Policy And Resources Committee - 19/11/2018

At a MEETING of the POLICY AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 19th November, 2018.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Councillor, John ALEXANDER, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 24th September, 2018 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Councillors Dawson, Hunter and McCready declared non-financial interests in Article IV by virtue of having been Council representatives on Leisure & Culture Dundee in 2017/2018.

Councillor McCready declared a non-financial interest in Article V by virtue of a family member being employed at St Paul's Academy.

II PUBLIC BODIES CLIMATE CHANGE DUTIES - ANNUAL REPORT 2017/2018

There was submitted Report No 332-2018 by the Executive Director of City Development informing the Committee of the work undertaken over the period April, 2017 to March, 2018 in support of the Council's duties under the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009.

The Committee:-

(i) noted the content of the 2017/2018 Public Bodies Climate Change Duties Report appended to the report as Appendix 1; and

(ii) agreed the 2017/2018 Public Body Climate Change Duties (PBCCD).

III THE CHIEF SOCIAL WORK OFFICER ANNUAL REPORT 2017/2018

There was submitted Report No 365-2018 by the Chief Social Work Officer relative to the above.

The Committee:-

(i) approved the Chief Social Work Officer's Annual Report for 2017/2018; and

(ii) approved the submission of the report to the Scottish Government.

IV LEISURE & CULTURE DUNDEE - PERFORMANCE AND IMPACT REPORT FOR 2017/2018

On a reference to Article VII of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 7th December, 2015, there was submitted Report No 344-2018 by the Chief Executive providing an annual report setting out financial and performance information on Leisure & Culture Dundee to meet guidance on Following the Public Pound.

The Committee:-

(i) noted the performance across the range of services undertaken by Leisure & Culture Dundee in the detailed annual report appended to the report as Appendix 1; and

(ii) noted the highlights for Library and Information Services, Cultural Services and Leisure and Sports Services provided in Section 4.4 of the report.

V EXTERNAL CLADDING SYSTEMS AND FIRE SAFETY ASSURANCE FOR DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL PROPERTIES

There was submitted Joint Report No 292-2018 by the Executive Directors of City Development and Neighbourhood Services summarising the current position in relation to the external cladding systems and fire safety assurance for Dundee City Council's stock of property and advising on responses to enquiries from the Scottish Government following the fire at Grenfell Tower in London on 14th June, 2017.

The Committee:-

(i) noted the content of the report and action plan and also that Inquiry at UK and Scottish Government level might lead to recommendations and legislative change for implementation across the property asset group with potential implications for buildings within Dundee City Council ownership;

(ii) approved the contribution of 70,000 towards the replacement of ACM cladding at St Paul's Academy; and

(iii) noted that fire specialists had been commissioned to advise on the feasibility of retrofitting fire detection alarm and sprinkler systems within domestic high rise properties.

VI CAPITAL MONITORING EXPENDITURE 2018/2019

There was submitted Report No 330-2018 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services appraising members of the latest position regarding the Council's Capital Plan 2018/2023.

The Committee noted the contents of the report.

VII REVENUE MONITORING 2018/2019

There was submitted Report No 337-2018 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services providing an analysis of the 2018/2019 projected revenue outturn as at 30th September, 2018 monitored against the adjusted 2018/2019 Revenue Budget.

The Committee:-

(i) noted that the overall General Fund 2018/2019 projected revenue outturn as at 30th September, 2018 was projecting a breakeven position against the adjusted 2018/2019 Revenue Budget. The projection was unchanged from the position reported at 31st July, 2018;

(ii) noted that the Housing Revenue Account as at 30th September, 2018 was projecting a breakeven position against the adjusted HRA 2018/2019 Revenue Budget. The projection was unchanged from the position reported at 31st July, 2018;

(iii) agreed that the Council Management Team would take every reasonable action to ensure that the 2018/2019 revenue expenditure was below or in line with the adjusted revenue budget; and

(iv) instructed the Executive Director of Corporate Services, in conjunction with the Council Management Team, to continue to monitor the Council's 2018/2019 projected revenue outturn.

VIII CAPITAL PLAN 2019/2024 - GENERAL SERVICES AND HOUSING HRA

This item was withdrawn.

IX LOCAL GOVERNMENT PENSION SCHEME UPDATE ON REGULATIONS AND DISCRETIONS

On a reference to Article VIII of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 22nd June, 2015, there was submitted Report No 360-2018 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services reviewing the implications for Dundee City Council, as a local government employing authority, following changes in the Pension Regulations, and reviewing how existing discretions needed to be amended in light of the changes.

The Committee:-

(i) approved the amended recommendations detailed in Appendix A of the report in respect of discretions to be applied by Dundee City Council as an employing authority; and

(ii) approved the workforce planning considerations outlined in the report.

X REVIEW OF THE STRUCTURE OF THE SCOTTISH LOCAL GOVERNMENT PENSION SCHEME - RESPONSE BY DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL AS APARTICIPATING EMPLOYER OF TAYSIDE PENSION FUND

There was submitted Report No 362-2018 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services providing a draft response to a review being carried out by the Pensions Institute on behalf of the Scottish Local Government Pension Scheme Advisory Board.

The Committee:-

(i) noted the contents of the report; and

(ii) approved the response attached as Appendix A for submission to the Pensions Institute.

XI FINANCIAL OUTLOOK 2019/2022

There was submitted Report No 339-2018 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services advising of the financial outlook at a national level for the three year period 2019/2022 and beyond, and also outlining the current position on the Council's Revenue Budget for 2019/2022 in light of projected grant settlement figures.

The Committee:-

(i) noted the current position on the Council's Revenue Budget for 2019/2022;

(ii) noted the financial outlook at a national level for the three year period 2019/2022 and beyond;

(iii) noted the range of projected savings and efficiencies that might be required over the next three financial years in order to deliver a balanced budget;

(iv) agreed the Council's updated Medium-Term Financial Strategy, as set out in Section 9 of the report; and

(v) noted that a further report would be submitted to the Policy and Resources Committee on 7th January, 2019, detailing the Council's actual grant settlement for 2019/2020 and the associated implications. This report would include the proposed procedure for setting the Council's Revenue Budget and Council Tax for 2019/2020.

XII DIGITAL STRATEGY

There was submitted Report No 364-2018 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services providing an update on the Council's Digital Strategy and associated action plan.

The Committee noted the progress being made on the strategy and the Council's ambition to become a digital Council by 2020.

XIII DRAFT STATUTORY GUIDANCE ON FUNERAL COSTS: RESPONSE TO SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT CONSULTATION

On a reference to Article VI of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 24th September, 2018, there was submitted Report No 363-2018 by the Executive Director of Neighbourhood Services relative to the above.

The Committee:-

(i) noted that the Scottish Government was consulting on Draft Statutory Guidance on Funeral Costs; and

(ii) agreed the Council's response to the consultation as appended to the report.

XIV DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL 2017/2018 - ACCOUNTS AND AUDIT

(a) AUDITED STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS

(i) Dundee City Council

The above report was submitted and noted (Report No 322-2018).

(ii) Dundee City Council Charitable Trusts

The above report was submitted and noted (Report No 323-2018).

(iii) Lord Provost of Dundee Charity Fund

The above report was submitted and noted (Report No 342-2018).

(iv) The Dundee Trust

The above report was submitted and noted (Report No 325-2018).

(b) EXTERNAL AUDITOR'S REPORT

The above report was submitted and noted (Report No 326-2018).

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

There was submitted Report No 327-2018 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services in response to the report by the Council's External Auditor on the audit of Dundee City Council for the year to 31st March, 2018.

The Committee:-

(i) noted the contents of the External Auditor's Report, including the completed action plan at Appendix 1 and, in particular, that Audit Scotland had issued an unqualified audit opinion on each of the 2017/2018 annual accounts noted above; and

(ii) noted the report of the Council's formal response to the External Auditor's Report.

John ALEXANDER, Convener.