUB-COMMITTEES OF 18TH MAY, 2009

The minutes of meetings of the above Sub-Committees, copies of which are appended hereto (Appendices I to V), were submitted for information and record purposes.

II RECESS SUB-COMMITTEE

This item was withdrawn.

III FAIRER SCOTLAND FUND - COMMUNITY REGENERATION FORUM ALLOCATION 2008/2010

There was submitted Report No 313-2009 by the Assistant Chief Executive relative to the above.

The Committee noted the process for allocating small grants through the local Community Regeneration Forums as agreed by the Dundee Partnership and endorsed the funding proposals as detailed below:-

IV EFFICIENCY SAVINGS SUGGESTION SCHEME

There was submitted Report No 46-2009 by the Assistant Chief Executive and Head of Public Relations proposing the introduction of a short-term pilot Efficiency Saving Suggestion Scheme offering cash awards to employees for proposals which would improve efficiency and result in cost savings.

The Committee agreed:-

(a) that an Efficiency Savings Suggestion Scheme be introduced on a pilot basis to be open for around one month once all employees had been briefed;

(b) that the following incentives be offered to encourage employees to put forward proposals for efficiency savings:-

-                                              letter of thanks from the Chief Executive for all proposals

- 100 award for all proposals which were taken forward

- 500 award for the proposal which delivered the biggest cash saving

(c) that proposals be submitted in the first instance to the Assistant Chief Executive. Corporate Planning who would liaise with relevant departments and produce a report for the Improvement and Efficiency Board who would decide on the award of cash payments as set out in recommendation (b) above;

(d) that the Head of Public Relations promote the scheme to all staff through newsletters, posters, intranet messages, all-staff emails and briefings for team meetings; and

(e) that the scheme be evaluated with a view to repeating this exercise in future, if successful.

V PLANNING SCHEME OF DELEGATION

On a reference to Article VI of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 27th April, 2009, there was submitted Report No 293-2009 by the Director of Planning and Transportation making recommendations concerning the form and content of the Council's Mandatory Schemes of Delegation which it required to prepare and submit to Scottish Ministers for approval by 30th June, 2009 and making recommendations concerning the Council's Discretionary Scheme of Delegation.

The Committee:-

(i) agreed to adopt the Mandatory Scheme of Delegation outlined in Annex A to the report in accordance with the provisions of Section 43A of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 as inserted by the Planning etc (Scotland) Act 2006 and of the Town and Country Planning (Schemes of Delegation and Local Review Procedures) (Scotland) Regulations 2008;

(ii) agreed to adopt the Discretionary Scheme of Delegation outlined in Annex B to this report;

(iii) authorised the Director of Planning and Transportation to submit the Mandatory Scheme of Delegation to the Scottish Government for the approval of Scottish Ministers;

(iv) remitted to the Depute Chief Executive (Support Services) to amend the Council's Scheme of Administration - Delegation of Powers to Officers to give effect to the terms of this report;

(v) noted that in the event that Scottish Ministers feel unable to approve the submitted Scheme of Delegation without amendment, it be remitted to the Director of Planning and Transportation to submit a report to the Recess Sub-Committee; and

(vi) noted that both the Mandatory and Discretionary Schemes of Delegation become operational in respect of applications submitted on or after 3rd August, 2009.

VI CORPORATE SERVICES DEPARTMENT - SERVICE PLAN UPDATE

After considering Report No 208-2009 by the Assistant Chief Executive relative to the above, the Committee approved the Corporate Planning Service Plan update.

VII RELIEF OF RATES - CHARITY RELIEF

There was submitted Report No 305-2009 by the Depute Chief Executive (Finance) seeking authorisation to grant charity relief on the undernoted non-domestic properties:-

The Committee approved accordingly.

VIII MEMBERS SALARIES

This item was withdrawn.

IX EMPLOYING OVERSEAS WORKERS UNDER THE NEW POINTS-BASED SYSTEM

There was submitted Report No 304-2009 by the Head of Personnel seeking the Committee's approval to apply for a licence and assign certificates of sponsorship to employ migrant workers from non-European Economic Area (EEA) where appropriate and subject to the Council's recruitment and selection process, under the points-based system, and to agree to meet a number of sponsorship duties.

The Committee approved:-

(i) the application for a licence to sponsor Tier 2 workers which would cover skilled workers (general);

(ii) the assignation of certificates of sponsorship in line with UK Border Agency guidance;

(iii) the payment of the appropriate fees associated with the application for a licence and each subsequent certificate; and

(iv) the allocation of four key roles and the associated responsibilities; Authorising Officer, Level 1 User, Level 2 User and Key Contact.

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 paragraph 1 of Part I of Schedule 7A of the Act.

X REGRADING OF POST - DIRECTOR OF CITY DEVELOPMENT

Reference was made to Article II of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 12th February, 2009.

After considering Agenda Note AN135-2009, the Committee approved the recommendation detailed therein.

Ken GUILD, Convener.