Policy and Strategy Committee

Thursday 18 December  2003 at 1.00 pm

Present:  Provost Rebecchi, Councillors Blair, Forbes, Fyfe, Hill, McCabe, McCormick (M), Mitchell, Nimmo,  Roach,  Robertson and Snoddy.

Chair:  Councillor Blair presided.

In attendance:  Chief Executive, Depute Chief Executive, Director of Community & Protective Services, Director of Education Services, Director of Finance, Director of Legal & Support Services, Director of Social Work & Housing Services and Managing Solicitor (Committees/Contracts).

927

Chief Officers’ Review & Management Structure

927

There was submitted a report dated 15 December 2003 by the Chief Executive on the finalisation of the review of the Chief Officers salaries at Depute Chief Executive/Director level and the finalisation of the review of the Management Structure taking account of Committee decision on 2 December 2003 (para 873).  Following discussion Councillor Blair moved (1) that the proposals and revisions detailed in Section 3 and 4 relating to the Management Structure be agreed; (2) that interviews take place in line with the procedure previously agreed and (3) that with regard to the review of salaries at Depute Chief Executive/Director level (i) that Chief Officers salaries not be directly linked to that of the Chief Executive which is determined externally; (ii) that the salary of the Depute Chief Executive be fixed at £77,000; (iii) that the “standard” Directors salary be agreed at £68,700; (iv) that to reflect the additional functions to be undertaken by them, and in the case of Education, the current workload resulting from the School Building Programme, an additional payment be made to the newly created Director of Corporate Services, the Director of Education Services and the Director of Community Services, bringing their salaries in each case to £70,000; and (v) that the revised salaries come into effect as from 1 April 2003, the salaries to be adjusted upwards to the nearest spinal column point in the Chief Officers salary scale.

As an amendment Councillor McCabe moved that the proposals and revisions detailed in Sections 3 and 4 and Appendix 1 and Appendix 3 be agreed.  On a vote, 3 Members voted for the amendment and 7 for the motion which was declared carried.

Decided:

(1) that the proposals and revisions detailed in Section 3 and 4 relating to the Management Structure be agreed; (2) that interviews required take place in line with the procedure previously agreed and (3) that with regard to the review of salaries at Depute Chief Executive/Director level (i) that Chief Officers salaries not be directly linked to that of the Chief Executive which is determined externally; (ii) that the salary of the Depute Chief Executive be fixed at £77,000; (iii) that the “standard” Directors salary be agreed at £68,700; (iv) that to reflect the additional functions to be undertaken by them, and in the case of Education, the current workload resulting from the School Building Programme, an additional payment be made to the newly created Director of Corporate Services, the Director of Education Services and the Director of Community Services, bringing their salaries in each case to £70,000; and (v) that the revised salaries come into effect as from 1 April 2003, the salaries to be adjusted upwards to the nearest spinal column point in the Chief Officers salary scale.

The meeting was adjourned briefly to allow the Council to be convened and adjourned.

928

Revenue & Capital Budget 2004/05 to 2005/06 Update

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There was submitted a report by the Director of Finance on the progress of the budget

and seeking confirmation of the policy framework and direction for the budget progress, the level of services to be provided and the managed process for dealing with implications arising from decisions made.  Following discussion Councillor Blair moved that (1) there be a further report on Sure Start, Teachers for Deprivation and Community Care detailed in Appendix 1 (2) that a meeting be requested with the Finance Minister and that it be remitted to the Chief Executive to make the appropriate arrangements (3) that a special Policy Committee be held in January advising of the outcome of that meeting and on the latest budget position (4) that a special Policy meeting be held on 9 February (5) that a report be submitted on BSNF, Support for Return to Work and the impact of Capital Reclassification to the next meeting (6) that Appendices 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 be noted and that a further report providing details on proposals in Appendix 3 and Appendix 5 be submitted to the next Committee, (7) the Corporate Management Team recommendations identified in Paras 5.2-5.4 be endorsed and (8) that the paper circulated by Councillor Blair on behalf of the Liberal Democrat Group be adopted as policy guidance where not inconsistent with the Director of Finance's report.  As an amendment Councillor McCabe moved that (1) the current position of the General Services Revenue Budgets for 2004/05 and 2005/06 and the continuing efforts of the Corporate Management Team to identify options for budget savings be noted (2) that, as a matter of urgency, the Council requests a meeting in early course with the Minister for Finance to press the case for additional financial support or at the very least greater flexibility in the use of specific grants and ringfenced sums that the Executive has made available to fund its own policy priorities (3) that the outcome of the meeting with the Minister be reported to a further special meeting of the Committee in January and (4) that the paper circulated by Councillor Blair be submitted to the Policy Review Group or its successor.

On a vote 4 Members voted for the amendment and 6 for the motion which declared carried.

Decided: (1) there be a further report on Sure Start, Teachers for Deprivation and Community Care detailed in Appendix 1 (2) that a meeting be requested with the Finance Minister and that it be remitted to the Chief Executive to make the appropriate arrangements (3) that a special Policy Committee be held in January advising of the outcome of that meeting and on the latest budget position (4) that a special Policy meeting be held on 9 February (5) that a report be submitted on BSNF, Support for Return to Work and the impact of Capital Reclassification to the next meeting (6) that Appendices 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 be noted and that a further report providing details on proposals in Appendix 3 and Appendix 5 be submitted to the next Committee, (7) the Corporate Management Team recommendations identified in Paras 5.2-5.4 be endorsed and (8) that the paper circulated by Councillor Blair on behalf of the Liberal Democrat Group be adopted as policy guidance where not inconsistent with the Director of Finance's report