Scrutiny Committee - 25/06/2013

At a MEETING of the SCRUTINY COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 25th June, 2013.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Councillor Kevin KEENAN, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 17th April, 2013 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I DECLARATION OF INTEREST

No declarations of interest were made.

II SUMMARY OF EXTERNAL INSPECTION REPORTS WHICH GRADES ARE GOOD OR BETTER

There was submitted Report No 258-2013 by the Chief Executive providing a summary of recent external inspection reports which did not require in-depth scrutiny.

The Committee:-

(i) noted the summaries of recent inspection reports on Grove Academy and Claypotts Castle Primary School Nursery and Millview Cottage, all of which received grades of good or better in all areas covered by the inspections; and

(ii) remitted to the Directors of Education and Social Work to ensure that the Areas for improvement, requirements and recommendations included in the reports were acted upon, both in relation to the particular services inspected and as guidance on good practice for other services.

III EASTERN PRIMARY SCHOOL NURSERY CLASS

There was submitted Report No 272-2013 by the Director of Education reporting on the findings of the HMIe inspection of Eastern Primary School Nursery Class.

The Committee, having questioned the Director of Education and Senior Management, agreed to:-

(i) noted the contents of this report; and

(ii) instructed the Director of Education to monitor progress towards meeting the areas for improvement contained in the report.

IV INSPECTION OF THE LEARNING COMMUNITY SURROUNDING GROVE ACADEMY

There was submitted Report No 277-2013 by the Director, Leisure and Communities reporting on the findings of the Education Scotland Inspection of the Learning Community surrounding Grove Academy.

The Committee:-

(i) noted the contents of the report and, in particular, the Excellent grade achieved for Impact on Community; and

(ii) instructed the Head of Communities to monitor progress on the areas for improvement contained in the report.

V ASSURANCE AND IMPROVEMENT PLAN UPDATE 2013-2016

There was submitted Report No 191-2013 by the Director of Corporate Services providing elected members with an update on the Assurance and Improvement Plan 2013-2016 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 in the Assurance and Improvement Plan Update 2013-2016 appended thereto.

VI COMPLAINTS HANDLING

On a reference to Article II of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 25th June, 2012, there was submitted Report No 253-2013 by the Chief Executive reporting on the first six months of using the new model Complaints Handling Procedure and advising members of steps being taken to ensure and improve the effectiveness of the Council's complaints process.

The Committee:-

(i) noted the implementation of the new model Complaints Handling Procedure for Local Authorities from 1st October, 2012;

(ii) noted the key performance indicators on complaints between 1st October, 2012 and 31st March, 2013;

(iii) noted the establishment of a Complaints Review Group to check the quality of complaints handling and promote learning and improvement from complaints;

(iv) noted the results of a satisfaction survey sent to everyone who was recorded as having made a complaint which was closed between October, 2012 and March, 2013;

(v) noted the key findings from a review of complaints handling carried out by Internal Audit; and

(vi) noted the intention to provide further guidance and training to staff to address the areas for improvement identified in the report.

VII PUBLIC SERVICE IMPROVEMENT FRAMEWORK (PSIF) - ASSESSMENTS

There was submitted Report No 278-2013 by the Chief Executive providing a summary of the strengths, areas for improvement and high level performance indicators for the services that had completed a PSIF assessment between October and May, 2013.

The Committee noted the findings of the PSIF assessments for the Corporate Division and the Housing Investment Unit.

VIII KPMG - INTERIM MANAGEMENT REPORT - YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH, 2013

There was submitted Report No 287-2013 by the Director of Corporate Services relative to the above.

The Committee noted KPMG's report and approved the agreed management actions in response to their recommendations.

IX AUDIT SCOTLAND - WELFARE REFORM UPDATE

There was submitted Report No 293-2013 by the Director of Corporate Services providing elected members with a summary of the above national study undertaken by Audit Scotland on behalf of the Accounts Commission.

The Committee noted the findings arising from the national study.

X INTERNAL AUDIT REPORTS

There was submitted Report No 280-2013 by the Chief Internal Auditor providing the Committee with a summary of the Internal Audit Reports finalised since the last meeting of this Committee.

The Committee agreed to note the information contained within the report.

XI INTERNAL AUDIT ANNUAL REPORT 2012-2013

There was submitted Report No 281-2013 by the Chief Internal Auditor summarising the activities of the Council's Internal Audit Service during the financial year 2012/2013 and providing an opinion on the overall adequacy and effectiveness of the Council's control environment.

The Committee noted the information contained within the report.

XII INTERNAL AUDIT PLAN 2013-2014

There was submitted Report No 282-2013 by the Chief Internal Auditor relative to the above.

The Committee noted the information contained within the report.

XIII PUBLIC SECTOR INTERNAL AUDIT STANDARDS

There was submitted Report No 283-2013 by the Chief Internal Auditor advising members of the new Public Service Internal Audit Standards (PSIAS) and summarising the implications for the Council's Internal Audit Service.

The Committee noted the information contained within the report and, in particular, the implications of the new PSIAS which was effective from 1st April, 2013 on the Council's Internal Audit Service.

XIV MAJOR CAPITAL INVESTMENT IN COUNCILS

There was submitted Report No 279-2013 by the Director of Corporate Services providing members with a summary of and a proposed course of action in response to the above national study prepared by Audit Scotland on behalf of the Accounts Commission.

The Committee noted the main findings arising from the national study and remitted to the Chief Executive and Director of Corporate Services to review the current capital reporting and monitoring arrangements to adopt additional elements of good practice.

XV EXTERNAL AUDIT REPORT - TAYSIDE SUPERANNUATION FUNDS AUDIT STRATEGY OVERVIEW AND PLAN 2012-2013

There was submitted Report No 225-2013 by the Director of Corporate Services providing a summary of the responsibilities and approach in respect of the Tayside Superannuation Funds for 2012/2013.

The Committee noted the information included in the report.

XVI RESPONDING TO CHALLENGES AND CHANGE: AN OVERVIEW OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN SCOTLAND 2013

On a reference to Article XI of the minute of meeting of the Policy and Resources Committee of 10th June, 2013, there was submitted Report No 243-2013 by the Director of Corporate Services providing elected members with a summary of the above national study which had been undertaken by Audit Scotland on behalf of the Accounts Commission.

The Committee noted the key findings arising from the national study, including Appendix 1, which identified key areas for elected members to consider and assess where further action points may be required.

XVII CORPORATE PERFORMANCE SELF-ASSESSMENT 2012/2013 - REPORT FOR TWELVE MONTHS TO 31ST MARCH, 2013

There was submitted Report No 276-2013 by the Director of Corporate Services advising elected members of the performance of Dundee City Council for the twelve months to 31st March, 2013 as defined by the key quarterly performance indicators.

The Committee:-

(i) noted that performance levels for the financial year had generally been maintained or improved;

(ii) noted that all Chief Officers should review the contents of Appendix 1 as it related to their service and consider if there were any indicators for which performance could be improved over the 2013/2014 financial year; and

(iii) remitted to Corporate Planning and Corporate Finance to review the Performance Database with a view to including indicators for Council objectives where possible starting from Quarter 1 in 2013/2014.

Kevin KEENAN, Convener.