Policy And Resources Committee - 13/03/2017

At a MEETING of the POLICY AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 13th March, 2017.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Councillor Ken GUILD, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 23rd February, 2017 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I DECLARATION OF INTEREST

Councillor Alexander declared a non-financial interest in Article XI by virtue of having had dealings with a constituent involved in the matter.

II COMMUNITY ASSET TRANSFER STRATEGY

There was submitted Report No 85-2017 by the Executive Director of Neighbourhood Services seeking approval for the revised Community Asset Transfer scheme which incorporated the legislative requirements under the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015.

The Committee:-

(i) approved the Asset Transfer scheme as proposed in Section 4.8 of the report and summarised in Appendix 2 of the report; and

(ii) agreed to establish a Community Asset Transfer Sub-Committee.

III NEW 24/7 SAFETY AND ALARM CENTRE (INTEGRATED SECURITY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM)

On a reference to Article IX of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 8th June, 2015, there was submitted Report No 77-2017 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services proposing the purchase and supply of an integrated security management system to provide the technology platform for the new 24/7 Safety and Alarm Centre to operate 'smartly' from West Housing Office.

The Committee:-

(i) approved the outcome of the Tender Evaluation to procure an integrated security management system;

(ii) approved the expenditure described in paragraph 3 of the report for the capital cost of the new system for the first year; and

(iii) approved the purchase of supply and services of the Scottish Communications Group as integrators of the iComply security application platform.

IV REVENUE MONITORING

There was submitted Report No 79-2017 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services providing an analysis of the 2016/2017 projected revenue outturn as at 31st January, 2017, monitored against the adjusted 2016/2017 Revenue Budget.

The Committee:-

(i) noted that the overall General Fund 2016/2017 projected revenue outturn as at 31st January, 2017 had an overspend of 1,710,000 against the adjusted 2016/2017 Revenue Budget;

(ii) noted that the Housing Revenue Account as at 31st January, 2017 was projecting a breakeven position against the adjusted HRA 2016/2017 Revenue Budget;

(iii) instructed the Executive Director of Corporate Services to take every reasonable action to ensure that the 2016/2017 revenue expenditure was below or in line with the adjusted Revenue Budget; and

(iv) instructed the Executive Director of Corporate Services, in conjunction with all Chief Officers, to continue to monitor the Councils 2016/2017 projected revenue outturn.

V RATIONALISATION OF OFFICE ACCOMMODATION

On a reference to Article II of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 25th February, 2016 and after considering Report No 103-2017 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services, the Committee agreed to award the works outlined in the report to Dundee Construction Services, subject to the agreed maximum price of 325,000, including allowances for contingencies, professional fees, furniture and equipment and other ancillary costs.

VI TENDERS RECEIVED FOR THE PUBLIC SERVICE OBLIGATION FLIGHTS TO LONDON

On a reference to Article X of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 9th June, 2014 and after considering Report No 99-2017 by the Executive Director of City Development relative to the above, the Committee:-

(i) agreed to award the Public Service Obligation contract to Loganair Ltd to operate a service between Dundee and London Stansted as set out in the report; and

(ii) approved the funding package set out in the report and specifically agreed a contribution of 400,000 over the two year contract period.

VII TREASURY POLICY STATEMENT

On a reference to Article XVI of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 14th March, 2016, there was submitted Report No 82-2017 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services proposing the revision of the Council's Treasury Management Policy which was intended to govern all borrowing and lending transactions carried out by the Council.

The Committee approved the policies and procedures laid out in the Treasury Policy Statement 2017/2018 and noted that a recent Internal Audit Review had been undertaken, the final report of which would be presented to the Scrutiny Committee on 19th April, 2017.

VIII TREASURY MANAGEMENT STRATEGY 2017/2018

On a reference to Article XVI of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 14th March, 2016, there was submitted Report No 83-2017 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services introducing the Dundee City Council Treasury Management Strategic Statement and Annual Investment Strategy for 2017/2018, the preparation of which was a requirement of the Council's Treasury Policy Statement and the CIPFA Code of Practice on Treasury Management.

The Committee:-

(i) noted that in terms of the Treasury Policy Statement, the Executive Director of Corporate Services was obliged to present the annual Treasury Management Strategy at the start of each financial year; and

(ii) approved the strategy proposed by the Executive Director of Corporate Services for 2017/2018 as set out in the document entitled "Treasury Management Strategy 2017/2018".

IX LOCAL GOVERNMENT BENCHMARKING FRAMEWORK PERFORMANCE INDICATORS 2015/2016

There was submitted Report No 84-2017 by the Chief Executive advising elected members of the performance of Dundee City Council for the financial year 2015/2016, as defined by the performance indicators compiled by the Improvement Service for the Local Government Benchmark Framework and, in particular, in relation to the other peer local authorities in the Council's family group which had similar characteristics such as urban density and deprivation.

The Committee:-

(i) noted the results contained in the report;

(ii) remitted the report to the Scrutiny Committee for further consideration;

(iii) remitted to Chief Officers to continue to seek improvement to the indicators contained in the report; and

(iv) authorised officers to publish the report on the Council's website.

X VALEDICTORY - GRAEME HUNTER

The Convener, on behalf of the Council, intimated that Graeme Hunter, Principal Committee Services Officer would be retiring on 31st March, 2017 and thanked him for the services rendered by him.

The Committee resolved under Section 50(A)(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 that the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the undernoted item of business on the grounds that it involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 3 and 7 of Part I of Schedule 7A of the Act.

XI COMPLAINTS REVIEW COMMITTEE - OUTCOME OF MEETING

After considering Report No 86-2017 by the Head of Democratic and Legal Services relative to the above, the Committee approved the recommendations detailed therein.

Ken GUILD, Convener.