Policy And Resources Committee - 12/12/2011

At a MEETING of the POLICY AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 12th December, 2011.

Present:-

Depute Lord Provost Ian BORTHWICK

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Councillor Ken GUILD, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 28th November, 2011 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I MINUTE - PERSONNEL APPEALS SUB-COMMITTEE OF 9TH NOVEMBER, 2011

The minute of meeting of the above Sub-Committee, a copy of which is appended hereto, was submitted for information and record purposes (Appendix I).

II REVENUE MONITORING

There was submitted Report No 533-2011 by the Director of Finance providing the Committee with an analysis of the 2011/2012 Projected Revenue Outturn as at 31st October, 2011 monitored against the adjusted 2011/2012 Revenue Budget.

The Committee:-

(i) noted that the overall General Fund 2011/2012 Projected Revenue Outturn as at 31st October, 2011 showed an underspend of 30,000 against the adjusted 2011/2012 Revenue Budget;

(ii) noted that the Housing Revenue Account as at 31st October, 2011 was projecting a breakeven position against the adjusted HRA 2011/2012 Revenue Budget;

(iii) instructed the Director of Finance to take every reasonable action to ensure that the 2011/2012 revenue expenditure was below or in line with the adjusted Revenue Budget; and

(iv) instructed the Director of Finance in conjunction with all Chief Officers of the Council to continue to monitor the Council's 2011/2012 Projected Revenue Outturn.

III CAPITAL MONITORING

There was submitted Report No 516-2011 by the Director of Finance appraising members of the latest position regarding the Council's Capital Expenditure Programme for 2011/2012.

The Committee noted the contents of the report.

IV RELIEF OF RATES - CHARITY RELIEF

There was submitted Report No 543-2011 by the Director of Finance, seeking authorisation to grant charity relief on the undernoted non-domestic properties.

The Committee authorised accordingly.

V DUNDEE COMMUNITY REGENERATION FUND 2011/2012

There was submitted Report No 545-2011 by the Chief Executive relative to the above.

The Committee approved the funding process and proposals contained in Section 5.2 of the report appended hereto (Appendix II).

VI INVOLVING YOUNG PEOPLE IN DECISION-MAKING

There was submitted Report No 514-2011 by the Director, Leisure and Communities advising the Council about the current arrangements and improvement priorities for involving young people in decision-making at different levels in Dundee.

The Committee:-

(i) acknowledged and agreed to continue to support the range and breadth of opportunities that already exist in Dundee for young people to get involved in decision‑making;

(ii) endorsed the improvement actions contained in Appendix 2 of the report. The key actions were:-

- Agree the model for engaging children, young people and families in identifying the key priorities for the next Integrated Children's Services (ICS) plan.

- Finalise Youth Council proposals for how they will represent views to decision-makers and agree these proposals with the Council and the Dundee Partnership.

- Develop Youth Action Groups across Dundee in response to issues which are of concern to young people, as they arise.

- Support young people to take the lead on priorities from the Local Community Plans as appropriate.

- Facilitate structured opportunities for Local Community Planning Partnership members to meet with young people to hear their issues/ideas.

- Deliver training for young people to build their capacity.

- Develop, with young people, a communication strategy that incorporates a range of methods, including the use of developing technology such as social networking.

- Work with Dundee Youth Council to ensure that young people are fully represented on Local Community Planning Partnerships.

VII HATE INCIDENT MULTI-AGENCY PARTNERSHIP (HIMAP) - OPERATING MODEL

There was submitted Report No 522-2011 by the Director, Leisure and Communities seeking the Committee's endorsement of the Dundee Partnership's Hate Incident Multi-Agency Partnership's Operating Model to ensure that the Council fulfils its statutory duties in relation to hate incident reporting.

The Committee:-

(i) endorsed the HIMAP Operating Model;

(ii) agreed that the Head of Policy (Leisure, Culture and Communities) take on the Gatekeeper role for Dundee City Council; and

(iii) agreed that Single Points of contact be identified for each Council Department.

VIII COMMUNITY LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT MANAGERS SCOTLAND

There was submitted Agenda Note AN194-2011 intimating that Mr Neil Gunn, the City Council's Head of Communities had been elected by his peers to the role of Chair for the Community Learning and Development Managers Scotland Group from October 2011 for a three year term.

The Committee congratulated Mr Gunn on his appointment.

IX VOLUNTARY EARLY RETIREMENT SCHEME FOR TEACHING STAFF AND ASSOCIATED PROFESSIONALS

On a reference Article II of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 10th February, 2011 there was submitted Report No 507-2011 by the Director of Finance, providing feedback on the Voluntary Early Retirement Scheme for Teachers and suggesting further proposals to take effect at the end of the academic session 2011/2012.

The Committee:-

(i) agreed to continue the voluntary early retirement scheme for teaching staff aged 55 years and over with effect from 12th August, 2012, as outlined in Section 4 in the Appendix to the report;

(ii) instructed the Director of Education to monitor the effect of this scheme on service delivery and report to the Education Committee the actual impact and, if appropriate, bring back further proposals for subsequent years;

(iii) in agreeing to the scheme noted that the Director of Education would maintain teacher numbers in line with pupil numbers; and

(iv) noted the costs and savings arising from the Voluntary Early Retirement Scheme for financial years 2010/2011 and 2011/2012.

X CHILD AND ADOLESCENT MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES (CAMHS)

There was submitted Agenda Note AN195-2011 seeking approval from the Committee to support Dundee City Council's involvement in the development of an outline business case for the replacement of the specialist in-patient facility currently located at the Young Persons' Unit, Dudhope Terrace in Dundee. The unit was owned by NHS Tayside and served Health Boards and Local Authorities all over the North East of Scotland. The establishment catered for young people, aged between 12 and 18, with severe and complex mental health disorders and contained an Education facility which was staffed by Dundee City Council teaching professionals who provided the young people with continued education during their periods of ill-health. The Council then recharged the relevant Education authorities for the cost of providing the education services.

A commitment, in principle, was required from the Council in order to progress the Business Case for this project. Once a Full Business Case had been developed by the NHS North of Scotland Planning Group in conjunction with all partners and stakeholder groups, it would be presented to this Committee and approval would be sought for a capital contribution to be made towards the development of the education provision within this facility.

The Committee approved accordingly.

XI TREASURY MANAGEMENT ACTIVITY 2011/2012 (SIX MONTHS TO 30TH SEPTEMBER, 2011)

There was submitted Report No 544-2011 by the Director of Finance reviewing the Treasury Management activities for the period 1st April, 2011 to 30th September, 2011.

The Committee noted the information contained therein.

XII BUDGETARY CUTS IN FURTHER EDUCATION AT DUNDEE COLLEGE

Councillor Hunter declared a non-financial interest in this item by virtue of being the Council representative on the Dundee College Board of Management.

It was reported that this item was placed on the agenda at the request of Councillor Bidwell. After he expressed concern at the alarming cuts in the budget at Dundee College and the negative impact on opportunities for Dundee school-leavers, it was agreed that a response to the consultation paper Putting Leavers at the Centre be considered at a meeting of the Policy and Resources Committee on 19th December, 2011.

XIII DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL ACCOUNTS 2010/2011

(a) AUDITED STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS FOR DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL

The above report was submitted and noted (Report No 550-2011).

(b) EXTERNAL AUDITOR'S REPORT

The above report was submitted and noted (Report No 551-2011).

(c) EXTERNAL AUDITOR'S REPORT - RESPONSE FROM DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL

There was submitted Report No 552-2011 by the Director of Finance in response to the report by the Council's External Auditor on the audit for Dundee City Council for the year to 31st March, 2011.

The Committee endorsed the report as this Council's formal response to the External Auditor's report and noted the completed Action Plan appended to the report.

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 8 of Part I of Schedule 7A of the Act.

XIV DUNDEE ICE ARENA

Councillors Duncan, Ross, McCready and Bailie Scott declared non-financial interests in this item by virtue of being the Council representatives on the Dundee Ice Arena Board.

After considering Agenda Note AN196-2011 relative to the above, the Committee approved the recommendations detailed therein.

Ken GUILD, Convener.

APPENDIX I

At a MEETING of the PERSONNEL APPEALS SUB-COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 9th November, 2011.

Present:-

Councillor Craig MELVILLE

Bailie Derek J SCOTT

Councillor Mohammed ASIF

Councillor Craig MELVILLE, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 5th September, 2011 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 (PA5/11)

It was reported that an appeal against dismissal from an employee of the Social Work Department had been submitted.

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

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 been substantiated and that the appeal be upheld.

Craig MELVILLE, Convener.

APPENDIX II