Policy And Resources Committee - 13/09/2010

At a MEETING of the POLICY AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 13th September, 2010.

 

Present:-

 

Lord Provost John R LETFORD

 

 

 

Depute Lord Provost Ian BORTHWICK

 

 

 

BAILIES

 

Willie SAWERS

Helen WRIGHT

Roderick A J WALLACE

 

COUNCILLORS

 

Ken GUILD

Elizabeth F FORDYCE

Laurie BIDWELL

Jim BARRIE

Stewart HUNTER

Tom FERGUSON

Jimmy BLACK

Ken LYNN

Brian GORDON

David BOWES

Craig MELVILLE

Richard McCREADY

Andrew DAWSON

Christina ROBERTS

Donald HAY

Will DAWSON

Alan G ROSS

Fraser MACPHERSON

Bob DUNCAN

Kevin KEENAN

Helen DICK

 

Mohammed ASIF

 

 

Councillor Ken GUILD, Convener, in the Chair.

 

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 23rd August, 2010 was held as read.

 

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

 

I MINUTES

 

(a) PERSONNEL APPEALS SUB-COMMITTEE - 19TH AUGUST, 2010

 

(b) SUPERANNUATION INVESTMENT SUB-COMMITTEE - 23RD AUGUST, 2010

 

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

 

II REVENUE MONITORING

 

There was submitted Report No 564-2010 by the Director of Finance providing an analysis of the 2010/2011 Projected Revenue Outturn as at 31st July, 2010 monitored against the adjusted 2010/2011 Revenue Budget.

 

Councillor Guild, seconded by Councillor Duncan, moved that the Committee -

 

(i) note that the overall General Fund 2010/2011 Projected Revenue Outturn as at 31st July, 2010 shows an overspend of 778,000 against the adjusted 2010/2011 Revenue Budget;

 

(ii) note that the Housing Revenue Account as at 31st July, 2010 is projecting an overspend of 263,000 against the adjusted HRA 2010/2011 Revenue Budget;

 

(iii) instruct the Director of Finance to take every reasonable action to ensure that the 2010/2011 revenue expenditure is below or in line with the adjusted Revenue Budget; and

 

(iv) instruct the Director of Finance in conjunction with all Chief Officers of the Council to continue to monitor the Council's 2010/2011 Projected Revenue Outturn.

 

As an amendment, Councillor Keenan, seconded by Bailie Wright, moved approval of the above subject to the Administration in conjunction with officers bringing an action plan to keep this budget under control to the next Policy and Resources Committee and that focus must be kept up to ensure, as far as possible, there is no further overspends in light of the future financial position facing this Council.

 

On a division, there voted for the motion - Councillors Guild, Barrie, Black, Bowes, Andy Dawson, Will Dawson, Duncan, Fordyce, Hunter, Lynn, Melville, Roberts, Ross, Hay, Bailies Sawers, Wallace, Scott, Lord Provost Letford and Depute Lord Provost Borthwick (19); and for the amendment - Councillors Keenan, Asif, Bidwell, Ferguson, Gordon, McCready, Macpherson, Dick and Bailie Wright (9) - whereupon the motion was declared carried.

 

III CAPITAL MONITORING

 

There was submitted Report No 551-2010 by the Director of Finance, appraising members of the latest position regarding the Council's Capital Expenditure Programme 2010/2011.

 

The Committee noted the contents of the report.

 

IV RELIEF OF RATES - CHARITY RELIEF

 

There was submitted Report No 433-2010 by the Director of Finance, seeking authorisation to grant charity relief on the undernoted non-domestic properties.

 

APPLICANT

 

SUBJECTS

 

Tayside PMR & GCA Support

Prospect III

Unit 11

Gemini Crescent

Dundee

 

Office

Prospect III

Unit 11

Gemini Crescent

Dundee

Imran Mohammed

Zakariya School

Per Zuber Latif Karim Trustee

42 Strathern Road

Broughty Ferry

Dundee

 

School

42 Strathern Road

Broughty Ferry

Dundee

Claverhouse Group

Towngate Business Centre

4-6 Staffa Place

Dundee

 

Workshop

Units 1/2 Towngate Business Centre

4-6 Staffa Place

Dundee

Craigowl Communities

No 2 India Buildings

86 Bell Street

Dundee

Office

237 Hilltown

Dundee

 

The Committee approved accordingly.

 

V COUNTER FRAUD REPORT AS AT 30TH JUNE, 2010

 

There was submitted Report No 569-2010 by the Director of Finance informing elected members on the Revenue Division's Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit Counter Fraud activity as at 30th June, 2010.

 

The Committee approved the report.

 

VI ANNUAL TREASURY MANAGEMENT ACTIVITY 2009/2010

 

There was submitted Report No 568-2010 by the Director of Finance reviewing the Treasury Management activities for the period 1st April, 2009 to 31st March, 2010.

 

The Committee noted the information contained in the report and approved the borrowing and lending limits detailed in Appendices I and II of the report.

 

VII EMPLOYMENT EQUALITY MONITORING

 

There was submitted Report No 372-2010 by the Head of Personnel advising the Committee of the employment equality monitoring statistics for the calendar year 2009.

 

The Committee noted the employment equality monitoring statistics detailed in the Appendices to the report.

 

VIII APPOINTMENT - CONVENER - ADULT SUPPORT AND PROTECTION COMMITTEE

 

It was reported for information and record purposes, that the Chief Executive had extended Professor James Hogg's appointment for a further period of up to two years from October 2010.

 

The Committee noted accordingly.

 

IX DEPARTMENT OF WORK AND PENSIONS WORKSTEP/WORK CHOICE PROGRAMME

 

There was submitted Report No 554-2010 by the Head of Personnel informing the Committee about the replacement of the UK Government's Workstep programme with Work Choice and the impact this would have on Dundee City Council.

 

The Committee:-

 

(i) noted the potential costs and risks contained in this report;

 

(ii) agreed that Dundee City Council do not enter into sub-contractual arrangements with Shaw Trust to deliver the Work Choice programme; and

 

(iii) noted that, in view of paragraph (ii) above, the Head of Personnel would conduct a review of the Employment Unit structure and process any consequential amendments via the establishment change procedure.

 

X DUNDEE COMMUNITY REGENERATION FUND 2010/2011 - 2012/2013

 

There was submitted Report No 570-2010 by the Assistant Chief Executive relative to the above.

 

The Committee approved the funding process and the proposals contained in Section 5 of the report appended hereto (Appendix III).

 

XI AMENDMENTS TO STANDING ORDERS

 

After considering Report No 572-2010 by the Depute Chief Executive (Support Services) relative to the above, Councillor Guild seconded by Councillor Duncan moved -

 

(i) approval of the changes to Standing Orders detailed in paragraph 4.2 of the report and shown below:-

 

Standing Order No 30 - Motions and Amendments (add)

 

All motions and amendments should be submitted in writing to the Depute Chief Executive (Support Services) on or before 12 noon on the day of the meeting at which the item is to be considered. The Depute Chief Executive (Support Services) will check motions and amendments for compliance with law, Standing Orders, Code of Conduct, previous decisions of the Council and financial accuracy.

 

Any further motions and amendments not anticipated in advance of the meeting should be submitted in writing to the Depute Chief Executive (Support Services) at the meeting and will be checked for compliance with law, Standing Orders, Code of Conduct, previous decisions of the Council and financial accuracy.

 

The Chair will determine their competency (including whether they are relevant to the motion and substantially different to it and to all other amendments).

 

Standing Order No 37 - Questions (add)

 

If any member has a detailed question for officers relating to any item to be considered by Committee they should approach the appropriate Chief Officer in advance and seek an answer before the Committee.

 

Order of Reference to Development Management Committee

 

The consideration of proposals to vary conditions or agreements attached to or relating to consents under the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Acts and subsidiary legislation.

 

(ii) that it be remitted to the Depute Chief Executive (Support Services) to make any consequential amendments.

 

As an amendment, Bailie Wallace, seconded by Bailie Scott, moved that the proposed changes to Standing Order No 30 and Standing Order No 37 are not agreed and only the Order of Reference to Development Management is agreed, together with a remit to the Depute Chief Executive (Support Services) to make any consequential amendments.

 

On a division, there voted for the motion - Councillors, Guild, Barrie, Black, Bowes, Andy Dawson, Will Dawson, Duncan, Fordyce, Hunter, Lynn, Melville, Roberts, Ross, Bailie Sawers and Lord Provost Letford (15); and for the amendment - Councillors Keenan, Asif, Bidwell, Ferguson, Gordon, McCready, Hay, Macpherson, Dick, Bailies Wright, Wallace, Scott and Depute Lord Provost Borthwick (13) - whereupon the motion was declared carried.

 

As a further amendment, Councillor Keenan, seconded by Bailie Wright, moved (1) that the Council does not accept these amendments as they could be used to stifle debate in these Chambers but we do recommend that the officers be remitted to review the Standing Orders with a view to further encourage debate and in-depth scrutiny of policies by removing the restriction on members speaking only once on the same issue, the restriction on the time for speaking and the restriction on the number of questions that may be asked by members.

 

On a division, there voted for the motion (15); and for the amendment (13) - as recorded in the division immediately above - whereupon the motion was declared carried.

 

As a further amendment, Bailie Borthwick, seconded by Councillor Macpherson, moved that consideration of Report No 572-2010 be continued to enable further consideration of the views expressed by members.

 

On a division, there voted for the motion (15); and for the amendment (13) - as recorded in the division above - whereupon the motion was declared carried and became the finding of the meeting.

 

XII A RESPONSE TO BE SENT TO THE SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT IN RELATION TO A CONSULTATION ON THE DRAFT NATIONAL GUIDANCE FORCHILD PROTECTION IN SCOTLAND

 

There was submitted Report No 571-2010 by the Chief Executive informing the Committee of the response to be submitted by the Multi-Agency Children and Young Persons' Protection Committee in response to the above consultation.

 

The Committee noted the contents of the report.

 

 

 

 

Ken GUILD, Convener.

 

APPENDIX I

 

At a MEETING of the PERSONNEL APPEALS SUB-COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 19th August, 2010.

 

Present:-

 

Bailie Derek SCOTT

 

Councillor David BOWES

 

Councillor Mohammed ASIF

 

Councillor David BOWES, Convener, in the Chair.

 

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 17th May, 2010 was held as read.

 

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

 

The Sub-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.

 

APPEAL AGAINST DISMISSAL (PA05/10)

 

It was reported that an appeal against dismissal from an employee of the Leisure and Communities Department had been submitted.

 

The Sub-Committee heard the Council's representative and witnesses and thereafter, the Appellant.

 

After questions had been put and answers given by both parties to each other and the witnesses, and by members of the Sub-Committee, the parties withdrew.

 

Thereafter, following careful consideration of all the information, the Sub-Committee agreed that the grounds of the appeal had not been substantiated and that the appeal be not upheld.

 

Councillor Asif intimated his dissent from the foregoing decision.

 

 

 

 

David BOWES, Convener.

 

APPENDIX II

 

At a MEETING of the SUPERANNUATION INVESTMENT SUB-COMMITTEE OF THE POLICY AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 23rd August, 2010.

 

Present:-

 

Bailie Willie SAWERS

 

Councillor Jimmy BLACK

 

Councillor Kevin KEENAN

 

Also Present:-

 

Mr Sandy RICE, Trade Union Representative.

 

Bailie Willie SAWERS, Convener, in the Chair.

 

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

 

I APOLOGIES AND SUBSTITUTES

 

Apologies had been submitted by Bailie Regan, Bailie Wallace and Councillor Dawson.

 

The Sub-Committee resolved under Section 50(A)(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 that the press and public be excluded from the meeting in order that the undernoted items of business be considered in private on the grounds that they involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 4, 6 and 11 of Part I of Schedule 7A of the Act.

 

II TAYSIDE SUPERANNUATION FUNDS

 

(i) PERFORMANCE SUMMARIES

 

There was submitted Report No 449-2010 by the Director of Finance relating to Performance Summaries for quarter, twelve months and three years to 30th June, 2010 which reviewed the investment performance of the Main Fund's four Fund Managers (excluding Property) for the quarter to 30th June, 2010 and also considered the performance of the Transport Fund which shares two of these managers.

 

The report also compared investment performances of the Funds with the Funds' specific benchmarks which consist of various stock market indices.

 

The Sub-Committee noted the information contained therein with regard to the performance of the Tayside Superannuation Fund and Tayside Transport Superannuation Fund and their Fund Managers.

 

(ii) PERFORMANCE SUMMARY (PROPERTY PORTFOLIO)

 

There was submitted Report No 447-2010 by the Director of Finance relating to Schroder Property Investment Management Ltd performance for the quarter, twelve months and three years to 30th June, 2010 reviewing the investment performance of the Property Portfolio.

 

The report also compared investment performances with an appropriate benchmark, the IPD Pooled Property All Balanced Funds Median.

 

The Sub-Committee noted the information contained therein with regard to the performance of the Property Portfolio.

(iii) SUMMARIES OF INVESTMENTS AND TRANSACTIONS

 

There was submitted Report No 408-2010 by the Director of Finance summarising investments and transactions during the period 1st April, 2010 to 30th June, 2010 reviewing the investment activities of the Main Fund's five Fund Managers for the quarter to 30th June, 2010. The Transport Fund shared three of these managers and their transactions were included.

 

The report also summarised the transactions of each Fund Manager and showed the market values of the Main and Transport Fund.

 

The Sub-Committee noted the information contained therein with regard to the activities of the Tayside Superannuation Fund and Tayside Transport Superannuation Fund and their Fund Managers.

 

(iv) QUARTERLY FUNDING REPORT

 

There was submitted Report No 448-2010 by the Director of Finance which considers report by Barnett Waddingham.

 

This report reviews the current funding level of the Funds as assessed by the Fund Actuary.

 

The Sub-Committee noted the report.

 

III PRESENTATION

 

Tim Bird and Iain Lindsay of Goldman Sachs Asset Management gave a short presentation to members.

 

Firstly, they gave a brief overview of Goldman Sachs, detailing the relationship of Goldman Sachs Asset Management within the overall structure, the creation of the Business Standards Committee and the Credit Portfolio Fund Structure.

 

Thereafter they gave a summary of the performance of the Portfolio, noting the primary drivers of performance and comparing it against benchmark figures. They also outlined market performance over the previous three months and twelve months and considered the outlook for the future.

 

After they had answered questions from members, the Convener thanked Tim Bird and Iain Lindsay for their presentation.

 

 

 

 

Willie SAWERS, Convener.

 

APPENDIX III

 

 

Applicant

Description of Project

Forum Decision Amount

Signpost International and

Rosebank Primary School

 

Funding for a mural on the walls of the school. The pupils will be involved throughout the whole project with local artists.

2,173

The Hilltown Gateway Project

(City Development)

Funding to re-site a local sculpture, install six benches and litter bins, plant street trees and a low beech hedge and install handrails to the lower part of the Hilltown.

 

25,000

McDonald St/Hilltown/

Rosebank Street Paving

(City Development)

Funding to lay paving between the named streets, providing a high quality surface. This section is in particularly poor condition at present.

 

4,000

Lunchtime Gymnastics

Sports Development

To fund the delivery of a pilot lunchtime gymnastics class in Craigiebarns Primary School.

 

620

St Vincent's Nursery Garden

To make physical improvements to the garden within the nursery area of St Vincent's Primary School.

 

7,623

Holiday Italian Group

Books and CD resources for the Language Italian Class held on a Thursday evening during term time.

 

148

Kirk Street Sheltered Housing

To enable sheltered and non-sheltered tenants to attend Aromatherapy, Line Dancing, Gentle Exercise and Craft Classes.

 

840

Dundonald Street Streetscape

(City Development)

Making permanent the pilot on-street euro-bins, increasing on‑street car parking provision, installing new street trees and build out areas.

 

37,000

Athletics Lunchtime Programme

Sports Development

To provide a free lunch time athletics programme for 32 P4-P7 pupils for 21 weeks at either Clepington or Glebelands PS.

 

500

Lunchtime Hockey Programme

Sports Development

Provision of free lunch time hockey programme for 24 P4-P7 pupils at Whitfield Primary School for 25 weeks.

 

343

Community Family Support Project - North East

Under 12s

 

Funding of educational trips and activities for families from the North East area during October school holidays.

 

1119

Longhaugh Sheltered Housing

Complex

The installation of a storage shed for materials used for activities by members of the complex.

 

250

Learning Around Project

(Leisure and Communities)

Delivery of a one-day 'Basic First Aid' certified training course for 15 people, with childcare provided.

 

593

 

Athletic Lunchtime Programme

Sports Development

Provision of free lunch time athletics programme for 32 P4-P7 pupils within local primary schools for 21 weeks in 2010/2011 and 10 weeks in 2011/2012.

 

500 10/11

238 11/12

Community Family Support

Project - St Mary's Families

Funding of educational trips and activities to complement holiday programme.

 

1,278

Kirkton Digital Photography

Group

To purchase photographic paper, cartridges, frames, mounts, masking tape for group.

 

656

Eco Garden Project -

Sidlaw Primary School

To create a garden space for children to learn and grow things whilst appreciating ecological and nature issues.

 

2,000

SMILE Newsletter Group

To continue to produce a thrice yearly newsletter aiming to keep St Mary's/Brackens residents informed of local developments and activities.

 

1,200