Scrutiny Committee - 24/09/2014

At a MEETING of the SCRUTINY COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 24th September, 2014.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Councillor Kevin KEENAN, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 25th June, 2014 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I DECLARATION OF INTEREST

No declarations of interest were made.

II INSPECTION OF WOODLEA CHILDRENS CENTRE

There was submitted Report No 354-2014 by the Director of Education reporting on the findings of Education Scotland (HMIe) and the Care Inspectorate following an inspection at Woodlea Children's Centre.

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

(i) note the contents of the report; and

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

III INSPECTION OF BLACKNESS PRIMARY SCHOOL

There was submitted Report No 355-2014 by the Director of Education reporting on the findings of the Education Scotland (HMIe) inspection at Blackness Primary School.

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

(i) note the contents of the report; and

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

IV INSPECTION OF KINGSPARK SCHOOL

There was submitted Report No 356-2014 by the Director of Education reporting on the findings of the Education Scotland visit of Kingspark School.

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

(i) note the contents of the report; and

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

V INTERNAL AUDIT REPORTS

There was submitted Report No 340-2014 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 in the report.

VI INTERNAL AUDIT REPORTS - SUMMARY OF PROGRESS ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF RECOMMENDATIONS

There was submitted Report No 341-2014 by the Chief Internal Auditor providing elected members with an update on the progress in implementing internal audit recommendations previously reported to and agreed by management.

The Committee noted the information contained within the report.

VII COMPARATIVE PERFORMANCE REPORT ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT BENCHMARKING FRAMEWORK PERFORMANCE INDICATORS 2012/2013

There was submitted Report No 352-2014 by the Chief Executive advising elected members on the performance of Dundee City Council in relation to the Scottish Local Authorities and its Family Groupings as defined within the Local Government Benchmarking Framework.

The Committee:-

(i) remitted to Chief Officers to review these indicators on an ongoing basis to assess if there was scope for improvement particularly in the financial year 2014/2015;

(ii) remitted to Chief Officers to include these indicators, as appropriate, in future Service Plans; and

(iii) remitted to the Chief Executive to include the Local Government Benchmarking Framework indicators in future Corporate Performance Reports.

VIII STATUTORY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS 2013/2014 - CORPORATE PERFORMANCE SELF-ASSESSMENT

There was submitted Report No 343-2014 by the Chief Executive advising elected members of the performance of Dundee City Council as defined by the specified indicators stipulated by Audit Scotland and supplemented by the indicators which the Council intended using to measure its performance under the self-assessment regime which was introduced for the first time for the financial year 2009/2010.

The Committee:-

(i) agreed that the performance indicators in Appendix 1 of the report be published on the Council website in a prominent position in order that stakeholders were made aware of the Council's corporate self-assessment of its performance in 2013/2014.

(ii) agreed that the results of the Corporate Performance Self-Assessment be cascaded downwards to relevant groups of stakeholders. For example, the Housing performance indicators be published in the Housing newspaper to engage with stakeholder tenants. Similar mechanisms required to be in place for the other performance indicators at the discretion of the relevant officers; and

(iii) agreed that the Council publish the Improvement Service Indicators for 2013/2014 later this year.

IX CORPORATE PERFORMANCE SELF-ASSESSMENT 2014/2015 - REPORT FOR THREE MONTHS TO 30TH JUNE, 2014

There was submitted Report No 320-2014 by the Chief Executive advising elected members of the performance of Dundee City Council for the first three months of the financial year to 31st March, 2015 as defined by the key quarterly performance indicators.

The Committee:-

(i) noted that performance levels for the first three months of the financial year had generally been maintained or improved; and

(ii) remitted to all Chief Officers to review the contents of Appendix 1 of the report as it related to their service and consider if there were any indicators for which performance could be improved over the course of the year 2014/2015.

X DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL 2013/2014 - ACCOUNTS AND AUDIT

(a) DRAFT AUDIT STATEMENTS OF ACCOUNTS 2013/2014

(i) Dundee City Council

The above report was submitted and noted (Report No 363-2014).

(ii) Dundee City Council Charitable Trusts

The above report was submitted and noted (Report No 364-2014).

(iii) Lord Provost of Dundee Charity Fund

The above report was submitted and noted (Report No 365-2014).

(b) EXTERNAL AUDITOR'S REPORT

The above report was submitted and noted (Report No 366-2014).

(c) DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL 2013/2014 ACCOUNTS AND AUDIT (RESPONSE TO THE EXTERNAL AUDITOR'S ANNUAL AUDIT REPORT)

There was submitted Report No 367-2014 by the Director of Corporate Services on the outcome of the external audit of Dundee City Council for the year to 31st March, 2014.

The Committee:-

(i) noted the contents of the draft External Auditor's Report and, in particular, that KPMG LLP had indicated they would issue an unqualified audit opinion on each of the 2013/2014 Statements of Accounts;

(ii) instructed the Director of Corporate Services to arrange for each of the Audited Statement of Accounts to be signed, as necessary;

(iii) noted the completed Action Plan at Appendix 3 to the External Auditor's Report;

(iv) endorsed the report as the Council's formal response to the External Auditor's Report; and

(v) noted that the External Auditor's Report would be considered by the Policy and Resources Committee in due course, together with each of the Audited Statement of Accounts.

XI TAYSIDE PENSION FUNDS 2013/2014

(a) DRAFT AUDITED STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS FOR THE TAYSIDE PENSION FUNDS 2013/2014

The above report was submitted and noted (Report No 347-2014).

(b) EXTERNAL AUDITOR'S ANNUAL REPORT

The above report was submitted and noted (Report No 348-2014).

(c) TAYSIDE PENSION FUNDS 2013/2014 ACCOUNTS AND AUDIT

There was submitted Report No 349-2014 by the Director of Corporate Services on the outcome of the external audit of Tayside Pension Funds for the year to 31st March, 2014.

The Committee:-

(i) noted the contents of the External Auditor's Annual Audit Report, in particular, that KPMG LLP anticipated issuing an unqualified audit opinion;

(ii) instructed the Director of Corporate Services to arrange for the Audited Statement of Accounts to be signed, as necessary; and

(iii) noted that the External Auditor's Report to members would be considered by the Policy and Resources Committee in due course, together with the Audited Statement of Accounts.

Kevin KEENAN, Convener.