Policy And Resources Committee - 19/05/2014

At a MEETING of the POLICY AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 19th May, 2014.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Councillor Ken GUILD, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 21st April, 2014 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I DECLARATION OF INTEREST

Councillor Hunter declared a non-financial interest in Article III by virtue of being the Council's representative on Ardler Village Trust.

II MINUTE - PERSONNEL APPEALS SUB-COMMITTEE OF 23RD APRIL, 2014

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

III DUNDEE COMMUNITY REGENERATION FUND 2014/2015

There was submitted Report No 214-2014 by the Chief Executive relative to the above.

The Committee noted the Community Regeneration Fund Allocations for 2014/2015 and approved the funding proposals contained in Section 5.2 of the report appended hereto (Appendix II).

IV REPLACEMENT OF BALDRAGON ACADEMY

On a reference to Article V of the minute of meeting of the Education Committee of 26th November, 2012, there was submitted Report No 200-2014 by the Chief Executive and Director of City Development outlining the proposed procurement process for the replacement of Baldragon Academy.

The Committee:-

(i) noted the contents of the report; and

(ii) agreed to proceed to Stage 2 of the Project Delivery Programme following the completion of the Stage 1 Key Stage Review by Scottish Futures Trust.

V SUPPLY OF IT EQUIPMENT

There was submitted Report No 201-2014 by the Head of Information Technology relative to the above.

The Committee:-

(i) noted the IT purchases amounting to 579,171 detailed in Appendix 1 of the report for the period 1st October, 2013 to 31st March, 2014; and

(ii) noted ongoing engineering maintenance costs of 36,947 per annum.

VI COUNTERFRAUD REPORT - AS AT 31ST MARCH, 2014

There was submitted Report No 219-2014 by the Director of Corporate Services informing elected members of the Revenue Division's Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit counterfraud activity as at 31st March, 2014.

The Committee approved the report.

VII AN OVERVIEW OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN SCOTLAND 2014

There was submitted Report No 202-2014 by the Director of Corporate Services providing elected members with a summary of the above national report that had been undertaken by Audit Scotland on behalf of the Accounts Commission.

The Committee noted the key findings arising from the Audit Scotland overview report including Appendix 2 which contained a checklist and links to other materials to support improvement.

VIII CITY CENTRE EVENTS - DUNDEE AND DUNDEE UNITED FOOTBALL CLUBS

There was submitted Agenda Note AN154-2014 relative to the undernoted.

(i) DUNDEE FOOTBALL CLUB SPFL CHAMPIONSHIP 2014

It was reported that Dundee Football Club were successful in winning the SPFL Championship 2014 on Saturday, 3rd May, 2014 when they defeated Dumbarton Football Club.

In collaboration with Dundee Football Club, it was proposed that an event be held in the City Centre on Sunday, 11th May, 2014 to celebrate the Team's return to premiership football. This would include a civic reception in the City Chambers and a presentation of the Trophy on the balcony of the City Chambers.

(ii) DUNDEE UNITED SCOTTISH CUP - 17TH MAY, 2014

It was reported that in the event of Dundee United Football Club winning the William Hill Scottish Cup on Saturday, 17th May, 2014, the Council proposed to host a celebration event in the City Centre on Sunday, 18th May, 2014.

In collaboration with Dundee United Football Club, it was proposed to hold an open-top bus journey with the team, a reception in the City Chambers and a presentation of the Scottish Cup on the balcony at the City Chambers.

It was estimated that the total cost of hosting both these events would be 20,000 and it was proposed that this be met from the Common Good Fund.

If Dundee United Football Club do not win the William Hill Scottish Cup then the proposed event would not take place, however, the Council would still incur expenditure of 3,100 for deposits.

In view of the timescales involved it was noted that the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Convener of the Policy and Resources Committee, Labour Group spokesperson, Conservative member, Liberal Democrat member and the Independent member had approved the above proposals and that the expenditure be met from the Common Good Fund.

Ken GUILD, Convener.

At a MEETING of the PERSONNEL APPEALS SUB-COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 23rd April, 2014.

APPENDIX I

Present:-

Depute Lord Provost Christina ROBERTS

COUNCILLORS

Councillor Stewart HUNTER, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 2nd April, 2014 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 items of business on the grounds that they involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 1 of Part I of Schedule 7A of the Act.

I DECLARATION OF INTEREST

There were no declarations of interest.

II APPEAL AGAINST DISMISSAL

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

The Sub-Committee heard the Council's representative and witnesses and, thereafter, the Appellant and his 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 not been substantiated and that the appeal be not upheld.

Stewart HUNTER, Convener.

APPENDIX II