Policy And Resources Committee - 11/03/2013

At a MEETING of the POLICY AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 11th March, 2013.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Councillor Ken GUILD, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 14th February, 2013 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I DECLARATION OF INTEREST

Lord Provost Duncan and Councillor Lynn declared non-financial interests in Article IV by virtue of being Council representatives on Dundee Voluntary Action.

Depute Lord Provost Roberts declared a non-financial interest in Article IV by virtue of being the Council representative on Dundee International Women's Centre.

Councillor Lynn declared a non-financial interest in Article VI by virtue of being a Council representative on the Tayside Community Justice Authority. Bailie Wright declared a financial interest by virtue of being a Council representative on the Tayside Community Justice Authority.

Councillor Hunter declared a non-financial interest in Article VI by virtue of being the Council's representative on Dundee College Board of Management.

Councillor McDonald declared a non-financial interest in Article XVII by virtue of being the Council's representative on Dundee Heritage Trust.

Depute Lord Provost Roberts and Councillors Alexander, Ross and McCready declared non-financial interests in Article XX by virtue of being Council representatives on Dundee Ice Arena Board.

II REVENUE MONITORING

There was submitted Report No 110-2013 by the Director of Corporate Services providing the Committee with an analysis of the 2012/2013 Projected Revenue Outturn as at 31st January, 2013 monitored against the adjusted 2012/2013 Revenue Budget.

The Committee:-

(i) noted that the overall General Fund 2012/2013 Projected Revenue Outturn as at 31st January, 2013 showed an overspend of 1,076,000 against the adjusted 2012/2013 Revenue Budget;

(ii) noted that the Housing Revenue Account as at 31st January, 2013 was projecting a breakeven position against the adjusted HRA 2012/2013 Revenue Budget;

(iii) instructed the Director of Corporate Services to take every reasonable action to ensure that the 2012/2013 revenue expenditure was below or in line with the adjusted Revenue Budget; and

(iv) instructed the Director of Corporate Services, in conjunction with all Chief Officers of the Council, to continue to monitor the Council's 2012/2013 Projected Revenue Outturn.

III CAPITAL EXPENDITURE MONITORING

There was submitted Report No 118-2013 by the Director of Corporate Services appraising members of the latest position regarding the Council's Capital Expenditure Programme for 2012/2013.

The Committee noted the contents of the report.

IV FUNDING TO DUNDEE PARTNERSHIP VOLUNTARY PROJECTS

There was submitted Report No 109-2013 by the Chief Executive identifying budgets for the ongoing programme of voluntary projects to be funded through the resources available to Dundee City Council and the Dundee Partnership following the mainstreaming of the former Fairer Scotland Fund.

The Committee approved the allocation of one year funding to voluntary projects as set out in Appendix 1 of the report.

V DUNDEE COMMUNITY REGENERATION FUND

There was submitted Report No 108-2013 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 I).

VI REDESIGNING THE COMMUNITY JUSTICE SYSTEM - A CONSULTATION ON PROPOSALS

There was submitted Report No 106-2013 by the Director of Social Work (Designate) regarding a response to the Government paper on Redesigning the Community Justice System: A Consultation on Proposals.

Councillor Guild, seconded by Bailie Sawers, moved that the Committee:-

(i) note the background to the consultation paper, the three options for structural reform and their potential impact on the delivery of services to adult offenders in the community;

(ii) agree that Option 2, the local authority model, offers the best framework to improve services both nationally and locally; and

(iii) instruct the Director of Social Work (Designate) to provide an update report on the implications of future decisions for service delivery in Dundee in early 2014.

As an amendment, Bailie Wright, seconded by Councillor Keenan, moved that the Committee agrees that Option 1, the enhanced Community Justice Model, offers the best framework to improve services both nationally and locally.

On a division, there voted for the motion - Councillors Guild, Alexander, Black, Bowes, Campbell, Cordell, Dawson, Hunter, Lynn, McDonald, Melville, Murray, Ross, Macpherson, Bailies Sawers and Scott, Lord Provost Duncan and Depute Lord Provost Roberts (18); and for the amendment - Councillors Keenan, Asif, Bidwell, Brennan, Cruickshank, Ferguson, Gordon, McCready, McGovern, Bailies Wright and Borthwick (11) - whereupon the motion was declared carried.

VII SAFEGUARD POLICY FOR HOUSING BENEFIT PAYMENTS UNDER THE LOCAL HOUSING ALLOWANCE SCHEME

There was submitted Report No 112-2013 by the Director of Corporate Services informing elected members on the revised policy for vulnerability and direct payments of Housing Benefit to landlords under the Local Housing Allowance Scheme.

The Committee approved the revised policy appended to the report.

VIII DISCRETIONARY HOUSING PAYMENTS

There was submitted Report No 72-2013 by the Director of Corporate Services informing elected members on the revised Discretionary Housing Payment Policy administered by the Revenues Division.

The Committee:-

(i) approved the revised policy appended to the report;

(ii) noted the budget provision of 461,904 in 2013/2014 for Discretionary Housing Payments (DHP's); and

(iii) approved the establishment of three temporary posts of Grade 5 to process applications for DHP's and a temporary increase in hours of a Team Leader post Grade 9 from part-time to full-time for a two year period.

IX HOUSING BENEFIT OVERPAYMENT RECOVERY POLICY

On a reference to Article II of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 9th May, 2005 there was submitted Report No 114-2013 by the Director of Corporate Services relative to the above.

The Committee approved the revisions to the Housing Benefit Overpayment Recovery Policy as set out in the Appendix to the report, it being noted that the changes with regard to the weekly rates after deductions would come into effect from 1st April, 2013.

X RELIEF OF RATES - CHARITY RELIEF

There was submitted Report No 115-2013 by the Director of Corporate Services seeking authorisations to grant charity relief on the undernoted non-domestic properties.

The Committee approved accordingly.

XI DUNDEE YOUTH COUNCIL CONSULTATION AND MANIFESTO

There was submitted Report No 49-2013 by the Director, Leisure and Communities advising the Committee about the findings from a consultation conducted by the Dundee Youth Council in 2012 and their manifesto outlining the main findings and issues arising from the consultation.

The Committee:-

(i) acknowledged the efforts made by the Dundee Youth Council to establish the views of young people in Dundee about a range of key services; and

(ii) approved ongoing dialogue between the Dundee Youth Council and Dundee Partnership Agencies and elected members on the main issues of concern highlighted by this consultation.

XII LITERACY DELIVERY PARTNERS 2013/2014

There was submitted Report No 107-2013 by the Director, Leisure and Communities detailing the request for continuation of Service Level Agreements with Dundee College and Craigowl Communities for the delivery of literacy support.

The Committee:-

(i) approved the continuation of the Service Level Agreement with Craigowl Communities to deliver literacy services focused on employability for the period 1st April, 2013 to 31st March, 2014 at the level of 26,000; and

(ii) approved the continuation of the Service Level Agreement with Dundee College to deliver literacy services focused on those wishing to progress to college for the period 1st April, 2013 to 31st March, 2014 at the level of 35,000.

XIII ESTABLISHMENT OF STAFF AWARDS SCHEME

There was submitted Report No 73-2013 by the Chief Executive outlining the establishment of a staff awards scheme.

The Committee:-

(i) agreed that a staff awards scheme be established in 2013 an annually thereafter; and

(ii) agreed the process and criteria for the awards scheme as outlined in Appendices 1 and 2 of the report.

XIV ANNUAL CONSUMER SURVEY 2012

There was submitted Report No 104-2013 by the Chief Executive summarising the main findings from the 2012 Consumer Survey.

The Committee:-

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

(ii) remitted to the Chief Executive to investigate the reasons for any significant decline, defined as those results where 2012s score were more than 5% lower compared to any of the previous years, as highlighted in the body of the report;

(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 full survey report on the Councils website and make available copies on request as part of the Councils commitment to Public Performance Reporting.

XV CORPORATE SERVICES DEPARTMENT SERVICE PLAN

There was submitted Report No 113-2013 by the Director of Corporate Services relative to the above.

The Committee approved the Corporate Services Department Service Plan appended to the report.

XVI COUNTER-FRAUD REPORT - AS AT 31ST DECEMBER, 2012

There was submitted Report No 127-2013 by the Director of Corporate Services informing the elected members of the Revenue Division's Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit counter-fraud activity as at 31st December, 2012.

The Committee approved the counter-fraud performance report.

XVII COMMON GOOD

There was submitted Report No 137-2013 by the Director of Corporate Services providing details of the Council's Common Good Fund Revenue Budget for 2012/2013 and making recommendations for the disbursement of funds for the financial year.

The Committee:-

(i) approved the Common Good Fund 2013/2014 Revenue Budget as detailed in Appendix A of the report;

(ii) approved the payment of 30,000 to Whitehall Theatre; and

(iii) noted that a further report would be brought back to the committee on the use of the uncommitted balance of 85,000, following an assessment process by the Director of Corporate Services.

XVIII AUTO ENROLMENT OF PENSION ARRANGEMENTS

There was submitted Report No 128-2013 by the Director of Corporate Services summarising the new obligations on Dundee City Council as an employer arising from the Pension Bill 2011.

The Committee noted the progress made and approved the proposal to seek to invoke the transitional arrangement.

XIX MEMBERS SALARIES, PENSIONS AND EXPENSES

On a reference to Article XVI of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 25th June, 2012 and after considering Agenda Note AN32-2013, the Committee agreed to amend the Council's Scheme of Salaries and Expenses for elected members as follows:-

(a) delete the salary of 18,264 for Depute Convener Development Management Committee; and

(b) introduce a salary of 21,562.75 for Convener Housing Committee.

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, 8 and 9 of Part I of Schedule 7A of the Act.

XX DUNDEE ICE ARENA

On a reference to Article IV of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 23rd April, 2012 there was submitted Agenda Note AN33-2013.

The Committee approved the recommendations detailed therein.

Ken GUILD, Convener.

APPENDIX I