Policy And Resources Committee - 13/02/2012

At a MEETING of the POLICY AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 13th February, 2012.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Councillor Ken GUILD, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 9th February, 2012 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I MINUTE - PERSONNEL APPEALS SUB-COMMITTEE - 24TH JANUARY, 2012

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 59-2012 by the Director of Finance providing the Committee with an analysis of the 2011/2012 Projected Revenue Outturn as at 31st December, 2011 monitored against the 2011/2012 Revenue Budget.

The Committee:-

(i) noted that the overall General Fund 2011/2012 Projected Revenue Outturn as at 31st December, 2012 showed an underspend of 103,000 against the adjusted 2011/2012 Revenue Budget;

(ii) noted that the Housing Revenue Account as at 31st December, 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 46-2012 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 DUNDEE COMMUNITY REGENERATION FUND 2011/2012

There was submitted Report No 57-2012 by the Chief Executive relative to the above.

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

V DUNDEE ANNUAL CONSUMER SURVEY 2011

There was submitted Report No 36-2012 by the Chief Executive summarising the main findings from 2011 annual consumer survey.

The Committee:-

(i) noted the results contained in the report and agreed that the issues raised should continue to be addressed as part of the Council's commitment to continuous improvement using the Public Sector Improvement Framework model;

(ii) remitted to the Chief Executive to investigate the reasons for any results which showed a decline compared to the previous year;

(iii) remitted to the Chief Executive to disseminate the customer contact results to departments for use in staff training on customer care;

(iv) invited each Local Community Planning Partnership to consider the key results for their area; and

(v) authorised officers to publish the report on the Council's website and make available copies, on request, as part of the Council's commitment to Public Performance Reporting.

VI HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE INTEGRATION

This item was withdrawn.

VII DUNDEE HEALTHY WEIGHT COMMUNITY PROGRAMME

There was submitted Report No 38-2012 by the Director, Leisure and Communities informing the Committee of the outcome of the Dundee Healthy Weight Community Programme and seeking their approval to establish Dundee as a Healthy Weight Community in the future.

The Committee:-

(i) noted the contents of the Dundee Healthy Weight Community Programme;

(ii) approved the establishment of the city as a Health Weight Community;

(iii) approved Dundee joining the international Epode network; and

(iv) approved the establishment of a two year fixed-term post of Dundee Healthy Weight Community Programme Co-ordinator.

VIII DUNDEE CITY COUNCILS SINGLE EQUALITY SCHEME - ANNUAL REPORT 2010/2011

There was submitted Report No 61-2012 by the Director, Leisure and Communities informing the Committee of the progress in implementing the City Council's Single Equality Scheme Action Plan 2009/2012.

The Committee noted the contents of the report.

IX WORKPLACE POLICY ON GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE

After considering Report No 62-2012 by the Head of Personnel relative to the above, the Committee approved the Workplace Policy on Gender-Based Violence appended thereto.

X PROMOTION OF COMPULSORY PURCHASE ORDER - DUNDEE WATERFRONT

Bailie Wright declared a non-financial interest in this item by virtue of being a member of the Hilton Holiday Club and the Gala Casino.

Councillors Will Dawson, Melville, Fordyce and Keenan declared a non-financial interest by virtue of being members of the Gala Casino.

There was submitted Report No 35-2012 by the Director of City Development seeking authority to promote a Compulsory Purchase Order for the acquisition of the Hilton Hotel and Gala Casino at Earl Grey Place in order to enable the implementation of the Central Waterfront Development Masterplan.

Councillor Guild, seconded by Bailie Sawers, moved that the Committee authorise the Depute Chief Executive (Support Services) to initiate Compulsory Purchase Procedures to acquire all interests in Hilton Worldwide and the Gala Coral Group at Earl Grey Place, Dundee as shown on the plan appended to the report.

As an amendment, Councillor Keenan, seconded by Councillor Asif, moved that consideration of this report be deferred for detailed financial projections to be provided as to the cost to the Council of purchasing the Hilton Hotel and Gala Casino.

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, Macpherson and Bailies Sawers, Wallace and Scott (18); and for the amendment - Councillors Keenan, Asif, Ferguson, Gordon and McCready (5) - Bailie Wright and Depute Lord Provost Borthwick declining to vote - whereupon the motion was declared carried.

Councillor Keenan asked for his dissent to be recorded.

XI ANNUAL REPORT - CIPFA

It was reported that the Annual CIPFA Conference would be held in Dundee on 15th and 16th March, 2012. The estimated cost, excluding travel and subsistence, was 395 per delegate.

Councillor Guild, seconded by Councillor Duncan, moved that elected member representation be on the basis of one member of the Administration, one member of the Labour Group and one member of the Conservative Group.

As an amendment, Councillor Hay, seconded by Bailie Scott, moved that no Councillors attend.

On a division, there voted for the motion - Councillors Guild, Barrie, Black, Bowes, Andy Dawson, Will Dawson, Duncan, Fordyce, Hunter, Lynn, Melville, Roberts, Ross and Bailie Sawers (14); and for the amendment - Councillors Keenan, Asif, Ferguson, Gordon, McCready, Hay, Macpherson, Bailies Wright, Wallace, Scott and Depute Lord Provost Borthwick (11) - whereupon the motion was declared carried.

XII PROCUREMENT OF STORAGE RACKING/UNITS FOR DECORATIVE ARTS AND WORK ON PAPER

Councillor Duncan declared a non-financial interest in this item by virtue of being the Chair of Leisure and Culture Dundee.

After considering Report No 50-2012 by the Director, Leisure and Communities relative to the above, the Committee agreed to accept a quotation from Rackline Ltd to supply and install a suitable system at a total cost of 94,380.

XIII DUNDEE WAVE OF CHANGE

There was submitted Agenda Note AN27-2012 intimating that the Wave of Change project was supported by the Scottish Government through Creative Scotland. It was an initiative which sought to engage people in a positive discussion about the future. As part of the project, the City Council had been approached with a view to commissioning a film-maker to work with young people currently engaged in the City Council's Youth Work Programme through the process of producing a short film in order that they could express their hopes and aspirations for the future. The level of financial support sought from the City Council as a contribution to the project was 2,000.

The Committee approved accordingly.

XIV FAIR TRADE POLICY

Councillor McCready declared a non-financial interest in this item by virtue of being Convener of the Dundee Fair Trade Forum and a member of the Northern Committee of the Midland Co-operative Society.

On a reference to Article IV of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 10th December, 2001, there was submitted Report No 37-2012 by the Chief Executive proposing the adoption of an updated Fair Trade policy.

The Committee approved the policy appended to the report.

XV DUNDEE VISUAL ARTISTS AWARD ALLOCATION - 1ST ROUND

There was submitted Report No 51-2012 by the Director, Leisure and Communities seeking approval for the payment of grant awards from the Dundee Visual Artists Award Scheme for the first round of applications.

The Committee approved the following awards:-

- Alexander Storey Gordon - 900 towards a theatre art performance, with accompanying film screening and lecture programme. Conditional offer of funding.

- Catrin Jeans - 1,100 towards a performance show to be broadcast during Neon Digital Arts Festival 2012.

- Holly Keasey - 1,000 towards project exploring the global water crisis, resulting in installation piece and documentation material.

- Peter Mansfield - 300 towards materials for site-specific artworks at St Peter's Church, based on Hilltown multis.

- Liz Myhill - 420 towards learning new print-making techniques leading to a new body of work.

- Neil Nodzak - 275 towards funding materials for new work for an exhibition at Tin Roof Studios.

- Neil Scott - 900 towards a collaborative journey by two artists, the experience of which will be related through documentation, found objects and artworks.

- Jackie Smith - 1,500 towards equipment to develop animation work resulting from recent DCA residency, and to be screened in Autumn 2012.

- Alison Whyte - 580 towards travel and residency costs for research to inform new body of work.

XVI CRAFT MAKERS AWARD: DUNDEE ALLOCATION

There was submitted Report No 52-2012 by the Director, Leisure and Communities seeking approval for the payment of grant awards from the Craft Makers Award: Dundee Scheme.

The Committee approved the undernoted awards:-

- Christina Hirst - 1,000 towards the development and production of a range of Metal Clay jewellery.

- Nikki McWilliams - 1,032 towards attending the Top Drawer Trade show in London.

- Filipa Oliveira - 888 towards developing jewellery pieces to exhibit at New Designers in London.

XVII GRANT AWARD: GENERATOR PROJECTS

There was submitted Report No 54-2012 by the Director, Leisure and Communities relative to the above.

The Committee approved support of 6,500 to Generator Projects for 2011/2012.

Ken GUILD, Convener.

At a MEETING of the PERSONNEL APPEALS SUB-COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 24th January, 2012.

APPENDIX I

Present:-

Bailie Derek J SCOTT

COUNCILLORS

Councillor Stewart HUNTER, 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 (PA06/11)

It was reported that an appeal against dismissal from an employee of the Waste Management 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.

Stewart HUNTER, Convener.

APPENDIX II