Policy And Resources Committee - 26/09/2022

At a MEETING of the POLICY AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE held remotely on 26th September, 2022.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 5th September, 2022 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

Councillor John ALEXANDER, Convener, in the Chair.

I DECLARATION OF INTEREST

There were no declarations of interest.

II CITY PLAN FOR DUNDEE 2022/2032

There was submitted Report No 255-2022 by the Chief Executive presenting the City Plan for Dundee 2022/2032, as agreed by the Dundee Partnership, for the Committee to endorse.

The Committee agreed to endorse the City Plan for Dundee 2022/2032.

III LOCALITY LEADERSHIP SCHEME AND LOCAL COMMUNITY PLANNING 2022/2027

On a reference to Article IX of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 25th June, 2007, wherein the Scheme of Decentralisation was approved, there was submitted Report No 251-2022 by the Executive Director of Neighbourhood Services, informing of the proposed Locality Leadership Scheme to replace the Scheme of Decentralisation.

The Committee agreed:-

(i) to endorse the Locality Leadership Scheme and reporting mechanisms contained within the report;

(ii) to note the legislative requirement under Part 2 of the Community Empowerment Act requiring all local authority areas to have locality planning in place with the express outcome of reducing inequalities;

(iii) to approve the Local Community Plan 2022/2027;

(iv) to note the intention to submit the paper to the Dundee Partnership for noting; and

(v) to note the intention to review locality funding models.

IV CORPORATE SERVICES SERVICE PLAN 2021/2024 PROGRESS REPORT

There was submitted Report No 258-2022 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 agreed to note the Service Plan progress report which was attached to the report as an Appendix.

V NIPPON ELECTRIC COMPANY SOFTWARE SOLUTIONS - REVENUES AND BENEFITS

There was submitted Report No 256-2022 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services, seeking approval to proceed with a five-year contract with Nippon Electric Company (NEC) Software Solutions, which was the current system used for Benefits, Council Tax and Non-Domestic Rates.

The Committee agreed to approve the contract proposal from NEC Software Solutions Revenues and Benefits from April, 2023 which would be for a period of five years and procured compliantly utilising the Crown Commercial Services Framework RM3821 exercising the option to Direct Award to the chosen supplier.

VI REVENUE MONITORING 2022/2023

There was submitted Report No 229-2022 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services, providing an analysis of the 2022/2023 projected revenue outturn as at 31st July, 2022 and the impact on the Councils overall balances position.

The Committee agreed:-

(i) to note that the overall General Fund as at 31st July, 2022 was projecting an underspend of 0.598m against the adjusted 2022/2023 Revenue Budget and the impact this had on the projected Councils General Fund Balances;

(ii) to note the budget adjustments totalling 17.178m and detailed in the second column of Appendix A (and summarised in Appendix E) of the report as virements to the previous approved Revenue Budget;

(iii) to note the position on Covid-related expenditure and Covid funding, that was included within the overall projection but was set out separately for information in Appendix B and paragraph 6.1 of the report;

(iv) to note that the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) as at 31st July, 2022 was projecting an overspend of 0.200m against the adjusted HRA 2022/2023 Revenue Budget and the impact this had on the element of the projected Renewal and Repair Fund balance earmarked to HRA;

(v) to note the position on ring-fenced grants expenditure outlined in Appendix C of the report;

(vi) that the Council Leadership Team would take every reasonable action to ensure that the 2022/2023 revenue expenditure was below or in line with the adjusted Revenue Budget; and

(vii) to note the key strategic, operational and financial risks being faced by the Council outlined in Appendix D of the report.

VII CAPITAL EXPENDITURE MONITORING 2022/2023

There was submitted Report No 221-2022 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services on the latest position regarding the Council's Capital Plan 2022/2027.

The Committee noted the latest position regarding the Council's Capital Plan 2022/2027.

VIII ANNUAL TREASURY MANAGEMENT ACTIVITY 2021/2022

There was submitted Report No 250-2022 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services, reviewing the Treasury Management activities for the period 1st April, 2021 to 31st March, 2022.

The Committee agreed to note the information contained in the report and agreed the limits as detailed in Appendix 1 of the report.

IX FINANCIAL OUTLOOK AND STRATEGY

There was submitted Report No 257-2022 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services, advising of the financial outlook for the Council and recommending a Medium-Financial Strategy (MTFS) within which future Council Budgets would be set.

Thereafter, Bailie Sawers, seconded by Bailie Dawson, moved that Committee:-

(i) notes the financial outlook set out in the report caused by 12 years of austerity economics imposed on Scotland against our will, exacerbated by Brexit, by a right wing Conservative Government that Scotland never voted for;

(ii) agrees the Medium-Term Financial Strategy as set out in section 8 of the report;

(iii) authorises the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Executive Directors, to take appropriate steps to manage current and recurring revenue expenditure, including reviewing vacancies and any new recurring commitments;

(iv) notes that a Long-Term Financial Strategy would be developed alongside the 2023/2024 Revenue Budget;

(v) notes that a report on Transformation would be presented to Committee by the end of the year; and

(vi) notes that a report on the Capital Plan would be presented to Committee in Autumn 2022.

As an amendment, Bailie Keenan, seconded by Councillor Shears, moved that Committee:-

Instruct the Chief Executive to write to the First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Finance enclosing a copy of this report, expressing the need for a financial settlement for Local Government that would off-set the need for savage cuts that this report predicts would be required for Dundee City Council to set a balanced budget going forward.

Also requesting the Scottish Government confirm the value of the year-on-year savings Dundee City Council has reported to them over the last 13 years at their request.

On a division, there voted for the motion - the Convener, Lord Provost Campbell, Depute Lord Provost Cordell, Bailies Dawson, Roberts and Sawers and Councillors, Anderson, El-Nakla, Flynn, Hunter, Lynn, Rome, Short, Smith and Tolland (15); and for the amendment - Bailies Keenan, Wright, Macpherson and Scott and Councillors Finnegan, Malone, McHugh, McIrvine, Scullin, Shears, Coleman and Duncan (12) - Councillor Crichton being absent when the vote was taken.

John ALEXANDER. Convener.