Scrutiny Committee - 24/04/2024

At a MEETING of the SCRUTINY COMMITTEE held remotely on 24th April, 2024.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Bailie Kevin KEENAN, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 7th February, 2024 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

There were no declarations of interest.

II DESIGNATED POLICE COMMANDER

Prior to consideration of this item, the Convener, on behalf of the Committee, thanked Chief Superintendent Phil Davison for his services and wished him and Nicola Russell who would be appointed as the Local Police Commander well in their new roles.

The Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 required that a designated Police Commander be appointed for each Local Authority area in Scotland.

Chief Superintendent Phil Davison would shortly be moving into a new role within Police Scotland and the post of Police Scotland Divisional Commander in Tayside Division would therefore become vacant.

The Chief Constable proposed to appoint Acting Chief Superintendent Nicola Russell as the Local Police Commander.

In view of the timescales involved this Agenda Note was approved by the Executive Director of Neighbourhood Services in consultation with the Convener of the Scrutiny Committee, Depute Convener of the Scrutiny Committee, Scottish National Party Group Spokesperson and Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party Member.

III CRAIGIE COTTAGE

There was submitted Report No 124-2024 by the Executive Director of Children and Families Service, providing an update following the opening of Craigie Cottage on 31st August, 2023 and subsequent inspection by the Care Inspectorate on 12th and 13th September, 2023.

The Committee agreed:-

(i) to note the contents of the report and remitted the Executive Director to continue to monitor progress with the four requirements and three areas for improvement; and

(ii) to remit the Executive Director to provide a further report following the next inspection, which was anticipated to occur in May 2024.

IV EDUCATION SCOTLAND (HMI) INSPECTION OF LONGHAUGH PRIMARY SCHOOL

There was submitted Report No 125-2024 by the Executive Director of Children and Families Service, reporting on the findings of the Education Scotland (HMI) inspection of Longhaugh Primary School in December 2023.

The Committee agreed:-

(i) to note the contents of the report; and

(ii) to instruct the Chief Education Officer to monitor progress towards meeting the areas for improvement outlined in the report.

V EDUCATION SCOTLAND (HMI) RETURN VISIT BALDRAGON ACADEMY

There was submitted Report No 126-2024 by the Executive Director of Children and Families Service,

reporting on the findings of the Education Scotland, His Majestys Inspectors of Education (HMI) return visit to Baldragon Academy in December 2023.

The Committee agreed:-

(i) to note the contents of this report; and

(ii) to instruct the Chief Education Officer to monitor progress towards meeting the areas for improvement identified.

VI LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN SCOTLAND FINANCIAL BULLETIN 2022/2023

There was submitted Report No 68-2024 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services, providing a summary of the above national report that had been undertaken by Audit Scotland on behalf of the Accounts Commission.

The Committee agreed to note the key messages arising from the Audit Scotland Financial Bulletin 2022/2023 overview report.

VII DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL - AUDIT SCOTLAND ANNUAL AUDIT PLAN 2023/2024

There was submitted Report No 111-2024 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services, describing how Audit Scotland would deliver the audit of Dundee City Council for the year ending 31st March, 2024.

The Committee agreed:-

(i) to note the information included in the report; and

(ii) to note that the outcome of the 2023/2024 audit would be reported to the Scrutiny Committee on 25th September, 2024.

VIII INTERNAL AUDIT REPORTS

There was submitted Report No 109-2024 by the Chief Internal Auditor, submitting a summary of the Internal Audit Reports finalised since the last Scrutiny Committee.

The Committee agreed to note the information contained within the report.

IX INTERNAL AUDIT PLAN PROGRESS REPORT

There was submitted Report No 107-2024 by the Chief Internal Auditor, updating the Committee on the progress towards delivering the 2023/2024 Internal Audit Plan; the audits from previous years plans that were not completed in June 2023 and information about the number of open internal audit recommendations. The report also included information about proposed self-assessment activity for the Committee.

The Committee agreed:-

(i) to note the progress with the Internal Audit Plan;

(ii) to approve changes to the plan;

(iii) to note progress with the implementation of agreed internal audit recommendations; and

(iv) to agree to undertake the annual self-assessment and report for the Committee as proposed in 5.2 to the report.

X 2024/2025 INTERNAL AUDIT PLAN

There was submitted Report No 108-2024 by the Chief Internal Auditor, submitting to the Scrutiny Committee the Internal Audit Plan for the 2024/2025 financial year.

The Committee agreed to review and approve the 2024/2025 Internal Audit Plan as detailed at Appendix A to the report.

XI OTHER REPORTS RELEVANT TO THE REMIT OF THE SCRUTINY COMMITTEE

There was submitted Report No 110-2024 by the Chief Internal Auditor advising the Committee of reports submitted to Tayside Contracts, Tayside Valuation Joint Board, Tay Road Bridge Joint Board, and Tay Cities Region Deal Joint Committee that are relevant to the work of the Scrutiny Committee.

The Committee agreed:-

(i) to review the reports listed at Appendix 1 to the report; and

(ii) to determine whether any of the reports should be the subject of a more detailed discussion by the Committee.

Kevin KEENAN, Convener.