Scrutiny Committee - 22/09/2021

At a MEETING of the SCRUTINY COMMITTEE held remotely on 22nd September, 2021.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Bailie Kevin KEENAN, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 20th July, 2021 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I DECLARATION OF INTEREST

Councillor Short declared a non-financial interest in relation to the item of business at Article II of this minute by virtue of a family member being in the employment of Brightsolid Data Centre, Dundee.

II INTERNAL AUDIT REPORTS

There was submitted Report No 256-2021 by the Senior Manager, Internal Audit providing the Committee with a summary of the Internal Audit Reports finalised since the last meeting of this Committee.

The Committee agreed to note the information contained within the report.

III INTERNAL AUDIT REPORTS - SUMMARY OF PROGRESS ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF RECOMMENDATIONS

There was submitted Report No 257-2021 by the Senior Manager, Internal Audit providing the Committee with an update on the progress in implementing internal audit recommendations previously reported to and agreed by Management.

The Committee agreed to note the information contained within the report.

IV DUNDEE INTEGRATION JOINT BOARD 2020/2021 ANNUAL INTERNAL AUDIT REPORT

There was submitted Report No 258-2021 by the Senior Manager, Internal Audit, providing, for information only, the Dundee Integration Joint Board 2020/2021 Annual Internal Audit Report.

The Committee agreed to note the contents of the Dundee Integration Joint Board 2020/2021 Annual Internal Audit Report.

V CORPORATE FRAUD TEAM ACTIVITY AND PERFORMANCE REPORT, INCLUDING WHISTLEBLOWING 2020/2021

There was submitted Report No 259-2021 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, 2021, which included whistleblowing activity, as well as providing a summary of key messages from Audit Scotlands Fraud and Irregularity 2020/2021 national report surrounding emerging fraud risks since the start of COVID-19.

The Committee agreed:-

(i) to note the content of the CFTs activity and performance report for 2020/2021 at Appendix 1 of the report, which included referral statistics and savings/other benefits identified during the year;

(ii) to note the results of the Councils whistleblowing activity for 2020/2021 at Appendix 2 of the report, which included allegation statistics and outcomes; and

(iii) to note the key messages from Audit Scotlands Fraud and Irregularity 2020/2021 national report at Appendix 3 of the report.

VI NATIONAL FRAUD INITIATIVE

There was submitted Report No 260-2021 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services informing the Committee of the 2020/2021 National Fraud Initiative (NFI) exercise, the mandatory 2020/2021 Electoral Roll/Council Tax Single Person Discounts data matching exercise and exercises for COVID‑19 Grants.

The Committee agreed:-

(i) to note the progress being made to date on investigating the data matches received from the Cabinet Office as part of the 2020/2021 NFI exercises referred to at Appendix 1 of the report; and

(ii) to note the Councils participation in the ongoing mandatory data matching for COVID‑19 Grant Funding at 4.2 of the report.

VII LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN SCOTLAND: OVERVIEW 2021

There was submitted Report No 267-2021 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services providing the Committee with a summary of the Local Government in Scotland Overview National Report for 2021 which was undertaken by Audit Scotland on behalf of the Accounts Commission.

The Committee agreed to note the key messages arising from the Audit Scotland overview report.

VIII JOINT CITY PLAN AND COUNCIL PLAN PROGRESS REPORT 2020/2021

On a reference to Article V of the minute of meeting of the Policy and Resources Committee of 23rd August, 2021, there was submitted Report No 211-2021 by the Chief Executive providing the Committee with updates on the progress on both the City Plan and the Council Plan during financial year 2020/2021 and at its fourth year of implementation.

The Committee, for their interest, agreed to note the joint City Plan and Council Plan progress report.

Kevin KEENAN, Convener.