Policy And Resources Committee - 24/01/2022

At a MEETING of the POLICY AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE held remotely on 24th January, 2022.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 10th January, 2022 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

Bailie SAWERS, Depute Convener, in the Chair.

I DECLARATION OF INTEREST

There were no declarations of interest.

II HOUSING (HRA) REVENUE BUDGET 2022/2025 AND REVIEW OF RENTS AND OTHER HOUSING CHARGES FOR 2022/2023

On a reference to Article II of the minute of meeting of the Neighbourhood Services Committee of 25th October, 2021, there was submitted Report No 36-2022 by the Executive Director of Neighbourhood Services advising members of the outcome of the rent consultation exercise in order for them to approve the Housing (HRA) Revenue Budget and rent and other housing charges for financial year 2022/2023.

The Committee:-

(i) noted the outcome of the rent consultation exercise detailed in section 8 and Appendix 4 of the report and that the proposed rent increase below (iv) was in line with the majority view expressed by tenants through this exercise;

(ii) approved the Housing (HRA) Revenue Budget for 2022/2023 as detailed in Appendix 1 of the report;

(iii) noted the Provisional Revenue Budgets for 2023/2024 and 2024/2025 detailed in Appendix 1 of the report;

(iv) approved rents be increased by 1.50% equal to an average increase of 1.19 per week and subject to a maximum increase of 1.50 with effect from 5th April, 2022;

(v) approved all other housing charges as set as outlined in Appendix 2 of the report with effect from 5th April, 2022; and

(vi) agreed that the level of rents held on the Housing (HRA) be similarly applied to miscellaneous houses ie the properties which were leased to the Richmond Fellowship, Dundee Health and Social Care Partnership and City Development, subject to categorisation where appropriate.

III CAPITAL PLAN 2022/2027 - GENERAL SERVICES AND HOUSING HRA

The Committee acceded to a request for a deputation to address the Committee relative to this item of business. After the deputation had stated their case and answered questions from members, they were thanked for their attendance and withdrew.

On a reference to Article VIII of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 22nd February, 2021, there was submitted Report No 24-2022 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 2022/2027. The Capital Plan revised the Capital Plan 2021/2026 - General Services and Housing HRA.

Bailie Sawers, seconded by Councillor Short, moved that Committee:-

(i) approve the Council's General Services and Housing HRA Capital Plan for 2022/2027 attached to the report; and

(ii) note the updated position for the 2021/2022 projected capital expenditure programmes, as at 30th November, 2021.

As an amendment, Bailie Macpherson, seconded by Councillor Duncan, moved that Committee approve the Capital Plan as proposed but with the following additional projects reinstated from the previous draft plan:-

Committee agrees to make provision of an additional 165k in the Revenue Budget for 2022/2023 to meet the cost of the additional Prudential borrowing required to fund the reinstatement of these projects.

On a division, there voted for the motion - Bailies Sawers and Roberts, Depute Lord Provost Campbell and Councillors Alexander, Cordell, Dawson, Flynn, Hunter, Rendall, Rome, Short, Smith, Murray and Ross (14); and for the amendment - Bailies Keenan, Wright, Scott and Macpherson and Councillors Cruickshank, McCready, McIrvine, Malone, Marra, Richardson, Hay, Scott and Duncan (13) - Lord Provost Borthwick being absent when the vote was taken - whereupon the motion was declared carried.

As a further amendment, Bailie Scott, seconded by Councillor Scott, moved that Committee agrees to make provision for capital financing in the revenue budget, totalling 65,000, to allow the following projects to be included in the Capital Plan:-

On a division, there voted for the motion - Bailies Sawers and Roberts, Depute Lord Provost Campbell and Councillors Alexander, Cordell, Dawson, Flynn, Hunter, Rendall, Rome, Short, Smith, Murray and Ross (14); and for the amendment - Bailies Keenan, Wright, Scott and Macpherson and Councillors Cruickshank, McCready, McIrvine, Malone, Marra, Richardson, Hay, Scott and Duncan (13) - Lord Provost Borthwick being absent when the vote was taken - whereupon the motion was declared carried and became the finding of the meeting.

IV CORPORATE SERVICES SERVICE PLAN 2021/2024 PROGRESS REPORT

On a reference to Article IV of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 21st June, 2021 there was submitted Report No 25-2022 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services providing a mid-year progress report on the Service Plan for Corporate Services for the period 2021/2024.

The Committee noted the Service Plan Progress Report appended to the report.

V RESPONSE TO SCOTTISH GOVERNMENTS DRAFT NATIONAL PLAN ON ENDING THE NEED FOR FOODBANKS

There was submitted Report No 28-2022 by the Chief Executive advising members about a Scottish Government consultation on proposals for a draft national plan on ending the need for foodbanks. It also set out a proposed response to be submitted on behalf of Dundee City Council.

The Committee:-

(i) noted that the Scottish Government had issued a consultation paper ending the need for foodbanks, which was summarised in section 4 of the report;

(ii) considered and agreed the draft response (Appendix 1 of the report) to the consultation to be submitted by the deadline of 25th January, 2022;

(iii) noted the decision of the Recovery Sub-Committee on 10th August, 2020 calling for the right to food to be incorporated into Scots Law; and

(iv) noted the ongoing consultation on the Right to Food (Scotland) Bill proposed by Rhoda Grant MSP and remitted officers to prepare a response to that consultation on behalf of the Council supporting the right to food in Scots Law.

Thereafter, Councillor Short, seconded by Councillor Cordell, moved that Committee further:-

Notes that in 2022 it is a sad reflection of the UK that there is a need for foodbanks to support our most vulnerable citizens in what is the 6th largest global economy.

Committee also recognises that it is not only food insecurity that has been created in this cost of living crisis, we only have to look to the Council and Third Sector Services that support fuel insecurity, furniture, period and funeral poverty and the work that was done in the run up to Christmas to support families with presents for their children.

In October, the UK Government withdrew the 20-a-week uplift to Universal Credit, a cut that was opposed by all three devolved nations. Powers to help households meet the cost of living lie mainly with the UK Government, and the three Finance Ministers want the Treasury to step up and deliver more support to households.

This motion supports the voices of the devolved nations and ask the Council Leader to write to the UK Government to add our voices to the call for these powers to be devolved.

As an amendment, Councillor Scott, seconded by Bailie Scott, moved that Committee not accept the motion by Councillor Short.

On a division, there voted for the motion - Bailie Sawers, Depute Lord Provost Campbell, Bailies Roberts, Keenan, Wright, and Macpherson and Councillors Alexander, Cordell, Dawson, Flynn, Hunter, Rendall, Rome, Short, Smith, Cruickshank, McCready, McIrvine, Malone, Richardson, Duncan, Murray and Ross (23); and for the amendment - Bailie Scott and Councillors Hay and Scott (3) - Lord Provost Borthwick and Councillor Marra being absent when the vote was taken - whereupon the motion was declared carried.

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.

VI DEVELOPMENT OF MAJOR VISITOR ATTRACTION NEXT STEPS

There was submitted Report No 34-2022 by the Chief Executive relative to the above.

The Committee approved the recommendations in the report.

Willie SAWERS, Depute Convener.