Policy And Resources Committee - 23/06/2014

At a MEETING of the POLICY AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 23rd June, 2014.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Councillor Ken GUILD, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 19th May, 2014 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I DECLARATION OF INTEREST

No declarations of interest were made.

II LOCAL CODE ON CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

There was submitted Report No 258-2014 by the Chief Executive relative to the above.

The Committee:-

(i) approved the Review and updated Local Code of Corporate Governance detailed in the Appendix 1 of the report;

(ii) noted the progress on previous improvement areas detailed in Appendix 2 of the report;

(iii) approved the implementation of the improvements listed in Appendix 3 of the report;

(iv) noted the scores recorded against the guidelines in Appendix 4 of the report; and

(v) agreed that the Code should be updated as a project on the internet.

III FOLLOWING THE PUBLIC POUND

After considering Report No 267-2014 by the Director of Corporate Services updating the Council's guidance on Funding External Bodies and Following the Public Pound, the Committee approved the updated guidance and associated appendices.

IV TAYSIDE PENSION FUND INVESTING IN TOBACCO

There was submitted Report No 275-2014 by the Director of Corporate Services reviewing the employer consultation communication received from the Tayside Pension Fund regarding views of Dundee City Council as an employer on whether or not the Fund should continue investing in tobacco stocks, given the potential impact on employer contributions.

The Committee approved the undernoted resolution:-

The Committee agrees to advise the Tayside Pension Fund that it wishes the Fund to disinvest from tobacco stocks at the earliest possible time given the effect of tobacco on the health of Dundee's citizens, but recognises that, in order for the Fund to do so, suitable alternative investments will require to be identified.

The Committee therefore further agrees to request that the Tayside Pension Fund, through its Fund Managers, keeps the issue of alternative investments to tobacco under constant review and that, as soon as the Fund Managers identify other investments which would provide satisfactory returns without materially affecting the volatility of risk and return, the Fund should disinvest in tobacco.

V ASSURANCE AND IMPROVEMENT PLAN UPDATE 2014-2017

There was submitted Report No 254-2014 by the Director of Corporate Services providing elected members with an update on the Assurance and Improvement Plan 2014-2017 that was recently issued by Audit Scotland on behalf of the various regulatory bodies responsible for scrutinising the services provided by the Council.

The Committee noted the information contained within the report and the Assurance and Improvement Plan update 2014-2017 appended thereto.

VI CHANGING FOR THE FUTURE PROGRAMME - MONITORING REPORT

There was submitted Report No 265-2014 by the Director of Corporate Services providing a further update on the savings and progress of the Changing for the Future Programme.

The Committee noted:-

(i) the savings totalling 13.989m arising from reports which had previously been approved by the Board, as shown in Appendix 1 of the report;

(ii) that 12.672m of the savings shown in Appendix 1 of the report had been reflected in the approved 2014/2015 Revenue Budget and that further savings would be reflected in future years' Revenue Budgets;

(iii) the individual projects within the programme continued to be progressed and monitored by the Council's Strategic Management Team on a monthly basis; and

(iv) that further updated reports would be submitted to future meetings of the Changing for the Future Board and Policy and Resources Committee.

VII SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT CONSULTATION - WOMEN ON BOARD - QUALITY THROUGH DIVERSITY

There was submitted Agenda Note AN183-2014 intimating that this item had been placed on the agenda at the request of Councillor McCready.

Councillor McCready, seconded by Councillor Brennan, moved that Dundee City Council welcomes the publication of Women on Board - Quality Through Diversity, and supports the goal of gender equality on public boards, and agrees to submit the response appended hereto to the consultation process.

As an amendment, Councillor Guild, seconded by Councillor McDonald, moved approval of the undernoted resolution.

The Council believes that gender inequality has no place in modern Scotland; acknowledges that progress has been made in recent years towards greater equality; and believes that more must be done.

The Council therefore welcomes the Scottish Government's current consultation entitled "Women on Board', and supports the Scottish Government's aim of ensuring that the membership of public boards better reflects the diverse make-up and talents of the people of Scotland.

On a division, there voted for the motion - Councillors Keenan, Asif, Bidwell, Brennan, Cruickshank, Ferguson, Gordon, McCready, McGovern, Bailies Wright and Borthwick (11); and for the amendment - Councillors Guild, Alexander, Black, Bowes, Cordell, Dawson, Hunter, Lynn, McDonald, Melville, Murray, Lord Provost Duncan, Depute Lord Provost Roberts and Bailie Sawers (14) - Bailie Scott and Councillor Macpherson being absent when the vote was taken - whereupon the amendment was declared carried.

VIII REVIEW OF COSLA CONSTITUTION

There was submitted Report No 266-2014 by the Head of Democratic and Legal Services advising the Committee of proposals to revise the COSLA Constitution and Standing Orders.

The Committee noted the position.

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

IX CORPORATE SERVICES DEPARTMENT - RESTRUCTURE

There was submitted Agenda Note AN184-2014 relative to the above.

The Committee approved the recommendations detailed therein.

Ken GUILD, Convener.

APPENDIX

SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT CONSULTATION - WOMEN ON BOARD - QUALITY THROUGH DIVERSITY QUESTIONNAIRE

Question 1:

Voluntary measures to increase gender diversity on public boards have been in place for some time. Why do you think they have not lead to the achievement of the 40% Diversity Delivers target?

Question 2:

Do you think that before gender quotas are introduced to public boards, they should be given the opportunity to achieve a voluntary target for gender diversity on their board first? (please indicate Yes, No or Dont Know)

NO

Question 3:

If you answered yes to question 2, what is a realistic timescale for boards to reach voluntary targets, after which quotas would be introduced?

Question 4:

What difficulties, if any, do you think there will be in introducing gender diversity quotas for public boards?

Question 5:

What support, if any, do you think public bodies will require in order to introduce quotas effectively?

Question 6:

Which bodies should quotas apply to? For example those with: Ministerial appointments only; Ministerial and non-regulated appointments; Neither Ministerial nor non-regulated?

Question 7:

Which other public boards, if any, should be included? Please give reasons for your answer.

Question 8:

Which public boards, if any, should be exempt? Please give reasons for your answer.

Question 9:

Do you agree there should be quotas for people with other protected characteristics[1] other than gender? (please indicate Yes, No or Dont Know)

YES

Question 10:

If you answered yes to question 9, do you agree with the Scottish Governments staged approach to the introduction of quotas i.e. focussing on gender first? (please indicate Yes, No or Dont Know)

YES

1The Equality Act 2010 makes it unlawful to discriminate against people with a protected characteristic (previously known as equality strands/grounds). The protected characteristics are age, disability, gender reassignment, pregnancy and maternity, marriage and civil partnership, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation.

Question 11:

We have said that the percentage level for gender diversity quotas on public boards should be at least 40%, do you agree? YES, should be 40%; NO, should be greater than 40%; NO, should be less than 40%; or DONT KNOW. (please indicate Yes, No or Dont Know)

NO

Question 12:

Who do you think should be responsible for enforcing quotas on public boards?

Question 13:

Do you think some form of sanction should be imposed on public bodies if there is non‑compliance? (please indicate Yes, No or Dont Know)

YES

Question 14:

If you have answered yes, to question 13 what type of sanctions could be used?

Question 15

Do you think gender diversity quotas should be extended to company boards? (please indicate Yes, No or Dont Know)

YES

OTHER GENERAL ISSUES NOT COVERED ELSEWHERE

Question 16:

Please provide details of any additional issues, not addressed in your other responses, that you think should be considered in relation to the introduction of gender quotas on public and company boards.

BUSINESS REGULATORY IMPACT ASSESSMENT QUESTIONS

Question 17:

Will there be any resource issues for public bodies to introduce gender diversity quotas on their boards? (please indicate Yes, No or Dont Know)

NO

Question 18:

Can the impact of any resources issues for public bodies be quantified using existing costing structures? (please indicate Yes, No or Dont Know)

DONT KNOW

Question 19:

Will there be any resource issues for companies to introduce gender diversity quotas on their boards? (please indicate Yes, No or Dont Know)

NO

Question 20:

Can the impact of any resources issues for companies be quantified using existing costing structures? (please indicate Yes, No or Dont Know)

DON'T KNOW

Question 21:

To help with the development of a Business Regulatory Impact Assessment, please provide any other information you think is relevant.

EQUALITY IMPACT ASSESSMENT QUESTIONS

Question 22:

The Scottish Government wants all women in their diversity to be represented on the boards of public bodies. Do you think there are currently barriers that especially impact on certain groups of women? (please indicate Yes, No or Dont Know)

YES

Question 23:

Do you think there is additional supporting action that could be taken to help certain groups of women overcome or mitigate these barriers? (please indicate Yes, No or Dont Know)

YES

Question 24:

To help further with the development of our Equality Impact Assessment, please give any other information you think is relevant.