Policy And Resources Committee - 06/12/2021

At a MEETING of the POLICY AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE held remotely on 6th December, 2021.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Councillor John ALEXANDER, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 22nd November, 2021 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I DECLARATION OF INTEREST

There were no declarations of interest.

II OPEN DATA POLICY

There was submitted Report No 332-2021 by the Chief Executive relative to the above.

The Committee approved the Open Data Policy appended to the report at Appendix 1 and agreed to its implementation.

III DUNDEE UNESCO CITY OF DESIGN DESIGNATION

There was submitted Report No 340-2021 by the Director, Leisure & Culture Dundee providing an update on Dundees designation as a UNESCO City of Design, providing a summary of progress for the period 2019/2021 and setting out renewed ambitions for its future.

The Committee:-

(i) noted the progress being made in developing Dundees designation as the UKs first and only UNESCO City of Design over the three years 2019/2021; and

(ii) agreed support of 60,000 for 2022/2023 as year one of a further three-year commitment as Dundee City Councils contribution to partnership funding to secure the future of the UNESCO designation and support its development.

IV REVENUE MONITORING 2021/2022

There was submitted Report No 331-2021 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services providing members with an analysis of the 2021/2022 projected revenue outturn as at 31st October, 2021 monitored against the adjusted 2021/2022 Revenue Budget.

The Committee:-

(i) noted that the overall General Fund as at 31st October, 2021 was projecting an underspend of 5,932,000 against the adjusted 2021/2022 Revenue Budget;

(ii) noted the position on Covid-related expenditure and Covid funding, as set out in Appendix E and paragraph 3.1 of the report;

(iii) noted that the Housing Revenue Account as at 31st October, 2021 was projecting an underspend of 194,000 against the adjusted HRA 2021/2022 Revenue Budget;

(iv) agreed that the Council Management Team would take every reasonable action to ensure that the 2021/2022 revenue expenditure was below or in line with the adjusted Revenue Budget;

(v) instructed the Executive Director of Corporate Services, in conjunction with the Council Management Team, to continue to monitor the Councils 2021/2022 projected revenue outturn to assist with the cost pressures resulting from Covid-19; and

(vi) noted the current position on Leisure & Culture Dundee (LACD), as set out in paragraph 7.3 of the report, and agreed to the Council issuing a letter of comfort to LACD confirming the Councils continuing financial support in financial year 2021/2022.

V CAPITAL EXPENDITURE MONITORING 2021/2022

There was submitted Report No 333-2021 by the Executive Director of Support Services appraising members of the latest position regarding the Council's Capital Plan 2021/2026.

The Committee noted the latest position regarding the Council's Capital Plan 2021/2026.

VI FINANCIAL OUTLOOK AND REVENUE BUDGET 2022/2023

There was submitted Report No 311-2021 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services advising members of the financial outlook at a national level following the recent UK Budget and Spending Review announcements. The report also outlined the current position on the Council's Revenue Budget for 2022/2023, in terms of required savings and next steps.

The Committee:-

(i) noted the financial outlook at a national level following the recent UK Budget and Spending Review announcements;

(ii) noted the range of projected savings that might be required for 2022/2023 in order to deliver a balanced budget;

(iii) noted the approved Long-Term Financial Strategy, as set out in paragraph 8.2 of the report;

(iv) noted that a further report would be submitted to the Policy and Resources Committee on 10th January 2022, detailing the Council's actual grant settlement for 2022/2023 and the associated implications. This report would include the proposed procedure for setting the Council's Revenue Budget and Council Tax for 2022/2023.

(v) noted that it was anticipated that the Policy and Resources Committee would meet on 24th February, 2022 to set the Councils 2022/2023 Revenue Budget and Council Tax; and

(vi) noted that, in line with Audit Scotland recommendations, the Councils longer-term financial forecasts would be updated and reported to elected members by September, 2022.

VII TREASURY MANAGEMENT ACTIVITY 2021/2022 (MID-YEAR REVIEW)

On a reference to Article IV of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 8th March, 2021, there was submitted Report No 330-2021 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services reviewing Treasury Management activities for the period 1st April to 30th September, 2021.

The Committee noted the information contained in the report.

VIII ANNUAL PROCUREMENT REPORT AND COMMUNITY BENEFITS UPDATE

There was submitted Report No 313-2021 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services notifying the Committee of the Annual Procurement Report for the Council, which provided an update on the progress made of work being undertaken in the year 2020/2021 and detailed the future planned activity of the Corporate Procurement Team. The report also provided an update on the Community Benefit activity within the City.

The Committee:-

(i) noted progress made within the Corporate Procurement Team and approved the planned actions and activities to realise the savings and benefits targets included in the report;

(ii) approved the priorities outlined in Key Future Workstreams detailed in Section 5 of the Report;

(iii) noted the annual procurement report would be published on the Councils website; and

(iv) noted the progress made with Community Benefits and that these continued to be a key part of any new contracts which were procured.

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 6 and 9 of Part I of Schedule 7A of the Act.

IX COMMERCIAL PROPERTY TRANSACTION - REVIEW

There was submitted Report No 358-2021 by the Chief Executive relative to Site 2, Dundee Waterfront.

The Committee approved the recommendations contained within the report.

John ALEXANDER, Convener.