City Governance Committee - 20/01/2025
At a MEETING of the CITY GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 20th January, 2025.
Present:-
|
Lord Provost Bill CAMPBELL
|
|
Depute Lord Provost Kevin CORDELL |
BAILIES
|
Will DAWSON |
Willie SAWERS |
Kevin KEENAN |
|
Christina ROBERTS |
|
Derek SCOTT |
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 |
Dorothy McHUGH |
Michael CRICHTON |
|
Lee MILLS |
|
Craig DUNCAN |
Councillor Mark FLYNN, Convener, in the Chair.
The minute of meeting of this Committee of 6th January, 2025 was held as read.
Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.
I DECLARATION OF INTEREST
There were no declarations of interest.
II MINUTE OF MEETING OF PENSION SUB-COMMITTEE AND PENSION BOARD
The minute of meeting of the Pension Sub-Committee and Pension Board held on 23rd September, 2024 was submitted and noted for information and record purposes, a copy of which is attached to this minute as an Appendix.
III CAPITAL EXPENDITURE MONITORING 2023/2024
There was submitted Report No 1-2025 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 3-2025 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services, providing an analysis of the 2024/2025 projected revenue outturn as at 31st October, 2024 and the impact on the Councils overall balances position.
The Committee agreed:-
(i) to note that as at 31st October, 2024 the General Fund was projecting an overall overspend of 4.459m 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 4.992m as detailed in second column of Appendix A of the report as virements to the previously approved Revenue Budget;
(iii) to note that as at 31st October, 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 approve the further recovery actions totalling 1.479m as set out in Section 3.2 of the report and, to note, if implemented this would reduce the above projected overspend to 2.980m;
(vi) to note the key strategic, operational and financial risks being faced by the Council outlined in Appendix B of the report; and
(vii) to note the current position on Leisure and Culture Dundee (LACD), as set out in Section 7.1 of the report.
V COMMUNITY JUSTICE ANNUAL ACTIVITY REPORT 2023/2024 AND ANNUAL COMMUNITY PAYBACK ORDER REPORT 2023/2024
There was submitted Report No 20-2025 by the Executive Director of Children and Families Service presenting both the Community Justice Annual Activity Report 2023/2024 and the Community Justice Annual Community Payback Order Report 2023/2024.
The Committee agreed to note and agree both reports and request that the Executive Director of Children and Families Service submit further update reports in Autumn 2025.
VI HOUSING (HRA) REVENUE BUDGET 2025/2028 AND REVIEW OF RENTS AND OTHER HOUSING CHARGES FOR 2025/2026
There was submitted Report No 12-2025 by the Executive Director of Neighbourhood Services advising of the outcome of the rent consultation exercise in order to approve the Housing (HRA) Revenue Budget, rent and other housing charges for the financial year 2025/2026.
The Committee agreed:-
(i) to note the outcome of the rent consultation exercise as detailed in Section 7 and Appendix 4 of the report and that the proposed rent increase below (iv) was in line with the majority view expressed by tenants through this exercise;
(ii) to approve the Housing (HRA) Revenue Budget for 2025/2026 as detailed in Appendix 1 to the report;
(iii) to note the Provisional Revenue Budgets for 2026/2027 and 2027/2028 as detailed in Appendix 1 to the report;
(iv) to approve rents be increased by 4.50% equal to an average increase of 33.92 per week with effect from 7th April 2025;
(v) to approve that all other housing charges were set as outlined in Appendix 2 of the report; and
(vi) that the level of rents held on the Housing (HRA) be similarly applied to miscellaneous houses ie the properties which were leased to the Richmond Fellowship, Dundee Health and Social Care Partnership and City Development, subject to categorisation where appropriate.
Mark FLYNN, Convener.
At a JOINT MEETING of the PENSION SUB-COMMITTEE of the CITY GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE AND THE PENSION BOARD held remotely on 23rd September, 2024.
APPENDIX I
Present:-
PENSION SUB-COMMITTEE
BAILIES
|
Willie SAWERS |
Kevin KEENAN |
COUNCILLORS
|
Ken LYNN |
Dorothy McHUGH |
Steven ROME |
PENSION BOARD
Bill DUFF (Representing Angus Council)
George RAMSAY (Representing Unite the Union)
Arthur NICOLL (Representing UNISON)
Kenny DICK (Representing Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland)
Bailie Willie SAWERS, Convener in the Chair.
I DECLARATION OF INTEREST
No declarations of interest were made.
II APOLOGIES
The Sub-Committee and Board noted apologies had been received from Councillor Crichton and Councillor Donaldson.
III MINUTE OF PREVIOUS MEETING
The minute of meeting of 24th June, 2024 was submitted and approved.
IV TAYSIDE PENSION FUND RISK REGISTER
There was submitted Report No 269-2024 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services seeking approval for the Quarterly Risk Register for Tayside Pension Fund.
The Sub-Committee and Board:-
(i) approved the Quarterly Risk Register for Tayside Pension Fund, noting the following revision made:
Risk 4 - Inability to maintain service due to loss of main office, computer system or staff. This risk had increased due to absences of key staff within the team, although steps had been to taken to mitigate the impact this had.
V PENSION ADMINISTRATION PERFORMANCE - QUARTERLY UPDATE TO 30TH JUNE, 2024
There was submitted Report No 270-2024 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services providing information on the recent quarters operational performance in relation to Pension Administration.
The Sub-Committee and Board:-
(i) noted the content of the report.
VI TAYSIDE PENSION FUND ACCOUNTS 2023/2024
(a) TAYSIDE PENSION FUND 2023/2024 - ACCOUNTS AND AUDIT
There was submitted Report No 271-2024 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services reporting on the outcome of the external audit of Tayside Pension Fund for the year to 31st March, 2024.
The Sub-Committee and Board:-
(i) noted the content of the External Auditor's Annual Audit Report, in particular that Audit Scotland anticipated issuing an unqualified audit opinion.
(b) DRAFT AUDITED ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2023/2024
There was submitted Report No 272-2024 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services providing information on the Draft Audited Annual Report and Accounts 2023/2024.
The Sub-Committee and Board:-
(i) noted the content of the report.
(c) EXTERNAL AUDITORS ANNUAL REPORT
There was submitted Report No 273-2024 by Audit Scotland providing information on the Audit of 2023/2024 Annual Report and Accounts.
The Sub-Committee and Board:-
(i) noted the content of the report.
VII ANNUAL TREASURY MANAGEMENT ACTIVITY 2023/2024
There was submitted Report No 274-2024 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services reviewing the Treasury Management activities for the period 1st April, 2023 to 31st March, 2024.
The Sub-Committee and Board:-
(i) noted the information contained within the report.
The Sub-Committee and Board 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 4, 6 and 11 of Part I of Schedule 7A of the Act.
VIII TAYSIDE PENSION FUND
(a) TAYSIDE PENSION FUND PERFORMANCE SUMMARY
There was submitted Report No 275-2024 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services reviewing the investment performance of the Funds investment managers for the quarter to 30th June, 2024. The report compared investment performance of the Fund with the Funds specific benchmarks which consisted of various stock and security market indices.
The Sub-Committee and Board:-
(i) noted the information contained therein with regard to the performance of the Tayside Main Fund and their Fund Managers.
(b) SUMMARIES OF INVESTMENTS AND TRANSACTIONS 1ST APRIL, 2024 TO 30TH JUNE, 2024
There was submitted Report No 276-2024 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services reviewing the investment activities of Tayside Pension Funds five Fund Managers for the quarter to 30th June, 2024 and summarising the transactions of each Fund Manager and showing the market values of the Pension Fund.
The Sub-Committee and Board:-
(i) noted the information contained therein with regard to the performance of the Tayside Main Fund and their Fund Managers.
(c) SECURITIES LENDING 6 MONTH ACTIVITY TO 30TH JUNE, 2024
There was submitted Report No 277-2024 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services presenting an update on Securities Lending activity for the period ended 30th June, 2024.
The Sub-Committee and Board:-
(i) agreed to note the content of the report.
(d) QUARTERLY FUNDING UPDATE AS AT 30TH JUNE 2024
There was submitted Report No 278-2024 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services reviewing the current funding level of the Fund as assessed by the Fund Actuary.
The Sub-Committee and Board:-
(i) agreed to note the content of the report.
IX PRESENTATION
Tim Gooding and Claire Phillips from Baillie Gifford gave a short presentation to the Sub-Committee and Board.
After Mr Gooding and Ms Phillips had given their presentation and answered questions from members, the Chair thanked the presenters on behalf of members of the Sub-Committee and Board.
Willie SAWERS, Chair.