Policy And Resources Committee - 31/10/2022

At a MEETING of the POLICY AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE held remotely on 31st October, 2022.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 26th 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 CAPITAL EXPENDITURE MONITORING REPORT 2022/2023

There was submitted Report No 262-2022 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services, appraising of 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.

III REVENUE MONITORING 2022/2023

There was submitted Report No 264-2022 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services providing an analysis of the 2022/2023 projected revenue outturn as at 31st August, 2022 and the impact on the Councils overall balances position.

The Committee agreed:-

(i) to note that the overall General Fund as at 31st August, 2022 was projecting an overspend of 0.235m 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 19.146m 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 August, 2022 was projecting an overspend of 0.450m 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 noted that in accordance with the agreed Medium-Term Financial Strategy (Article IX of the minute of meeting of the Committee of 26th September, 2022, refers) officers were taking steps to manage current and recurring revenue expenditure, including reviewing vacancies and any new recurring commitments;

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

(viii) to note the current position on Leisure and Culture Dundee, as set out in paragraph 7.3 of the report, and authorised the Chief Executive to issue a letter of comfort to Leisure and Culture Dundee confirming the Councils continuing financial support in financial year 2022/2023 and for a period of at least 12 months beyond the date of the signing of Leisure and Culture Dundees 2021/2022 accounts whilst setting out an expectation that from 2023/2024 Leisure and Culture Dundee would operate with a balanced budget.

IV COMMUNICATION STRATEGY 2022/2027

There was submitted Report No 273-2022 by the Chief Executive presenting the Corporate Communication Strategy and Action Plan for approval.

The Committee agreed to approve the Corporate Communication Strategy and Integrated Action Plan as detailed in Appendix 1 of the report.

V THE CHIEF SOCIAL WORK OFFICERS ANNUAL REPORT 2021/2022

There was submitted Report No 292-2022 by the Chief Social Work Officer bringing forward for information and approval the Chief Social Work Officers Annual Report for 2021/2022.

The Committee agreed:-

(i) to note the achievements of and challenges faced by Social Work and Social Care Services during 2021/2022 and improvement priorities for 2021/2022, as outlined in sections 4.4 to 4.6 of the report; and

(ii) to approve the Chief Social Work Officers Annual Report for 2021/2022, as detailed in Appendix 1 of the report.

VI ACCOMMODATION FOR ADULTS WITH ADDITIONAL SPECIFICATIONS - COLDSIDE PROJECT

There was submitted Agenda Note AN48-2022 advising that as part of the Strategic Housing Investment Plan (SHIP) a number of developments had been identified to provide appropriate housing in Dundee for Adults with either Learning Disabilities, Physical Disabilities or Mental Health Disabilities. One of these developments was a new build of six flats in the Coldside area of the city, for people needing support with their Learning Disability, where the housing required additional specifications beyond a regular Housing Association standard. The total cost of the additional specifications on the Housing Association asset was 94,248. The Executive Director of Corporate Services advised that the total cost of 94,248 could be funded from the Social Care budget in the Health, Care and Wellbeing section of the Capital Plan 2022/2027 (Provision of Accommodation for Adults with Learning Disabilities budget).

The works were due to be completed in June, 2023.

The Committee agreed to contribute 94,248 for the capital cost of providing additional specifications to houses at the Housing Association Project at Coldside.

VII HOSPITAL FUND AND JOHNSTON BEQUEST

There was submitted Agenda Note AN47-2022 referring to the previous decisions (Article XII of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 24th August, 2020 refers), providing funding until 31st March, 2021 to support a 0.7 FTE post in Dundee Citizens' Advice Bureaus Older People Advice Service (OPAS) at a cost of 25,000 per annum, it was recommended that this funding be extended for a further 24 months to 31st March, 2023 and that retrospective approval for the funding be granted allowing the award to be made from 1st April, 2021.

Statistical reviews on the work of OPAS have been annually undertaken by Council Advice Services and this arrangement was deemed to be very effective in terms of the overall benefits provided for this contribution. The service generally provided support to around 400 to 500 Dundee citizens each year and raised benefit gains in the region of around 500,000, equivalent to around 20 for each 1 spent.

The Committee agreed to the terms of the note.

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.

VIII DUNDEE AIRPORT UPDATE

There was submitted Report No 253-2022 by the Executive Director of City Development relative to the above.

The Committee noted that, due to the timescales involved, the recommendations in the report had been approved by the Executive Director of City Development in consultation with the Depute Convener of the Policy and Resources Committee, Labour Group Spokesperson, Liberal Democrat Group Spokesperson and the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party Member.

John ALEXANDER. Convener.