Scrutiny Committee - 26/09/2018

At a MEETING of the SCRUTINY COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 26th September, 2018.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Bailie Kevin KEENAN, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 27th June, 2018 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I DECLARATION OF INTEREST

No declarations of interest were made.

II COUNCIL PLAN 2017-2022 PROGRESS REPORT

On a reference to Article IV of the minute of meeting of the Policy and Resources Committee of 20th August, 2018, there was submitted Report No 251-2018 by the Chief Executive relative to the above.

The Committee, for their interest, noted the progress being made on the Council Plan 2017-2022.

III CHIEF SOCIAL WORK OFFICER GOVERNANCE FRAMEWORK

On a reference to Article X of the minute of meeting of the Policy and Resources Committee of 24th September, 2018, there was submitted Report No 312-2018 by the Chief Social Work Officer relative to the above.

The Committee, for their interest:-

(i) noted the statutory duties and functions of the Chief Social Work Officer and requirements to have a Governance Framework to assist them in carrying out their role;

(ii) approved the Governance Framework appended to the report, which outlined the arrangements in place to provide assurances on each requirement relating to the CSWO role; and

(iii) noted the continued requirement for the CSWO to provide annual reports which were considered by both the Council and the Integration Joint Board (IJB).

IV NEIGHBOURHOOD SERVICES PUBLIC SERVICE IMPROVEMENT FRAMEWORK (PSIF) ASSESSMENT

There was submitted Report No 265-2018 by the Executive Director of Neighbourhood Services summarising the process and outcome of a PSIF Assessment undertaken between October, 2017 and February, 2018 on Neighbourhood Services.

The Committee:-

(i) endorsed the PSIF Report, and the Improvement Action Plan appended to the report, which included specific actions, responsible officers and target completion dates; and

(ii) noted that the next PSIF Assessment would be on the Children and Families Service.

V INTERNAL AUDIT REPORTS

There was submitted Report No 294-2018 by the Senior Manager - Internal Audit providing the Committee with a summary of the Internal Audit Reports finalised since the last Scrutiny Committee.

The Committee noted the information contained in the report.

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

There was submitted Report No 295-2018 by the Senior Manager - Internal Audit providing the Committee 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 DUNDEE INTEGRATION JOINT BOARD (IJB) 2017/2018 ANNUAL INTERNAL AUDIT REPORT AND2018/2019 INTERNAL AUDIT PLAN

There was submitted Report No 296-2018 by the Senior Manager - Internal Audit relative to the above.

The Committee noted the contents of the Dundee IJB 2017/2018 Annual Internal Audit Report and 2018/2019 Internal Audit Plan, appended to the report as Appendices A & B respectively.

VIII CORPORATE FRAUD TEAM ACTIVITY AND PERFORMANCE, INCLUDING WHISTLEBLOWING 2017/2018

There was submitted Report No 297-2018 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services informing elected members on the Corporate Fraud Teams (CFTs) activity and performance for the 12 month period to 31st March, 2018.

The Committee:-

(i) noted the content of the CFTs activity and performance report for 2017/2018 at Appendix 1 of the report; and

(ii) noted the results of the Councils whistleblowing activity for seven months to 31st March, 2018 at Appendix 2 of the report.

IX NATIONAL FRAUD INITIATIVE

There was submitted Report No 298-2018 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services informing elected members on the work of the 2016/2017 National Fraud Initiative (NFI) exercise and preparations for the 2018/2019 NFI exercise.

The Committee:-

(i) noted the content of the progress in investigating the matches from the 2016/2017 NFI exercise and supplementary data matches at Appendix I of the report;

(ii) noted Audit Scotlands national report on the NFI 2016/2017 at Appendix 3 of the report; and

(iii) reviewed the completed NFI Self-Appraisal Checklist for those charged with governance at Appendix 2 of the report.

X AUDIT SCOTLAND MANAGEMENT REPORT - INTERIM AUDIT 2017/2018

There was submitted Report No 280-2018 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services providing the Committee with the Management Report - Interim Audit 2017/2018, prepared by the Councils External Auditor, Audit Scotland.

The Committee noted Audit Scotlands report appended to the report and approved the management response to Audit Scotlands key findings contained therein.

XI DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL 2017/2018 - ACCOUNTS AND AUDIT

(a) DRAFT AUDIT STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS

(i) Dundee City Council

The above report was submitted and approved (Report No 305-2018).

(ii) Dundee City Council Charitable Trusts

The above report was submitted and approved (Report No 306-2018).

(iii) Lord Provost of Dundee Charity Fund

The above report was submitted and approved (Report No 307-2018).

(iv) The Dundee Trust

The above report was submitted and approved (Report No 310-2018).

(b) EXTERNAL AUDITORS REPORT

The above report was submitted and noted (Report No 308-2018).

(c) DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL 2017/2018 ACCOUNTS AND AUDIT - RESPONSE TO THE EXTERNAL AUDITORS ANNUAL AUDIT REPORT

There was submitted Report No 309-2018 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services in response to the external audit of Dundee City Council for the year to 31st March, 2018.

The Committee:-

(i) noted the contents of the draft External Auditors Report including the completed action plan at Appendix 1, and, in particular, that Audit Scotland had indicated they would issue an unqualified audit opinion on each of the 2017/2018 Annual Accounts noted above;

(ii) endorsed the report as the Councils formal response to the External Auditors Report;

(iii) instructed the Executive Director of Corporate Services to arrange for each of the Audited Annual Accounts noted above to be signed and then returned to the External Auditor;

(iv) instructed the Executive Director of Corporate Services thereafter to arrange for the above Annual Accounts, including copies of all audit certificates and accounts of the Councils subsidiary bodies, to be published on the Councils website by no later than 31st October, 2018; and

(v) noted that the External Auditors Report would also be considered by the Policy and Resources Committee in due course, together with each of the Audited Annual Accounts noted above.

Kevin KEENAN, Convener.