Policy And Resources Committee - 05/12/2022

At a MEETING of the POLICY AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE held remotely on 5th December, 2022.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 21st November, 2022 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

Councillor John ALEXANDER, Convener, in the Chair.

I DECLARATION OF INTEREST

There were no declarations of interest.

II COUNCIL PLAN 2022/2027

There was submitted Report No 280-2022 by the Chief Executive presenting the new five year strategic plan for Dundee City Council, known as the Council Plan 2022/2027.

The Committee agreed the Council Plan for 2022/2027.

III BEST VALUE ASSURANCE REPORT (BVAR) AUDIT REVIEW ACTION PLAN PROGRESS REPORT

There was submitted Report No 293-2022 by the Chief Executive, reporting progress on the implementation of the improvement actions agreed to address the findings and recommendations from the Best Value Assurance Report, published in September, 2020.

The Committee agreed:-

(i) to note progress as summarised in Sections 5 to 7 of the report; and

(ii) that this would be the final progress report on the BVAR Action Plan and that any outstanding actions would continue to be progressed and would be reported, through other regular reporting routes to the relevant Committee, as appropriate.

IV OUR PEOPLE STRATEGY 2022/2027

There was submitted Report No 288-2022 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services, presenting Dundee City Councils Our People Strategy 2022/2027.

The Committee agreed to approve Dundee City Councils Our People Strategy 2022/2027.

V DELIVERING DUNDEE CLIMATE COMMITMENTS - ONE YEAR ON FROM COP 26

There was submitted Report No 281-2022 by the Executive Director of City Development informing of action taken to support the C40 Cities: Race to Net Zero Pledge; The Edinburgh Declaration and the Glasgow Food and Climate Declaration, all endorsed by Committee ahead of COP 26, held in November, 2021 and informing the Committee of progress in delivering the Councils sustainability and climate change functions since COP 26 through partnership work in support of the Dundee Climate Action Plan.

The Committee reaffirmed its commitments to the climate emergency and to the C40 Cities: Race to Net Zero Pledge; The Edinburgh Declaration; and the Glasgow Food and Climate Declaration.

VI CHIEF EXECUTIVE SERVICE PLAN 2021/2024 - MID YEAR PROGRESS REPORT FOR 2022/2023

There was submitted Report No 296-2022 by the Chief Executive providing an update on progress made so far during financial year 2022/2023 in relation to the Chief Executives Service Plan for 2021/2024.

The Committee agreed to note the progress summarised in Section 5.0 of the report and approve the progress report as detailed in the Appendix of the report.

VII CAPITAL EXPENDITURE MONITORING 2022/2023

There was submitted Report No 316-2022 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.

VIII REVENUE MONITORING 2022/2023

There was submitted Report No 315-2022 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services providing an analysis of the 2022/2023 projected revenue outturn as at 31st October, 2022 and the impact on the Councils overall balances position.

The Committee agreed:-

(i) to note that the overall General Fund as at 31st October, 2022 was projecting an underspend of (0.001m) against the adjusted 2022/2023 Revenue Budget and the impact this had on the projected Councils General Fund Balances;

(ii) to note the budget adjustments totalling 22.070m and detailed in second column of Appendix A (and summarised in Appendix E) of the report as virements to the previous approved Revenue Budget;

(iii) to note the position on Covid-related expenditure and Covid funding, that was included within the overall projection but was set out separately for information in Appendix B and paragraph 6.1 of the report;

(iv) to note that the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) as at 31st October, 2022 was projecting an overspend of 1.300m against the adjusted HRA 2022/2023 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 position on ring-fenced grants expenditure outlined in Appendix C of the report;

(vi) that the Council Leadership Team would take every reasonable action to ensure that the 2022/2023 revenue expenditure was below or in line with the adjusted Revenue Budget and noted that in accordance with the agreed Medium-Term Financial Strategy (Report No 257-2022 to Policy and Resources Committee on 26th September, 2022, refers) officers were taking steps to manage current and recurring revenue expenditure, including reviewing vacancies and any new recurring commitments;

(vii) to note the key strategic, operational and financial risks being faced by the Council outlined in Appendix D of the report; and

(viii) to note the current position on Leisure and Culture Dundee, as set out in paragraph 7.3 of the report.

IX INSURANCE TENDER

There was submitted Report No 330-2022 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services seeking approval of tenders for the provision of insurance cover for the Council for the period 31st December, 2022 to 30th December, 2023.

The Committee agreed:-

(i) to approve the award of lots 4, 5, 6 and 9 to Zurich Municipal following a mini competition under Crown Commercial Service RM6138: Insurance Services 3 Dynamic Purchasing System for a period of 12 months from 31st December, 2022 to 30th December 2023; and

(ii) to delegate the Executive Director of Corporate Services to negotiate with the existing providers an extension of the insurance cover for a period of 12 months, in respect of the Fine Art insurance and Marine insurance.

John ALEXANDER. Convener.