City Governance Committee - 23/10/2023

At a MEETING of the CITY GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE held remotely on 23th October, 2023.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Councillor John ALEXANDER, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 25th September, 2023 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I DECLARATION OF INTEREST

There were no declarations of interest.

II MINUTES

(a) PENSION SUB-COMMITTEE AND PENSION BOARD - 26TH JUNE, 2023

The minute of the above Sub-Committee, a copy of which is appended hereto, was submitted for information and record purposes (Appendix I).

III CITY PLAN FOR DUNDEE 2022/2032 - ANNUAL REPORT FOR 2022/2023

There was submitted Report No 291-2023 by the Chief Executive, presenting the first annual progress report on the City Plan for Dundee 2022/2032 which had been considered and agreed by the Dundee Partnership on 14th September, 2023. The Dundee Partnership Management Group were committed to bringing updates to their individual organisations for noting.

The Committee agreed:-

(i) to note the progress made since the launch of the City Plan for Dundee 2022/2032 in September, 2022;

(ii) to note the revised structure of the Partnership and that in addition to the Chairs of the Dundee Partnership, two elected members be appointed to each of the new Strategic Leadership Groups as outlined in section 5.7 to the report;

(iii) to remit the annual report to the Scrutiny Committee for further consideration;

(iv) to remit the Council Leadership Team to monitor Dundee City Councils commitment and input to delivering actions supporting the plan; and

(v) to remit the Strategic Leadership Groups to review Performance Indicators that had deteriorated and take measures to counter this going forward.

IV CAPITAL EXPENDITURE MONITORING 2023/2024

There was submitted Report No 285-2023 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services, appraising of the latest position regarding the Council's Capital Plan 2023/2028.

The Committee agreed to note the latest position regarding the Council's Capital Plan for the period 2023/2028.

V REVENUE MONITORING 2023/2024

There was submitted Report No 278-2023 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services, providing an analysis of the 2023/2024 projected revenue outturn as at 31st July, 2023 and the impact on the Councils overall balances position.

The Committee agreed:-

(i) to note that as at 31st July, 2023, the General Fund was projecting an overall overspend of 3.632m against the adjusted 2023/2024 Revenue Budget and the impact this had on the projected Councils General Fund Balances;

(ii) to note the budget adjustments totalling 1.633m and detailed in second column of Appendix A to the report as virements to the previously approved Revenue Budget;

(iii) to note that as at 31st July, 2023, the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) was projecting an overspend of 0.600m against the adjusted HRA 2023/2024 Revenue Budget and the impact this had on the element of the projected Renewal and Repair Fund balance earmarked to HRA;

(iv) to note the position on ring-fenced grants expenditure outlined in Appendix B to the report;

(v) to note that the Chief Executive, in consultation with Executive Directors, would take appropriate steps to manage current and recurring revenue expenditure, including reviewing all vacancies within the Council, reduce discretionary expenditure where possible and limit any new recurring commitments. Executive Directors would work with Corporate Finance to develop recovery plans to identify options to reduce the projected in year overspend;

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

(vii) to note the current position on Leisure and Culture Dundee (LACD), as set out in paragraph 7.3 to the report; and

(viii) to approve an allocation of 500k from the earmarked inflation reserve towards Cost-of-Living pressures and authorise the Chief Executive to make arrangements to use this to continue to support partnership work across the City in relation to food support, advice (including FuelWell), Open Doors and other appropriate programmes.

VI COMMUNITY HUBS PROJECT - KIRKTON

There was submitted Joint Report No 303-2023 by the Executive Director of Children and Families Service, Executive Director of Neighbourhood Services and Director, Leisure and Culture Dundee, providing an update on the consultation and further planning phase in relation to the development and implementation of an enhanced Community Hub model in Kirkton, highlighting further opportunities for improvements in community accessibility to high quality facilities.

Councillor Alexander, seconded by Councillor Hunter, moved that report not be deferred.

As an amendment, Councillor Coleman, seconded by Bailie Macpherson, moved that the report be deferred.

On a division, there voted for the motion the Convener, Depute Lord Provost Cordell, Bailies Dawson, Roberts and Sawers and Councillors, Anderson, El-Nakla, Flynn, Hunter, Lynn, Rome, Short, Smith and Tolland (14); and for the amendment Bailies Keenan, Wright, Macpherson and Scott and Councillors Cruickshank, Finnegan, Malone, McHugh, McIrvine, Scullin, Shears, Coleman, Crichton and Duncan (14). There being a priority of votes, the Convener used his casting vote in favour of the motion, whereupon the motion was carried.

Thereafter, Councillor Alexander, seconded by Bailie Sawers, moved that the Committee agrees:-

(i) to approve the relocation of services within the community of Kirkton to St Pauls and Baldragon Community Hubs and the closure of Kirkton Community Centre and Library by the end of 2024. The relocation of services and activities will be phased from November, 2023;

(ii) to work in partnership with LACD to deliver the relocation of the library service, agree access arrangements into St Pauls School library and update the Service Level Agreements to reflect the changes outlined in this report;

(iii) to work with the community and key partners to develop and enhance sports, physical activities and community services at St Pauls RC Academy and Baldragon Academy by August, 2024. This would include the continued pursuit of external funding to support wider efforts to create a truly inclusive and expanded offering within the Kirkton area;

(iv) to note the results of the initial consultation on the Community Hubs approach in Appendix two to the report and the follow-up engagement during October and November, 2021;

(v) to explore options with the community groups of Kirkton to realise their ambitions of a community operated facility to compliment and run alongside the Community Hub model. This would include support to access external funding; and

As an amendment, Bailie Keenan, seconded by Councillor McHugh, moved that the Committee agrees:-

(i) to approve the relocation of services within the community of Kirkton to St Pauls and Baldragon Community Hubs and the closure of Kirkton Community Centre and Library by October, 2024. The relocation of services and activities will be phased from November, 2023;

(ii) to work in partnership with LACD to deliver the relocation of the library service, agree access arrangements into St Pauls School library and update the Service Level Agreements to reflect the changes outlined in this report;

(iii) to work with the community and key partners to develop and enhance sports, physical activities and community services at St Pauls RC Academy and Baldragon Academy by August, 2024. This would include the continued pursuit of external funding to support wider efforts to create a truly inclusive and expanded offering within the Kirkton area;

(iv) to note the results of the initial consultation on the Community Hubs approach in Appendix two to the report and the follow-up engagement during October and November, 2021;

(v) to explore options with the community groups of Kirkton to realise their ambitions of a community operated facility to compliment and run alongside the Community Hub model. This would include support to access external funding; and

(vi) The sum of 86K per annum is retained and that it is to be saved as a ring-fenced fund for community activities, that this fund should be subject to a year-on-year inflationary increase CPI and that this fund should be distributed to local Kirkton projects via a participatory budgeting process with its good governance overseen by the Council in order to deliver a real opportunity to an area of the City that only last year saw riots on the streets.

On a division, there voted for the motion - the Convener, Depute Lord Provost Cordell, Bailies Dawson, Roberts and Sawers and Councillors, Anderson, El-Nakla, Flynn, Hunter, Lynn, Rome, Short, Smith and Tolland (14); and for the amendment - Bailies Keenan, Wright, Macpherson and Scott and Councillors Cruickshank, Finnegan, Malone, McHugh, McIrvine, Scullin, Shears, Coleman, Crichton and Duncan (12) - Bailie Scott declining to vote - whereupon the motion was declared carried and became the finding of the meeting.

VII UPDATE ON UKRAINIAN DISPLACED PERSONS PROGRAMME

There was submitted Joint Report No 233-2023 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services and the Executive Director of Neighbourhood Services, providing an update of the various funding streams allocated to support the above programme and outline the work that the Council had provided to support Ukrainian Displaced Persons (UDP).

The Committee agreed to note the report including the details of the extensive services that had been provided in Section 5 to the report, over the period of the programme.

VIII PROCUREMENT OF OMNICHANNEL DIGITAL SERVICES

There was submitted Report No 258-2023 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services, providing an update on the development of a sourcing strategy for the competitive procurement of Omnichannel digital services and seeking approval to commence a compliant procurement process, leading to the award of a contract for these services.

The Committee agreed:-

(a) to approve the commencement of a procurement exercise in respect of the project described, based on the sourcing strategy, summarised in the report; and

(b) to delegate authority to the Executive Director of Corporate Services to award a contract to the successful bidder, following an open tender process carried out in compliance with the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations of 2015.

X BUDGET INVESTMENT PROPOSAL - EVENTS

There was submitted Agenda Note AN34-2023, wherein as part of the 2023/2024 Revenue Budget, agreed by the Council on 23rd February, 2023, 1.505m was included for budget investment proposals (Article II of the minute of meeting of Policy and Resources Committee on 23rd February, 2023 refers). Report Nos 161-2023 and 194-2023, considered by the Policy and Resources Committee on 12th June, 2023 and 26th June, 2023 respectively, set out proposals for 1.405m of this funding. The balance of 100k was for investment in events and activities that will positively contribute to Dundees economic growth through increasing footfall and visitors to the City.

It was recommended that it be delegated to the Executive Director of City Development to invest this funding in events and activities that contribute to Dundees economic growth through increasing footfall and visitors, supporting the place-making objectives set out in the City Centre Strategic Investment Plan. This should include supporting a range of free activities in the City Centre during the Christmas period as well as exploring a new event focused on food and sustainability as agreed by the Council on 9th January, 2023 (Article VIII of the minute of meeting of the Policy and Resources Committee on 9th January, 2023 refers).

In view of the timescales involved this report was approved by the Executive Director of Corporate Services in consultation with the Convener of the City Governance Committee, Labour Group Spokesperson, Liberal Democrat Group Spokesperson and the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party Member.

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 3, 6 and 9 of Part I of Schedule 7A of the Act.

XI DUNDEE AIRPORT UPDATE

There was submitted Report No 307-2023 by Executive Director of City Development providing an update on Dundee Airport.

Councillor Alexander, seconded by Bailie Sawers, moved that the recommendation in the report be agreed.

As an amendment, Bailie Keenan, seconded by Councillor Shears, moved the direct negative.

On a division, there voted for the motion - the Convener, Depute Lord Provost Cordell, Bailies Dawson, Roberts, Sawers and Macpherson and Councillors, Anderson, El-Nakla, Flynn, Hunter, Lynn, Rome, Short, Smith, Tolland, Coleman, Crichton and Duncan (18); and for the amendment - Bailies Keenan, Wright, and Councillors Cruickshank, Finnegan, Malone, McHugh, McIrvine, Scullin and Shears, (9), Bailie Scott not being present when the vote was taken - whereupon the motion was declared carried.

John ALEXANDER, Convener.