City Governance Committee - 20/11/2023

At a MEETING of the CITY GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE held remotely on 20th November, 2023.

Present:-

Depute Lord Provost Kevin CORDELL

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Councillor John ALEXANDER, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 23rd October, 2023 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I DECLARATION OF INTEREST

There were no declarations of interest.

II PROTECTING PEOPLE COMMITTEE ANNUAL REPORTS 2022/2023

There was submitted Report No 354-2023 by Protecting People Committee Independent Chairs and Dundee Alcohol and Drug Partnership Co-Chairs, presenting to the Committee the annual reports published by Committees for the period 2022/2023.

The Committee agreed:-

(i) to note the production of a single integrated annual report for all of the Dundee Protecting People Committees;

(ii) to note the content of the annual reports for the Dundee Protecting People Committees (full and summary versions) and the Tayside MAPPA Strategic Oversight Group, as detailed in Appendices 1 to 3 to the report;

(iii) to note the progress made in developing an effective partnership response to the needs of at risk children and adults during 2022/2023, as detailed in section 4.2 to the report; and

(iv) to note the challenges and priority areas for action identified across the annual reports for focus during 2023/2024 and beyond as detailed in section 4.3 to the report.

III DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL 2022/2023 - ACCOUNTS AND AUDIT

(a) EXTERNAL AUDITORS REPORT

The above report was submitted, noted and approved (Report No 328-2023).

(b) DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL 2022/2023 ACCOUNTS AND AUDIT - RESPONSE TO THE EXTERNAL AUDITORS ANNUAL AUDIT REPORT

There was submitted Report No 327-2023 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services in response to the external audit of Dundee City Council for the year to 31st March, 2023.

The Committee agreed:-

(i) to note the contents of the draft External Auditor's Report, including the completed action plan as detailed in Appendix 1 to the report and, in particular, that Audit Scotland had indicated they would issue an unqualified audit opinion on each of the 2022/2023 Annual Accounts noted above; and

(ii) to endorse the report as the Councils formal response to the External Auditor's Report.

(c) DRAFT AUDITED STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS

(i) Dundee City Council

The above report was submitted, noted and approved (Report No 329-2023).

(ii) Dundee City Council Charitable Trusts

The above report was submitted, noted and approved (Report No 330-2023).

(iii) Lord Provost of Dundee Charity Fund

The above report was submitted, noted and approved (Report No 331-2023).

(iv) The Dundee Trust

The above report was submitted, noted and approved (Report No 332-2023).

(v) The Fleming Trust

The above report was submitted, noted and approved (Report No 333-2023).

IV CAPITAL EXPENDITURE MONITORING 2023/2024

There was submitted Report No 304-2023 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services, appraising the Committee of the latest position regarding the Council's Capital Plan 2023/2028.

The Committee noted the latest position regarding the Council's Capital Plan for 2023/2028.

V REVENUE MONITORING 2022/2023

There was submitted Report No 306-2023 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services, providing the Committee with an analysis of the 2023/2024 projected revenue outturn as at 31st August, 2023 and the impact on the Councils overall balances position.

The Committee agreed:-

(i) to note that as at 31st August, 2023, the General Fund was projecting an overall overspend of 2.353m 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 10.068m 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 August, 2023, the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) was projecting an overspend of 0.800m 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 identity 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 note the potential costs as a result of Storm Babet, as set out in paragraph 3.3 to the report.

VI SERVICE PLAN FOR CORPORATE SERVICES 2023/2027

There was submitted Report No 234-2023 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services presenting the Service Plan for Corporate Services Development for the period 2023/2027.

The Committee approved the Service Plan as detailed in the Appendix to the report.

VII THE CHIEF SOCIAL WORK OFFICER ANNUAL REPORT 2022/2023

There was submitted Report No 353-2023 by the Chief Social Work Officer for the Committees information and approval, the Chief Social Work Officers Annual Report for 2022/2023, as detailed in Appendix 1 to the report.

The Committee agreed:-

(i) to note the achievements of and challenges faced by social work and social care services during 2022/2023 and improvement priorities for 2023/2024, as outlined in sections 4.4 to 4.6 to the report; and

(ii) to approve the Chief Social Work Officers Annual Report for 2022/2023, as detailed in Appendix 1 to the report.

VIII ANNUAL PROCUREMENT REPORT AND COMMUNITY BENEFITS UPDATE 2022/2023

There was submitted Report No 336-2023 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 2022/2023 and detailed the future planned activity of the Corporate Procurement Team. The report also included an update on the Community Benefit activity undertaken within the city over the reporting period.

The Committee noted the information included in the report and that the Annual Procurement Report would now be published on the Councils website.

IX COMMUNITY JUSTICE ANNUAL ACTIVITY REPORT 2022/2023 AND COMMUNITY JUSTICE OUTCOME ANDIMPROVEMENT PLAN 2023/2026

There was submitted Report No 339-2023 by the Executive Director of Children and Families Service, presenting both the Community Justice Annual Activity Report 2022/2023, as detailed in Appendix 1 to the report and the Community Justice Outcome and Improvement Plan 2023/2026, as detailed in Appendix 2 to the report for approval by the Committee.

The Committee noted and agreed both the Community Justice Annual Report for the period 2022/2023 and the Community Justice Outcome and Improvement Plan 2023/2026.

X ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR - JULY TO SEPTEMBER, 2023

There was submitted Report No 311-2023 by the Executive Director of Neighbourhood Services, providing an overview on the reporting figures to the Neighbourhood Services - Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) Team for the period 1st July to 30th September, 2023.

The Committee agreed to note the report.

XI PROCUREMENT OF A CONTRACT FOR BEREAVEMENT SERVICES ADMINISTRATION SOFTWARE

There was submitted Report No 257-2023 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services, providing an update on the development of a sourcing strategy for the procurement process for a new Bereavement Services administration software system and seeking approval to commence a compliant procurement process, leading to award of a contract.

The Committee agreed:-

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

(ii) to delegate authority to the Executive Director of Corporate Services to award a contract to the successful bidder, following a procurement process carried out in compliance with the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations of 2015 and a review of the suitability of available services on Crown Commercial Services (CCS) GCloud framework.

XII SCHOOLS FIBRE INTERNET SERVICE

There was submitted Report No 334-2023 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services, seeking approval for the installation of fibre internet and network security services for all schools.

The Committee agreed:-

(i) to the installation of high-speed fibre internet and associated network security services to all schools;

(ii) to remit the Head of Customer Services and IT to appoint Commsworld to undertake this work; and

(iii) that the first five years be funded from the 2023/2028 Capital Plan and that provision be made in future capital plans for the remainder of the contract.

John ALEXANDER, Convener.