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Monday evening saw the meeting of the City Council and its committees. The Education Committee considered a number of interesting reports. The committee agreed to spend money in refurbishing the former Rockwell school mostly in preparation for the decanting of Harris Academy to the site. I welcome the fact that efforts are being made to ensure that the former Rockwell School is fit to be used by pupils and staff from Harris Academy. I just hope that the Scottish Government can come up with the funds to allow the project to go ahead.
The Education Committee also decided to change the school holidays in October by moving them back one week. Along with a number of colleagues I have some concerns about these proposals. A majority of parents when surveyed were opposed to these proposals. I am not convinced that parents might not take their children out of school outside the holidays for reasons of tradition and cost. On the basis that we received reassurances from the Convener and the Director we were prepared to let these proposals pass.
The City Development Committee considered a report to set up a pilot Demand Responsive Transport (DRT) scheme. I have supported DRT for a long time I think that this is a very important development which will make a real difference to people in the city. I hope that this is a success and that that we look at rolling it out across the whole city.
The Leisure, Arts and Communities Committee accepted a report on a revised scheme of operation for community councils. Firstly, I paid tribute to the many citizens of our city who give their time freely to be involved in the running of Community Councils and Neighbourhood Representative Bodies. Collectively they make the city a better place.
In many respects it is unfortunate that there are not Community Councils in every part of the city and I hope that the Leisure and Communities Department will work with any group of citizens who wish to form a community council or representative body.
I asked about the pilot scheme being promoted by the Scottish Government which would give Community Councils funds of £15,000 to allocate to projects in their area? Is there any indication of how these pilots are progressing and when we might hear whether the scheme will be rolled out across Scotland?
The Policy and Resources Committee considered the council's new plan. I asked a couple of questions on the plan, the Labour Group are clear that we need more information about the plans of the council in these difficult times if we are to support the actions of officers and the Administration.
My questions were: At the bottom p10 of the Plan it talks about 'To take account of the changing demographics, demand for services and the financial situation considerable longer term financial, asset and workforce planning will be undertaken over the next two years that will have a long term impact on how Dundee City Council is Changing for the Future.' Does that mean that we will not have the speculative fishing trip approach to workforce planning and job losses that we have seen thus far?
At page 21 of the plan it talks about developing a shared services programme with other public sector bodies. The Best Value 2 audit suggested that our ability to scrutinise such shared programmes was not great. What mechanisms will be in place to ensure that there is no democratic deficit as a result of such proposals; we are involved in local government after all.
I was told that workforce planning is currently happening, I have to say on the evidence of what we are told this seems unlikely. On my question about governance I was reminded that Tayside Contracts offers a valuable model for shared services. I will await plans for such co-operation and whether these plans include such robust governance arrangements.
The Education Committee also decided to change the school holidays in October by moving them back one week. Along with a number of colleagues I have some concerns about these proposals. A majority of parents when surveyed were opposed to these proposals. I am not convinced that parents might not take their children out of school outside the holidays for reasons of tradition and cost. On the basis that we received reassurances from the Convener and the Director we were prepared to let these proposals pass.
The City Development Committee considered a report to set up a pilot Demand Responsive Transport (DRT) scheme. I have supported DRT for a long time I think that this is a very important development which will make a real difference to people in the city. I hope that this is a success and that that we look at rolling it out across the whole city.
The Leisure, Arts and Communities Committee accepted a report on a revised scheme of operation for community councils. Firstly, I paid tribute to the many citizens of our city who give their time freely to be involved in the running of Community Councils and Neighbourhood Representative Bodies. Collectively they make the city a better place.
In many respects it is unfortunate that there are not Community Councils in every part of the city and I hope that the Leisure and Communities Department will work with any group of citizens who wish to form a community council or representative body.
I asked about the pilot scheme being promoted by the Scottish Government which would give Community Councils funds of £15,000 to allocate to projects in their area? Is there any indication of how these pilots are progressing and when we might hear whether the scheme will be rolled out across Scotland?
The Policy and Resources Committee considered the council's new plan. I asked a couple of questions on the plan, the Labour Group are clear that we need more information about the plans of the council in these difficult times if we are to support the actions of officers and the Administration.
My questions were: At the bottom p10 of the Plan it talks about 'To take account of the changing demographics, demand for services and the financial situation considerable longer term financial, asset and workforce planning will be undertaken over the next two years that will have a long term impact on how Dundee City Council is Changing for the Future.' Does that mean that we will not have the speculative fishing trip approach to workforce planning and job losses that we have seen thus far?
At page 21 of the plan it talks about developing a shared services programme with other public sector bodies. The Best Value 2 audit suggested that our ability to scrutinise such shared programmes was not great. What mechanisms will be in place to ensure that there is no democratic deficit as a result of such proposals; we are involved in local government after all.
I was told that workforce planning is currently happening, I have to say on the evidence of what we are told this seems unlikely. On my question about governance I was reminded that Tayside Contracts offers a valuable model for shared services. I will await plans for such co-operation and whether these plans include such robust governance arrangements.
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