Policy And Resources Committee - 13/01/2014

At a MEETING of the POLICY AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 13th January, 2014.

 

Present:-

 

Lord Provost Bob DUNCAN

 

Depute Lord Provost Christina ROBERTS

 

BAILIES

 

Willie SAWERS

Helen WRIGHT

Ian BORTHWICK

 

Derek J SCOTT

 

 

COUNCILLORS

 

Ken GUILD

Ken LYNN

Laurie BIDWELL

John ALEXANDER

Vari McDONALD

Lesley BRENNAN

Jimmy BLACK

Craig MELVILLE

Georgia CRUICKSHANK

David BOWES

Gregor MURRAY

Tom FERGUSON

Bill CAMPBELL

Alan G ROSS

Brian GORDON

Kevin CORDELL

Kevin KEENAN

Richard McCREADY

Stewart HUNTER

Mohammed ASIF

Norma McGOVERN

 

Councillor Ken GUILD, Convener, in the Chair.

 

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 9th December, 2013 was held as read.

 

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

 

I DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

 

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

 

Depute Lord Provost Roberts, Councillors Ross, Alexander and Cruickshank declared a non-financial interest in Article X by virtue of being the Council's representatives on Dundee Ice Arena Board.

 

Lord Provost Duncan, Councillors Hunter, Gordon and McCready declared a non-financial interest in Article X by virtue of being the Council's representatives on Leisure and Culture Dundee.

 

II REVENUE MONITORING

 

There was submitted Report No 19-2014 by the Director of Corporate Services providing the Committee with an analysis of the 2013/2014 Projected Revenue Outturn as at 30th November, 2013.

 

The Committee:-

 

(i) noted that the overall General Fund 2013/2014 Projected Revenue Outturn as at 30th November, 2013 was projecting a breakeven position against the adjusted 2013/2014 Revenue Budget;

 

(ii) noted that the Housing Revenue Account as at 30th November, 2013 was projecting a breakeven position against the adjusted HRA 2013/2014 Revenue Budget;

 

(iii) instructed the Director of Corporate Services to take every reasonable action to ensure that the 2013/2014 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 2013/2014 Projected Revenue Outturn.

 

III CAPITAL MONITORING

 

There was submitted Report No 7-2014 by the Director of Corporate Services appraising members of the latest position regarding the Council's Capital Expenditure Programme for 2013/2014.

 

The Committee noted the contents of the report.

 

IV DUNDEE COMMUNITY REGENERATION FUND

 

There was submitted Report No 31-2014 by the Chief Executive relative to the above.

 

The Committee approved the allocations to the Community Regeneration Fund for 2013/2014 and funding proposals contained in Section 5.2 of the report appended hereto. (Appendix I).

 

V APPOINTMENT OF CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLES CHAMPION

 

After considering Report No 3-2014 by the Chief Executive, the Committee agreed to appoint Councillor Alexander to act as Children and Young People's Champion.

 

VI REVISED LOCAL GOVERNMENT FINANCE SETTLEMENT 2014/2015 AND FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS FOR THE CITY COUNCIL

 

On a reference to Article X of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 28th October, 2013, there was submitted Report No 34-2014 by the Director of Corporate Services advising elected members of an announcement made by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth on 11th December, 2013 in respect of the revised Local Government Finance Settlement for 2014/2015.

 

The Committee:-

 

(i) noted the contents of the report;

 

(ii) noted the Council's revised Revenue and Capital Funding Allocations for 2014/2015, as announced by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth on 11th December, 2013, and the associated implications;

 

(iii) noted the terms of the settlement to be provided to Local Government, as previously advised by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth in a letter to COSLA dated 11th September, 2013;

 

(iv) noted the current position on the Council's Provisional 2014/2015 Revenue Budget and Draft 2014-2018 Capital Plan;

 

(v) noted that the financial information included in this report would be updated as necessary and included in the Council Tax proposals to be submitted to the Special Policy and Resources Committee on 13th February, 2014;

 

(vi) noted the procedures to be followed for setting the 2014/2015 Revenue Budget and Council Tax level, as previously agreed by the Policy and Resources Committee on 28th October, 2013 and as set out in Section 9 and Appendix 2 of the report; and

 

(vii) noted that, as previously agreed by the Policy and Resources Committee on 28th October, 2013, the procedures for setting the Councils 2014-2018 Capital Plan should be the same as those for setting the 2014/2015 Revenue Budget and Council Tax.

VII ANNUAL CONSUMER SURVEY 2013

 

There was submitted Report No 16-2014 by the Chief Executive summarising the main findings from the 2013 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 disseminate the customer contact results to departments for use in staff training on customer care;

 

(iii) invited each Local Community Planning Partnership to consider the key results for their area which would be sent to Chairs and Communities Officers for distribution; and

 

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

 

VIII CHILDCARE VOUCHER SCHEME AND EMPLOYEE DISCOUNT SCHEME

 

There was submitted Report No 15-2014 by the Head of Human Resources relative to the above.

 

The Committee agreed:-

 

(i) that appropriate notice be given to Edenred to terminate the current contract for administering the Childcare Voucher Scheme with the last day being 28th February, 2014; and

 

(ii) to award the contract for administering the Council's Childcare Voucher Scheme to Kiddivouchers under the ESPO Framework including an Employee Discount Scheme (Wider Wallet).

 

IX DELIVERY AND PROCUREMENT OF EMPLOYABILITY SERVICES

 

There was submitted Report No 9-2014 by the Director of City Development outlining the options for the future commissioning of employability services and requesting Committee approval for the recommended approach.

 

The Committee:-

 

(i) agreed to procure employability services as described in the report and remitted to officers to take this forward;

 

(ii) remitted to officers to prepare and hold a training workshop for current providers and any other interested parties on procurement and tendering for contracts;

 

(iii) remitted to officers to hold a tendering information event for any interested parties once the procurement documentation was sufficiently developed; and

 

(iv) approved the extension of existing employability contracts for a period of three months to bridge the gap between existing contracts ending on 31st March, 2014 and the new European Funding period commencing, as anticipated, on 1st July, 2014. (With an option to extend the contract for a further three month period should the Scottish Government intimate a further delay to the programme start date).

 

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

 

X DUNDEE ICE ARENA

 

After considering Report No 33-2014 by the Chief Executive relative to the above, the Committee approved the recommendations detailed therein.

 

 

 

 

Ken GUILD, Convener.

 

APPENDIX I

 

Applicant

Description of Project

Forum Decision Amount

 

19th Dundee Girls'

Brigade Company

To provide diversionary activities and trips to National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh for the full group of 45 girls and hospitality at Tannadice for the 15 girls.

 

750

Boomerang

To fund the refurbishment and redesign of an empty shop unit on Albert Street to relocate Boomerangs charity shop from Arthurstone Terrace, including replacement of external signage. A professional steamer and washer/drier will also be purchased for use on donated clothes and textiles.

 

4,067

Dundee International Womens Centre

To purchase five new sewing machines to enable DIWC to continue to support 25 women to participate in their springboard classes.

 

600

Dundee International Womens Centre

To purchase eight new computers to enable DIWC to continue to support 30 women and five women volunteers a week through a variety of classes.

 

4,624

DEAP Ltd

To fund a weekend outdoor residential activity programme for 12 young people at Abernethy Outdoor Centre. This includes three nights accommodation and two days of activities. It will also fund appropriate clothing for all attending and return coach travel.

 

2,650

Finlarig 61 Club

To fund a keep-fit instructor to provide 11 armchair aerobics sessions for up to 56 elderly residents.

 

138

Countryside Ranger Service

To fund the installation of an educational area to enable pond dipping activities at the Trottick Ponds Local Nature Reserve for both school groups and members of the general public including those requiring wheelchair access.

 

2,000

Ardler Carpet Bowling Club

To purchase a replacement bowling carpet for the group which will be regularly used by the 18 current members.

 

891

St Marys Community Facility - Childrens Group

To enable the childrens group to continue in the interim between Children in Need funding and new funding for 2014/2015 (which is currently being sought). The group is attended by 25 children.

 

869

Dundee West Youth Work Team

To purchase a selection of arts and craft material for St Marys, Ardler and Kirkton Youth drop-ins which will be used by approximately 70 people aged between ten and eighteen.

 

970

Countryside Ranger Service

To fund the installation of educational signage and log tables alongside the Trottick Ponds Local Nature Reserve that would be suitable for use by both school groups and members of the general public including those requiring wheelchair access.

 

2,000