Scrutiny Committee - 23/09/2020

At a MEETING of the SCRUTINY COMMITTEE held remotely on 23rd September, 2020.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Bailie Kevin KEENAN, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 24th June, 2020 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I DECLARATION OF INTEREST

Bailie Macpherson declared a non-financial interest in relation to Article V by virtue of a relative attending Sidlaw View Primary School.

II 2020/2021 INTERNAL AUDIT PLAN

There was submitted Report No 150-2020 by the Senior Manager, Internal Audit relative to the above.

The Committee noted that, in view of the timescales involved, the Senior Manager, Internal Audit, in consultation with the Convener, SNP Group Spokesperson, Conservative Group Spokesperson, Liberal Democrat Group Spokesperson, the Independent Member and the Lord Provost had:-

(i) reviewed and approved the 2020/2021 Internal Audit Plan as detailed at Appendix A of the report;

(ii) reviewed and approved the proposed amendments to the 2019/2020 Internal Audit Plan detailed in the report; and

(iii) noted the update on progress towards delivering the 2018/2019 and 2019/2020 Internal Audit Plans as detailed at Appendices B and C of the report respectively.

III DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL - AUDIT SCOTLAND ANNUAL AUDIT PLAN 2019/2020

There was submitted Report No 156-2020 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services detailing how Audit Scotland would deliver the audit of Dundee City Council for the year ending 31st March, 2020.

The Committee noted that, in view of the timescale involved, the Executive Director of Corporate Services, in consultation with the Convener, SNP Group Spokesperson, Conservative Group Spokesperson, Liberal Democrat Group Spokesperson, the Independent Member and the Lord Provost had noted that information included in the Annual Audit Plan 2019/2020 appended to the report.

IV EDUCATION SCOTLAND (HMI) INSPECTION OF BARNHILL PRIMARY SCHOOL AND EARLY YEARS CENTRE

There was submitted Report No 230-2020 by the Executive Director of Children and Families Service reporting on the findings of the Education Scotland (HMI) inspection of Barnhill Primary School and Early Years Centre.

The Committee:-

(i) noted the contents of the report; and

(ii) instructed the Chief Education Officer to monitor progress towards meeting the areas for improvement outlined in the report.

V EDUCATION SCOTLAND (HMI) INSPECTION OF SIDLAW VIEW PRIMARY SCHOOL - CONTINUING ENGAGEMENT

There was submitted Report No 231-2020 by the Executive Director of Children and Families Service reporting on the findings of the Continuing Engagement visit by Education Scotland (HMI) to Sidlaw View Primary School.

The Committee:-

(i) noted the contents of the report; and

(ii) instructed the Chief Education Officer to monitor progress towards meeting the areas for improvement outlined in the report.

VI EDUCATION SCOTLAND (HMI) INSPECTION OF FINTRY PRIMARY SCHOOL

There was submitted Report No 232-2020 by the Executive Director of Children and Families Service reporting on the findings of the Education Scotland (HMI) short model inspection of Fintry Primary School and Early Years Centre.

The Committee:-

(i) noted the contents of the report; and

(ii) instructed the Chief Education Officer to monitor progress towards meeting the areas for improvement outlined in the report.

VII EDUCATION SCOTLAND (HMI) INSPECTION OF ST JOSEPHS RC PRIMARY SCHOOL

There was submitted Report No 233-2020 by the Executive Director of Children and Families Service reporting the findings of the Education Scotland (HMI) inspection of St Josephs RC Primary School.

The Committee:-

(i) noted the contents of the report; and

(ii) instructed the Chief Education Officer to monitor progress towards meeting the areas for improvement outlined in the report.

VIII EXTERNAL INSPECTION REPORT FOR GILLBURN ROAD CHILDRENS RESPITE HOME

There was submitted Report No 234-2020 by the Executive Director of Children and Families Service providing an outline of a recent external inspection report of Gillburn Home, Children with Disabilities Respite House which, over two categories of inspection, received grades of Adequate and Good.

Gillburn Home was inspected in relation to supporting children and young peoples wellbeing and care and support planning.

The Committee:-

(i) noted the summary of the inspection report on Gillburn Road; and

(ii) remitted the Executive Director of Children and Families Service to ensure that the areas for improvement were acted upon.

IX EXTERNAL INSPECTION REPORT FOR DRUMMOND HOUSE

There was submitted Report No 235-2020 by the Executive Director of Children and Families Service providing an outline of a recent external inspection report of Drummond House Childrens Home, which, over five categories of inspection, received four grades of Adequate to one grade of Good. The house was inspected in relation to supporting children and young peoples wellbeing, leadership, staffing, setting, care and support planning.

The Committee:-

(i) noted the summary of the inspection report on Drummond House; and

(ii) remitted the Executive Director of Children and Families Service to ensure that the areas for improvement were acted upon.

X EXTERNAL INSPECTION REPORT FOR FAIRBAIRN STREET CHILDRENS HOME

There was submitted Report No 236-2020 by the Executive Director of Children and Families Service providing a summary of a recent external inspection report carried out by the Care Inspectorate on Fairbairn Street on 11th November, 2019, which did not require in-depth scrutiny. Over two categories of inspection, Fairbairn Home received grades of Good. Fairbairn Home was inspected in relation to supporting children and young peoples wellbeing and care and support planning.

The Committee:-

(i) noted the summary of the inspection report on Fairbairn Street Young Persons Home which received grades of Good in all areas covered by the inspections; and

(ii) remitted the Executive Director of Children and Families Service to ensure that the areas for improvement were acted upon.

XI JOINT CITY PLAN AND COUNCIL PLAN PROGRESS REPORT 2019/2020

On a reference to Article XXI of the minute of meeting of the Policy and Resources Committee of 24th August, 2020, there was submitted Report No 169-2020 by the Chief Executive relative to the above.

The Committee, for their interest, noted the progress being made at the joint City Plan and Council Plan.

XII COVID-19 RECOVERY RISK REGISTER

On a reference to Article XV of the minute of meeting of the Policy and Resources Committee of 24th August, 2020, there was submitted Report No 193-2020, by the Executive Director of Corporate Services, relative to the above.

The Committee, for their interest, noted the report.

XIII COVID-19 GUIDE FOR AUDIT AND RISK COMMITTEES

There was submitted Report No 213-2020 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services providing a summary of the above national guide compiled by Audit Scotland for public bodies and auditors.

The Committee:-

(i) noted the key issues arising from Audit Scotland guide appended to the report; and

(ii) noted the questions within the four exhibits within the Audit Scotland guide.

XIV COVID-19 EMERGING FRAUD RISKS

There was submitted Report No 214-2020 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services providing a summary of the above national briefing that had been compiled by Audit Scotland for public bodies and auditors.

The Committee noted the key messages arising from the Audit Scotland briefing attached to the report.

XV INTERNAL AUDIT REPORTS

There was submitted Report No 216-2020 by the Senior Manager, Internal Audit providing the Committee with a summary of the Internal Audit Reports finalised since the last Scrutiny Committee.

The Committee noted the information contained within the report.

XVI INTEGRATION JOINT BOARD INTERNAL AUDIT REPORT

There was submitted Report No 217-2020 by the Senior Manager, Internal Audit submitting, for information only, the Dundee Integration Joint Board (IJB) Internal Audit Report on Information Governance and Technology as Enablers.

The Committee noted, for assurance purposes the information contained in the report.

XVII CORPORATE FRAUD TEAM ACTIVITY AND PERFORMANCE, INCLUDING WHISTLEBLOWING 2019/2020

There was submitted Report No 218-2020 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services informing the Committee of the Corporate Fraud Teams (CFTs) activity and performance for the 12 month period to 31st March, 2020, including whistleblowing activity.

The Committee:-

(i) noted the content of the CFTs activity and performance report for 2019/2020 at Appendix 1 of the report including referral statistics and savings/other benefits identified during the year; and

(ii) noted the results of the Councils whistleblowing activity for 2019/2020 at Appendix 2 of the report including allegation statistics and outcomes.

XVIII NATIONAL FRAUD INITIATIVE

There was submitted Report No 219-2020 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services informing the Committee of the continued work of the 2018/2019 National Fraud Initiative (NFI) exercise, the mandatory 2018/2019 Electoral Roll/Council Tax Single Person Discounts data matching exercise and preparations for the 2020/2021 NFI exercise.

The Committee:-

(i) noted the progress made on investigating the data matches received from the Cabinet Office as part of the 2018/2019 NFI exercise at Appendix 1;

(ii) noted progress towards planning and preparations for the 2020/2021 NFI exercise;

(iii) noted Audit Scotlands national report on the NFI 2018/2019 dated July, 2020 at Appendix 3; and

(iv) reviewed the completed NFI Self-Appraisal Checklist for those charged with governance at Appendix 2.

XIX LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN SCOTLAND: OVERVIEW 2020

There was submitted Report No 222-2020 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services providing the Committee with a summary of the above national report that had been undertaken by Audit Scotland on behalf of the Accounts Commission.

The Committee:-

(i) noted the key messages and recommendations arising from the Audit Scotland overview report; and

(ii) noted the Questions for Councillors supplement that was issued along with the overview report.

XX COVID-19 IMPLICATIONS FOR PUBLIC FINANCES IN SCOTLAND

There was submitted Report No 221-2020 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services providing the Committee with a summary of the above national briefing that had been compiled by Audit Scotland.

The Committee noted the key messages arising from the Audit Scotland briefing.

XXI DUNDEE HOUSE CLOSURE 10TH/11TH DECEMBER, 2019

There was submitted Report No 225-2020 by the Executive Director of City Development advising the Committee on the events which led to the closure of Dundee House on the 10th and 11th December, 2019, subsequent remedial actions taken in order to allow re-occupation of the building on 12th December, 2019 and advising on further planned remedial action.

The Committee noted the content of the report, the actions taken to rectify the damage caused and the steps undertaken to mitigate the risk of future disruption to the continuity of Council services.

XXII AUDIT SCOTLAND - REVIEW OF INTERNAL CONTROLS IN FINANCIAL SYSTEMS 2019/2020

There was submitted Report No 240-2020 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services submitting to the Scrutiny Committee the Interim Management Letter on the Review of Internal Controls in Financial Systems 2019/2020 prepared by the Councils External Auditor, Audit Scotland.

The Committee noted the contents of Audit Scotlands Interim Management Letter appended to the report and approved the management responses to Audit Scotlands key findings.

Kevin KEENAN, Convener.