City Governance Committee - 08/01/2024

At a MEETING of the CITY GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE held remotely on 8th January, 2024.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Councillor John ALEXANDER, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 4th December, 2023 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I DECLARATION OF INTEREST

There were no declarations of interest.

II CHIEF EXECUTIVES SERVICE PLAN 2023/2028 - MID YEAR PROGRESS REPORT FOR 2023/2024

There was submitted Report No 345-2023 by the Chief Executive, providing an update on progress made so far during financial year 2023/2024 (Year 1) in relation to the Chief Executives Service Plan for 2023/2028.

The Committee agreed to note the progress summarised in Section 5 to the report and approve the progress report as detailed in the Appendix to the report.

III CAPITAL EXPENDITURE MONITORING 2023/2024

There was submitted Report No 1-2024 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 2023/2028.

IV REVENUE MONITORING 2023/2024

There was submitted Report No 14-2024 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services, providing an analysis of the 2023/2024 projected revenue outturn as at 31st October, 2023 and the impact on the Councils overall balances position.

The Committee agreed:-

(i) to note that as at 31st October, 2023, the General Fund was projecting an overall overspend of 1.493m 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 13.261m 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 October, 2023, the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) was projecting an overspend of 1.900m 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 continue to 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; and

(vii) to note the current position in relation to Leisure and Culture Dundee (LACD), as set out in Section 7.3 to the report.

V LOCAL GOVERNMENT FINANCE SETTLEMENT 2024/2025 AND FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS FOR DUNDEECITY COUNCIL

There was submitted Report No 9-2024 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services, providing details of the 2024/2025 Local Government Settlement, its implications for Dundee City Council and to recommend procedures for setting the Council Tax and Revenue Budget for 2024/2025.

The Committee agreed:-

(i) to note the 2024/2025 Local Government Settlement and correspondence as detailed at Appendix B to the report;

(ii) to note the implications of the settlement for the Councils Revenue Budget and Capital Plan as detailed in the Report;

(iii) to remit the Executive Director of Corporate Services to respond to the Local Government Finance Settlement 2024/2025 as outlined in section 5.4 to the report;

(iv) to note that the financial information included in the Report would be updated as necessary and included in the Revenue Budget and Council Tax 2024/2025 Report to be submitted to the City Governance Committee on 29th February 2024; and

(v) to agree the procedures to be followed for setting the 2024/2025 Revenue Budget and Council Tax, as set out in Section 7 and Appendix A to the Report.

John ALEXANDER, Convener.