City Governance Committee - 19/08/2024

At a MEETING of the CITY GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 19th August, 2024.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Councillor John ALEXANDER, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 24th June, 2024 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I DECLARATION OF INTEREST

There were no declarations of interest.

II UNISON END VIOLENCE AT WORK CHARTER

This item was placed on the agenda at the request of Councillors Tolland and Flynn who proposed that the Council signs UNISONs End Violence at Work Charter.

The link to the Charter was:  https://www.unison.org.uk/unison-health-and-safety/violence-at-work/

Thereafter, the Committee resolved to support and sign the Charter.

III CAPITAL EXPENDITURE MONITORING 2024/2025

There was submitted Report No 207-2024 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services, appraising the Committee of the latest position regarding the Council's Capital Plan 2024/2029.

The Committee agreed to note the latest position regarding the Council's Capital Plan 2024/2029.

IV REVENUE MONITORING 2024/2025

There was submitted Report No 202-2024 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services, providing an analysis of the 2024/2025 projected revenue outturn as at 31st May, 2024 and the impact on the Councils overall balances position.

The Committee agreed:-

(i) to note that as at 31st May, 2024 the General Fund was projecting an overall overspend of 5.084m against the adjusted 2024/2025 Revenue Budget and the impact this had on the projected Councils General Fund Balances;

(ii) to note the budget adjustments totalling 3.658m 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 May, 2024 the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) was projecting an overspend of 0.400m against the adjusted HRA 2024/2025 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 key strategic, operational and financial risks being faced by the Council outlined in Appendix B to the report;

(v) to note that the Chief Executive and Executive Directors were developing financial recovery plans to bring expenditure within budget in the current financial year and these would be reported back to the Committee. In addition, officers would continue to take appropriate steps to manage current and recurring revenue expenditure, including reviewing vacancies and any new recurring commitments, reducing expenditure and reviewing service provision; and

(vi) to note the current position on Leisure and Culture Dundee (LACD), as set out in paragraph 7.1 to the report.

V CHIEF EXECUTIVES SERVICE PLAN 2023/2028 - PROGRESS REPORT FOR 2023/2024

There was submitted Report No 206-2024 by the Chief Executive, providing an update on progress made in Quarters 3 and 4 during financial year 2023/2024 in relation to the Chief Executives Service Plan for 2023/2028.

The Committee agreed to note the progress summarised in Section 5.0 to the report and approved the detailed progress report which was attached as an Appendix to this report.

VI CHILDREN AND FAMILIES SERVICE PLAN 2023/2027 PROGRESS UPDATE

There was submitted Report No 221-2024 by the Executive Director of Children and Families Service, providing the first six-month update on progress with the Children and Families Service Plan 2023/2027.

The Committee agreed to note progress being made in respect of the Improvement Plan and requested the Executive Director to provide a further update in six months time.

VII NEIGHBOURHOOD SERVICES SERVICE PLAN 2022/2027 - ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT 2023/2024

There was submitted Report No 169-2024 by the Executive Director of Neighbourhood Services, providing an annual update showing progress as of 31st March, 2024 for the Neighbourhood Services Plan which was agreed by the Council in June, 2023.

The Committee agreed to note the progress being made and remitted the report to the Scrutiny Committee for further consideration.

VIII SCRUTINY COMMITTEE ANNUAL REPORT

There was submitted Report No 209-2024 by the Chief Internal Auditor, presenting the Scrutiny Committee Annual Report for 2023/2024 for noting.

The Committee noted the Scrutiny Committees annual report.

IX REDUCING HARM FROM DRUG AND ALCOHOL USE - UPDATE REPORT

There was submitted Report No 229-2024 by the Independent Chair, Dundee Drug and Alcohol Partnership, providing a summary overview of progress made during the first year of the Dundee Alcohol and Drug Partnerships Strategic Framework 2023/2028 and inform them of priorities for the second year of delivery.

The Committee agreed:-

(i) to note the content to the report and the progress toward implementation of the Dundee Alcohol and Drug Partnerships (ADP) delivery plan as detailed in Section 4.2 to the report and the draft ADP annual report as detailed in Appendix 1 to the report;

(ii) to note the priority areas for year two of delivery (2024/2025) identified by the ADP and approved by the Chief Officers Group as detailed in Section 4.3 to the report; and

(iii) to note the ADPs Delivery Plan will be submitted to the IJB on 21st August, 2024 for approval.

X INTERNAL AUDIT REPORT - LEISURE AND CULTURE DUNDEE (LACD) - FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY

There was submitted Report No 210-2024 by the Chief Executive reviewing the summary of the Internal Audit Report on Leisure and Culture Dundee - Financial Sustainability referred from the Scrutiny Committee of 26th June, 2024 and agreed the recommendations in the report.

The Committee agreed:-

(i)                            to note the summary as detailed in Appendix 1 to the report considered by the Scrutiny Committee on 26th June 2024; and

(ii) to consider the additional context set out in the report and working with Leisure and Culture Dundee remit the Chief Executive to undertake a fuller review of agreements, priorities, funding and options for Leisure and Culture Dundee.

XI M365 BACKUP AND SECURITY

There was submitted Report No 220-2024 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services seeking approval for the purchase of licenses for security and backup of Microsoft 365.

The Committee agreed:-

(i) to the purchase of licenses for Microsoft 365 Backup and Security; and

(ii) to remit the Senior Service Manager IT to purchase licenses required for backup and security of Microsoft 365.

XII VALEDICTORY - COUNCILLOR JOHN ALEXANDER, LEADER OF THE ADMINISTRATION

The Lord Provost, Bailies Keenan, Macpherson and Scott, Councillor Flynn and other elected members took the opportunity to pay tribute to Councillor John Alexander who had intimated that he would be leaving office as a Councillor and that his last day with Dundee City Council would be 29th August, 2024. Lord Provost Campbell thanked him for services rendered and Councillor Alexander replied in suitable terms.

John ALEXANDER, Convener.