City Governance Committee - 18/11/2024
At a MEETING of the CITY GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 18th November, 2024.
Present:-
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Lord Provost Bill CAMPBELL
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Depute Lord Provost Kevin CORDELL |
BAILIES
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Will DAWSON |
Kevin KEENAN |
Fraser MACPHERSON |
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Willie SAWERS |
Helen WRIGHT |
Derek SCOTT |
COUNCILLORS
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Heather ANDERSON |
Lee MILLS |
Dorothy McHUGH |
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Jimmy BLACK |
Steven ROME |
George McIRVINE |
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Mark FLYNN |
Lynne SHORT |
Daniel COLEMAN |
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Stewart HUNTER |
Roisin SMITH |
Michael CRICHTON |
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Ken LYNN |
Siobhan TOLLAND |
Craig DUNCAN |
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Jax FINNEGAN |
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Councillor Mark FLYNN, Convener, in the Chair.
The minute of meeting of this Committee of 28th October, 2024 was held as read.
Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.
I DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Councillor Finnegan declared an interest in the item of business at Article XIV of this minute by virtue of her employment with the Dundee Health and Social Care Partnership and took no part in the proceedings.
Bailie Keenan declared an interest in the item of business at Article XIV of this minute by virtue of being a member of Dudhope Multicultural Centres Advisory Group and took no part in the proceedings.
II PROTECTING PEOPLE COMMITTEE ANNUAL REPORT 2023/2024
There was submitted Report No 328-2024 by the Protecting People Independent Chairs presenting the annual report published by the Protecting People Committee for the period 2023/2024.
The Committee agreed:-
(i) to note the content of the annual report for the Dundee Protecting People Committees, the main report and supporting information which was attached to the report as Appendices 1 and 2;
(ii) to note the progress made in developing an effective partnership response to the needs of at risk children and adults during 2023/2024 as outlined in section 4.2 of the report; and
(iii) to note the challenges and priority areas for action identified across the annual reports for focus during 2024/2025 and beyond as outlined in section 4.3 of the report.
III CHIEF SOCIAL WORK OFFICER ANNUAL REPORT 2023/2024
There was submitted Report No 324-2024 by the Chief Social Work Officer, presenting for information the Chief Social Work Officers Annual Report for 2023/2024, which was attached to the report as Appendix 1.
The Committee agreed to note the content of the report and the Chief Social Work Officers Annual Report for 2023/2024 which was attached to the report as Appendix 1.
IV BUDGET CONSULTATION
The Committee acceded to requests for deputations from Mr David McIntosh, President of Dundee City Aquatics, and Jenny Lawson of Brooksbank, to address the Committee in relation to this item of business. Thereafter, having heard the deputations and questions and answers, the deputations were thanked for their attendance and withdrew from the meeting.
There was submitted Report No 319-2024 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services, seeking approval for officers to consult on possible Budget options for Financial Year 2025/2026 and to report back to Committee for final decision in due course.
The Committee agreed:-
(i) that the Councils budget consultation for 2025/2026 would include the options set out in Appendix A of the report;
(ii) to authorise the Executive Director of Corporate Services to finalise the options for consultation and to make necessary arrangements to undertake the 2025/2026 budget consultation;
(iii) to recognise the impact of the National Insurance (NI) changes made by the UK Government in the Autumn Budget (referenced in 4.4) and the possible impact on the Council and partner organisations (Leisure and Culture/Tayside Contracts/ Construction services and third-party organisations) budgets; and
(iv) to agree that the Leader of the Council writes to the Chancellor of the Exchequer (Rachel Reeves MP) noting Committees concerns, and that without the UK Government fully reimbursing all the NI costs to both Council and its partners (noted above in (iii)), that this would have a detrimental impact on services, which many people in the city rely on.
Bailie Keenan intimated his dissent from the foregoing decision.
V CAPITAL EXPENDITURE MONITORING 2024/2025
(a) There was submitted Report No 266-2024 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services, appraising 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.
(b) There was submitted Report No 315-2024 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services, appraising 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.
VI REVENUE MONITORING 2024/2025
(a) There was submitted Report No 244-2024 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services, providing an analysis of the 2024/2025 projected revenue outturn as at 31st July, 2024 and the impact on the Councils overall balances position.
The Committee agreed:-
(i) to note that as at 31st July, 2024, the General Fund was projecting an overall overspend of 4.364m against the adjusted 2024/2025 Revenue Budget and the impact this had had on the projected Councils General Fund Balances;
(ii) to approve the recovery plans totalling 1.320m as set out in section 3.2 of the report and to note that, if implemented, this would reduce the above projected overspend to 3.044m;
(iii) to note the budget adjustments totalling 3.049m as detailed in second column of Appendix A of the report as virements to the previously approved Revenue Budget;
(iv) to note that as at 31st July, 2024, the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) was projecting an overspend of 0.915m 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;
(v) to note the key strategic, operational and financial risks being faced by the Council as outlined in Appendix B of the report;
(vi) to note that the Chief Executive and Executive Directors, 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
(vii) to note the current position in relation to Leisure and Culture Dundee (LACD), as set out in section 7.1 of the report.
(b) There was submitted Report No 280-2024 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services, providing an analysis of the 2024/2025 projected revenue outturn as at 31st August, 2024 and the impact on the Councils overall balances position.
The Committee agreed:-
(i) to note that as at 31st August, 2024, the General Fund was projecting an overall overspend of 2.820m against the adjusted 2024/2025 Revenue Budget and the impact this had had on the projected Councils General Fund Balances;
(ii) to note the budget adjustments totalling 2.984m as detailed in the second column of Appendix A of the report as virements to the previously approved Revenue Budget;
(iii) to note that as at 31st August, 2024, the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) was projecting an overspend of 0.915m 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 as outlined in Appendix B of the report;
(v) to note that the Chief Executive and Executive Directors, 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 in relation to Leisure and Culture Dundee (LACD), as set out in section 7.1 of the report.
VII COUNCIL PLAN 2022/2027 - MID-YEAR PROGRESS REPORT 2024/2025
There was submitted Report No 306-2024 by the Chief Executive providing a mid-year update showing progress so far during 2024/2025 being year three of the five-year plan.
The Committee agreed to note the progress being made and to remit the report to the Scrutiny Committee for further consideration.
VIII CITY PLAN FOR DUNDEE 2022/2023 - ANNUAL REPORT FOR 2023/2024
This report was deferred.
IX CITY DEVELOPMENT SERVICE PLAN - ANNUAL UPDATE REPORT
This report was deferred.
X ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR - JULY TO SEPTEMBER, 2024
This report was deferred.
XI ANNUAL PROCUREMENT REPORT AND COMMUNITY BENEFITS UPDATE 2023/2024
There was submitted Report No 252-2024 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services notifying of the Annual Procurement Report for the Council which provided an update on the progress made of work being undertaken in the year 2023/2024 and detailing 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 this reporting period.
The Committee agreed to note the information included in the report and that the Annual Procurement Report be published on the Councils Website.
XII COMMUNICATION STRATEGY 2022/2027 - UPDATE
This report was deferred.
XIII ANNUAL TREASURY MANAGEMENT ACTIVITY 2023/2024
This report was deferred.
XIV DUNDEE INTEGRATION JOINT BOARD FINANCIAL RECOVERY PLAN
Reference was made to Article X of the minute of meeting of the Dundee Integration Joint Board held on 23rd October, 2024, wherein the Dundee Integration Joint Boards financial recovery plan was approved.
There was submitted Report No 334-2024 by the Acting Chief Officer, Dundee Integration Joint Board presenting the Dundee Integration Joint Boards 2024/2025 financial recovery plan.
The Committee agreed to note Dundee Integration Joint Boards financial recovery plan 2024/2025.
Mark FLYNN, Convener.