City Governance Committee - 02/12/2024

At a MEETING of the CITY GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 2nd December, 2024.

Present:-

Lord Provost Bill CAMPBELL

Depute Lord Provost Kevin CORDELL

BAILIES

Will DAWSON	Willie SAWERS	Fraser MACPHERSON
Christina ROBERTS	Kevin KEENAN	Derek SCOTT
	Helen WRIGHT

COUNCILLORS

Heather ANDERSON	Steven ROME	George McIRVINE
Jimmy BLACK	Lynne SHORT	Wendy SCULLIN
Mark FLYNN	Roisin SMITH	Pete SHEARS
Stewart HUNTER	Siobhan TOLLAND	Daniel COLEMAN
Ken LYNN	Georgia CRUICKSHANK	Michael CRICHTON
Lee MILLS	Jax FINNEGAN	Craig DUNCAN
	Dorothy McHUGH

Councillor Mark FLYNN, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 18th November, 2024 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I DECLARATION OF INTEREST

Councillor Crichton declared an interest in the item of business at Article XI of this minute by virtue of his employment with an organisation referred to and took no part in the proceedings and withdrew from the meeting during its consideration.

II CHANGES TO SERVICES PROVIDED BY LEISURE AND CULTURE DUNDEE

The Committee acceded to requests for deputations from Martin Goodfellow on behalf of Broughty Ferry Traders Association, Ian Gordon in his capacity as Captain of Caird Park Golf Course and Dr June Gilchrist as Chair of Dundee Astronomical Society to address the Committee in relation to this item of business. Thereafter, having heard the deputations, questions and answers, the deputations were thanked for their attendance and withdrew from the meeting.

There was submitted Joint Report No 323-2024 by the Chief Executive and the Director, Leisure and Culture providing an update on the results of the consultations on the proposals to change services provided by Leisure and Culture Dundee and making recommendations on changes to be implemented.

Thereafter, Depute Lord Provost Cordell, seconded by Councillor Tolland, moved that the Committee:-

(i) continue to support the operation of the Mills Observatory as outlined in section 6.6 of the report;

(ii) defer a decision on the closure of Broughty Ferry castle, museum and grounds to allow officers of Dundee City Council and Leisure and Culture Dundee to fully engage with Historic Environment Scotland and Scottish Ministers over the long-term funding and management of the castle, museum and grounds and that Officers return to Committee no later than February, 2025, with a report detailing the outcome of these discussions and fully engage with any other interested parties regarding the long-term funding and management of the castle, museum and grounds;

(iii) engage with Historic Scotland regarding the future of the Castle and its illumination;

(iv) cease to operate Caird Park Golf Course resulting in its closing by 30th April, 2025 as set out in section 6.20 of the report; and

(v) remit the Chief Executive and Director of Leisure and Culture Dundee to implement the changes proposed in the report and update any agreements accordingly.

As an amendment, Councillor Duncan, seconded by Councillor Shears, moved that consideration of the report be deferred until after the Local Government Financial Settlement was known.

On a division, there voted for the motion - the Convener, Lord Provost Campbell, Depute Lord Provost Cordell, Bailies Dawson, Roberts and Sawers and Councillors Anderson, Black, Hunter, Lynn, Mills, Rome, Short, Smith and Tolland (15); and for the amendment - Bailies Keenan, Wright, Macpherson and Scott and Councillors Cruickshank, Finnegan, McHugh, McIrvine, Scullin, Shears, Coleman, Crichton and Duncan (13) - whereupon the motion was declared carried.

Thereafter, as a further amendment, Bailie Scott moved that the Committee agrees to continue to support the operation of Mills Observatory, Broughty Castle Museum and Caird Park Golf Course and to make provision of 515k in the 2025/2026 revenue estimates to meet the additional cost of continuing the operations.

There being no seconder, the amendment proposed by Bailie Scott fell and was not voted upon - whereupon Bailie Scott asked that his amendment be recorded.

As a further amendment, Bailie Keenan, seconded by Bailie Macpherson, moved that Committee note the report and take no further action.

III CAPITAL EXPENDITURE MONITORING 2024/2025

There was submitted Report No 332-2024 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.

IV REVENUE MONITORING 2024/2025

There was submitted Report No 318-2024 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services, providing an analysis of the 2024/2025 projected revenue outturn as at 30th September, 2024 and the impact on the Councils overall balances position.

The Committee agreed:-

(i) to note that as at 30th September, 2024, the General Fund was projecting an overall overspend of 5.276m 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 6.142m 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 30th September, 2024, the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) was projecting an overspend of 3.000m 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 authorise the Executive Director of Corporate Services to; take steps to control in year spend to reduce the projected overspends including by limiting overtime, ceasing avoidable expenditure on supplies and services; further review earmarked balances; and in consultation with the Corporate Leadership Team identify further financial recovery options;

(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 on Leisure and Culture Dundee (LACD), as set out in section 7.1 of the report.

V CITY PLAN FOR DUNDEE 2022/2023 - ANNUAL REPORT FOR 2023/2024

There was submitted Report No 285-2024 by the Chief Executive presenting the second annual progress report on the City Plan for Dundee 2022/2032 which was considered and agreed by the Dundee Partnership on 5th September, 2024. It was reported that the Dundee Partnership Management Group were committed to bring updates to their individual organisations for noting.

The Committee agreed:-

(i) to note the progress made since the first report on the City Plan for Dundee 2022/2032 in October, 2023;

(ii) to note that the Strategic Leadership Groups would review performance indicators that had deteriorated and take measures to improve these going forward;

(iii) to remit the annual report to the Scrutiny Committee for further consideration; and

(iv) to remit the Council Leadership Team to monitor Dundee City Councils commitment and inputs to delivering actions supporting the plan.

VI CITY DEVELOPMENT SERVICE PLAN - ANNUAL UPDATE REPORT

There was submitted Report No 295-2024 by the Executive Director of City Development, providing an annual update showing progress to date for the City Development Service Plan which was agreed by the Council in September, 2023.

The Committee agreed to note the update on progress of the Service Plan objectives.

VII ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR - JULY TO SEPTEMBER, 2024

There was submitted Report No 302-2024 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, 2024.

The Committee agreed to note the content of the report.

VIII COMMUNICATION STRATEGY 2022/2027 - UPDATE

There was submitted Report No 322-2024 by the Chief Executive, providing an update on progress during 2023/2024 on the Councils Communication Strategy 2022/2027 and associated action plan.

The Committee agreed:-

(i) to note the progress being made on the strategy; and

(ii) the action plan as outlined in Appendix 3 of the report.

IX ANNUAL TREASURY MANAGEMENT ACTIVITY 2023/2024

There was submitted Report No 289-2024 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services, reviewing the Treasury Management activities for the period 1st April, 2023 to 31st March, 2024.

The Committee agreed to note the information contained in the report and to the limits as indicated in Appendix 1 of the report.

The Committee resolved under Section 50(A)(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 that the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the undernoted items of business on the grounds that they involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 6 and 9 of Part I of Schedule 7A of the Act.

X BUSINESS SUPPORT FUNDING

There was submitted Report No 336-2024 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services on business support funding to an external organisation.

The Committee agreed to note that in view of the timescales involved this report had been approved by the Executive Director of Corporate Services in consultation with the Convener, the Labour Group Spokesperson, the Liberal Democrat Spokesperson and the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party Member.

The Convener agreed that the undernoted item of business be considered as a matter of urgency in terms of Standing No 17(b) in view of the timescales involved.

XI SALE OF PROPERTY

There was submitted Joint Report No 355-2024 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services and the Executive Director of City Development seeking approval of the sale of property as outlined in the report.

The Committee agreed to the recommendations as detailed in the report.

Mark FLYNN, Convener.