Policy And Resources Committee - 22/02/2021

At a MEETING of the POLICY AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE held remotely on 22nd February, 2021.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Councillor John ALEXANDER, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 25th January, 2021 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Councillor Alexander declared a non-financial interest in respect of Article III by virtue of being a Council representative on the Dundee Alcohol and Drug Partnership.

Councillor Lynn declared a non-financial interest in respect of Article III by virtue of being a Council representative on the Dundee Drugs Commission.

Bailie Keenan declared non-financial interests in respect of Article III by virtue of being a Council representative on the Dundee Alcohol and Drug Partnership and on the Dundee Drugs Commission.

II TAYSIDE MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLBEING STRATEGY

There was submitted Report No 64-2021 by the Chief Officer, Dundee Health and Social Care Partnership briefing the Committee about the development of Tayside Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy, Living Life Well, A lifelong approach to mental health in Tayside.

Thereafter, the Convener, seconded by Councillor Lynn, moved that the Committee:-

(i) acknowledges the considerable work that has been undertaken since March, 2020 to co-produce the final Strategy (Appendix 1 of the report);

(ii) endorses the direction of travel outlined within the final Strategy; and

(iii) acknowledges that the production and implementation of a Tayside Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy will meet one of the main recommendations arising from the Independent Inquiry into Mental Health Services in Tayside Trust and Respect.

As an amendment, Bailie Keenan, seconded by Councillor Marra, moved as an additional recommendation, that the Committee should also:-

(iv) instruct the Chief Executive to set up a Working Group to oversee the implementation of this Strategy consisting of elected members from all the Political Groups on the Council, the Lord Provost and Councillor Murray, relevant officers and individuals that can offer lived experience of the current position. This Working Group should report progress at six monthly intervals to the Policy and Resources Committee and have power to make further recommendations to the Policy and Resources Committee as it thinks fit at any time.

On a division, there voted for the motion - the Convener, Lord Provost Borthwick, Depute Lord Provost Campbell, Bailies Roberts, Sawers and Scott and Councillors Dawson, Flynn, Hunter, Lynn, Rendall, Rome, Ross, Short, Smith, Hay and Scott (17); and for the amendment - Bailies Keenan, Wright and Macpherson and Councillors Cruickshank, McCready, McIrvine, Malone, Marra, Richardson, Duncan and Murray (11) - whereupon the motion was declared carried.

III REVISED DUNDEE ALCOHOL AND DRUG PARTNERSHIP: ACTION PLAN FOR CHANGE

On a reference to Article VI of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 28th September, 2020, there was submitted Report No 22-2021 by the Chief Executive informing the Committee of amended timescales for implementation of some actions within the Dundee Alcohol and Drug Action Plan for Change.

Following discussion, the Committee:-

(i) noted the contents of the report, including progress made to date with the implementation of the Action Plan for Change;

(ii) noted the amended timescales for the Dundee Alcohol and Drug Action Plan for Change implementation as set out in Appendix 1 of the report; and

(iii) noted that an additional verbal briefing was to be offered for all elected members to provide further information about progress of implementation to date and future plans.

The Committee also noted that the Commission must have adequate time to independently review progress made since it made its recommendations in 2019 and to interview individuals and family members with lived experience to fully assess the effectiveness of service changes and delivery and therefore agreed the Commission should be reconvened in July, 2021 and make every effort to report its findings to the Policy and Resources Committee in January, 2022.

IV FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS OF THE COUNCILS RESPONSE TO THE COVID-19 EMERGENCY AND FINANCIAL RECOVERY PLAN -UPDATE

There was submitted Report No 61-2021 by the Chief Executive providing an update on the financial implications of the Councils response to the COVID-19 emergency and the associated financial recovery plan.

The Committee:-

(i) noted the updated projected deficit on the Councils overall 2020/2021 Revenue Budget, after meeting the costs of responding to the COVID-19 emergency;

(ii) noted the updated financial recovery plan, as set out in section 6 of the report, containing various measures aimed at mitigating the increased costs in financial year 2020/2021 to protect the Councils financial sustainability going forward;

(iii) noted that a further update report would be submitted to the Policy and Resources Committee in April, 2021;

(iv) noted the longer-term financial implications of the response to the COVID-19 emergency;

(v) noted that further representation would be made through COSLA regarding the need for additional funding and for the full-pass through of Barnett consequentials resulting from the provision of relevant additional funding in England;

(vi) noted that there remained a significant risk around additional funding which was requested to address COVID-19 costs, particularly in the event that projections were not achieved with income streams and in the event of a continued lockdown, and thus further actions and reductions in expenditure were urgently required;

(vii) noted the current position on Dundee Health and Social Care Partnership, as set out in paragraph 5.2 of the report;

(viii) noted the current position on Leisure & Culture Dundee as set out in paragraph 5.3 of the report; and

(ix) noted that officers were considering the additional financial flexibilities made available by the Scottish Government and would make recommendations in due course, if considered appropriate.

V LOCAL GOVERNMENT FINANCE SETTLEMENT 2021/2022 AND FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS FOR THE CITY COUNCIL

There was submitted Report No 62-2021 by the Chief Executive advising members of the announcement made by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance on 28th January, 2021 in respect of the Local Government Finance Settlement for 2021/2022. The report identified the likely implications for the City Council and set out the current position on the Council's Provisional 2021/2024 Revenue Budget and 2021/2026 Capital Plan. The Councils long-term financial strategy was also set out.

The Committee:-

(i) noted the contents of the report;

(ii) noted the Council's Revenue and Capital Funding Allocations for 2021/2022, as announced by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance on 28th January 2021, and the associated implications;

(iii) noted the package of measures that made up the settlement to be provided to Local Government, as advised by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance in a letter to COSLA dated 28th January 2021 (and as detailed in Section 5 of the report);

(iv) noted the current position on the Council's Provisional 2021/2024 Revenue Budget and 2021/2026 Capital Plan;

(v) noted that the financial information included in the report would be updated as necessary and included in the Council Tax proposals to be submitted to the Special Policy and Resources Committee on 4th March, 2021;

(vi) agreed the procedures to be followed for setting the 2021/2022 Revenue Budget and Council Tax level, as set out in Section 11 and Appendix 1 of the report; and

(vii) noted the agreed long-term financial strategy as set out in Section 8 of the report.

VI REVENUE MONITORING 2020/2021

There was submitted Report No 50-2021 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services providing an analysis of the 2020/2021 projected revenue outturn as at 31st December, 2020 monitored against the adjusted 2020/2021 Revenue Budget.

The Committee:-

(i) noted that the overall General Fund as at 31st December, 2020 was projecting an underspend of 5,907,000 against the adjusted 2020/2021 Revenue Budget, excluding COVID-19 related expenditure and loss of income. The current projected deficit position for the Council was 0.506m. As detailed in the updated COVID-19 recovery plan report (Article IV above), this included the underspend of 5,907,000;

(ii) noted that the Housing Revenue Account as at 31st December, 2020 was projecting an underspend of 2,431,000 against the adjusted HRA 2020/2021 Revenue Budget;

(iii) agreed that the Council Management Team would take every reasonable action to ensure that the 2020/2021 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 Councils 2020/2021 projected revenue outturn to assist with the cost pressures resulting from COVID-19.

VII CAPITAL EXPENDITURE MONITORING 2020/2021

There was submitted Report No 49-2021 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services appraising members of the latest position regarding the Council's Capital Plan 2020/2025.

The Committee:-

(i) noted the latest position regarding the Council's Updated Capital Plan 2020/2025; and

(ii) on a reference to Article XI of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 28th September, 2020, noted that officers would continually monitor and review the capital programme for the on-going effects of COVID-19, in terms of projected cost and timescales for delivery, and would report any variations in future capital monitoring reports.

VIII CAPITAL PLAN 2021/2026 - GENERAL SERVICES AND HOUSING HRA

On a reference to Article XI of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 28th September, 2020, there was submitted Report No 55-2021 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services providing elected members with the background information and details of the Council's General Services and Housing HRA Capital Plan for the five year period 2021/2026.

Thereafter, the Convener, seconded by Councillor Hunter, moved that Committee:-

(i) approve the Council's General Services and Housing HRA Capital Plan for 2021/2026 attached to the report;

(ii) note the updated position for the 2020/2021 projected capital expenditure programmes, as at 31st January, 2021; and

(iii) note that the Executive Director of Corporate Services would be reviewing the methodology and techniques used for options appraisals and evaluation of capital projects. This would be reported to Committee once complete.

As an amendment, Councillor Marra, seconded by Councillor Malone, moved as an additional recommendation that the Committee should also:-

(iv) agree that the Capital Plan be urgently revised following the production of the Executive Director for Children and Families Service report into the options for the provision of primary education in the Western Gateway.

On a division, there voted for the motion - the Convener, Depute Lord Provost Campbell, Bailies Roberts, Sawers and Macpherson, and Councillors Dawson, Flynn, Hunter, Lynn, Rendall, Rome, Ross, Short, Smith, Duncan and Murray (16); and for the amendment - Bailies Keenan, Wright and Scott and Councillors Cruickshank, McCready, McIrvine, Malone, Marra, Richardson, Hay and Scott (11) - the Lord Provost being absent when the vote was taken - whereupon the motion was declared carried.

John ALEXANDER, Convener.