Policy and Resources (Finance, Administration and Information Systems) Sub-Committee 25 November 2004
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B3178
Policy and Resources Committee
Thursday, 25th November, 2004
MEETING OF POLICY AND RESOURCES (FINANCE, ADMINISTRATION AND INFORMATION SYSTEMS) SUB-COMMITTEE
Members present: Councillor McClenaghan (Chairman); and Councillors Crooks, Hartley, Maginness and Walsh.
In attendance:
- Mr. T. Salmon, Director of Corporate Services;
- Mrs. R. Crozier, Head of Information Services;
- Mr. J. Goodall, Senior Committee Administrator; and
- Miss J. Spence, Senior Committee Administrator.
Apology
An apology for inability to attend was reported from Councillor Newton.
Gas Pension Fund – Investment Strategy
The Director of Corporate Services advised the Sub-Committee that the Council's Gas Pension Fund had been established under an agreement between the Council and the Department of Economic Development on 3rd July, 1990. The purpose of the Fund was to provide for the continuation of pension payments for former Gas Department employees and their dependants who were members of various statutory pension schemes.
He reminded the Sub-Committee that, at its meeting on 15th May, 2003, it had agreed that Hewitt, Bacon and Woodrow Limited, the Council's Actuarial Valuers, be authorised to review the Gas Pension Fund's portfolio of assets with a view to maintaining, as far as possible, a portfolio which matched the nature and term of the fund liabilities. He stated that Hewitt, Bacon and Woodrow Limited had recommended the restructuring of the portfolio assets in respect of the nominal holding and maturity dates. This had resulted in the Fund selling £920,420 and purchasing £941,783 nominal value of Treasury Stock at the recommended maturity dates.
The Sub-Committee agreed to note the information which had been provided.
Institute of Information Technology Training Awards, 2004
The Head of Information Services informed the Sub-Committee that the Training Team in Information Services Belfast was partaking in the Institute of Information Technology Training Annual Awards Scheme, the purpose of which was to recognise excellent performance in the field of IT Training. It had been shortlisted in the following three categories: Staff Development Strategy, Training Department of the Year and Trainer of the Year. Presentations by the relevant staff concerned would be made between 24th November and 9th December, with the winning entries being announced at an awards ceremony in London in February, 2005. Accordingly, she recommended that the Chairman (Councillor McClenaghan), the Deputy Chairman and the Director of Corporate Services, or their nominees, be authorised to attend the ceremony.
The Sub-Committee adopted the recommendation and authorised the payment of the appropriate attendance, travelling and subsistence allowances in connection therewith.
Web Enabling Information Technology Infrastructure
The Head of Information Services submitted a report in respect of the acquisition and installation of a web enabling information technology infrastructure. Copies of the report, with the exception of the appendix referred to therein, is set out hereunder.
After discussion, the Sub-Committee noted the contents of the report.
Disability Discrimination Act
The Director of Corporate Services reminded the Sub-Committee that the 1995 Disability Discrimination Act had placed a number of duties on service providers regarding the manner in which it accommodated persons with disabilities. He stated that, from 1st October, all service providers were required to remove or alter any physical obstruction in its premises or to provide reasonable means of avoiding it in order to make services accessible to disabled people.
He reported that, in November 2000, the Disability Discrimination Act Group, had been established to ensure a corporate approach was undertaken with regard to the Council's responsibilities under the Act and he provided a progress report on the Group's activities in respect of Access Audits, the Building Upgrade Programme, the training of staff and the adoption of the Barcelona Declaration.
He recommended that the Sub-Committee receive from the members of the Group a presentation in respect of the work it had completed to date and the benefits which have ensued for persons with disabilities.
The Sub-Committee noted the contents of the report and agreed that a presentation in this regard be held on a date to be determined in conjunction with the Chairman (Councillor McClenaghan).
New Training Administration System
The Sub-Committee considered the undernoted report which had been prepared by the Head of Project and Corporate Systems in respect of the acquisition as a propriety item of a further module of "PS enterprise", the Council's Human Resource Management System.
The Sub-Committee adopted the recommendation contained within the report.
Chairman
