Policy And Resources Committee - 06/03/2023

At a MEETING of the POLICY AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE held remotely on 6th March, 2023.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Councillor John ALEXANDER, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 23rd February, 2023 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I DECLARATION OF INTEREST

There were no declarations of interest.

II CAPITAL EXPENDITURE MONITORING 2022/2023

(a) There was submitted Report No 18-2023 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services, appraising of the latest position regarding the Councils Capital Plan for 2023/2028. The report showed the latest projections for 2022/2023 expenditure and for the projected total cost as at 31st December, 2022.

The Committee agreed to note the latest position regarding the Councils Capital Plan for 2023/2028 and for the projected total cost as at 31st December, 2022.

(b) There was submitted Report No 74-2023 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services, appraising of the latest position regarding the Councils Capital Plan for 2023/2028. This report showed the latest projections for 2022/2023 expenditure and for the projected total cost as at 31st January, 2023.

The Committee agreed to note the latest position regarding the Councils Capital Plan for 2023/2028 and for the projected total cost as at 31st January, 2023.

III REVENUE MONITORING 2022/2023

(a) There was submitted Report No 26-2023 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services, providing an analysis of the 2022/2023 projected revenue outturn as at 31st December, 2022 and the impact on the Councils overall balances position.

The Committee agreed:-

(i) to note that the overall General Fund as at 31st December, 2022 was projecting an underspend of 0.770m 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 31.958m and detailed in the second column of Appendix A (and summarised in Appendix E) to 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 to the report and paragraph 6.1 to the report;

(iv) to note that the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) as at 31st December, 2022 was projecting an overspend of 1.700m 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 to the report;

(vi) that the Council Leadership Team continue to take every reasonable action to ensure that the 2022/2023 revenue expenditure in accordance with the agreed Medium-Term Financial Strategy (Report No 257-2022 to Policy and Resources Committee on 26th September, 2022, refers);

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

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

(b) There was submitted Report No 65-2023 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services, providing an analysis of the 2022/2023 projected revenue outturn as at 31st January, 2023 and the impact on the Councils overall balances position.

The Committee agreed:-

(i) to note that as at 31st January, 2023, the General Fund was projecting an increase of 0.917 in uncommitted balances at the year end. This comprised a forecast underspend of 2.517m against the adjusted 2022/2023 Revenue Budget offset by 1.6m that would require to be earmarked for 2023/2024 to meet existing commitments as set out in paragraph 5.5 to the report;

(ii) to note the budget adjustments totalling 32.156m and detailed in second column of Appendix A (and summarised in Appendix E) to 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 to the report and paragraph 6.1 to the report;

(iv) to note that the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) as at 31st January, 2023 was projecting an overspend of 1.700m 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 to the report;

(vi) that the Council Leadership Team continue to take every reasonable action to ensure that the 2022/2023 revenue expenditure in accordance with the agreed Medium-Term Financial Strategy (Report No: 257-2022 to Policy and Resources Committee on 26th September, 2022, refers);

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

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

IV CORPORATE SERVICES SERVICE PLAN 2021/2024 PROGRESS REPORT

There was submitted Report No 4-2023 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services, providing a progress report on the 2021/2024 Corporate Services Service Plan.

The Committee agreed to note the Service Plan update which was appended to the report.

V RISK MANAGEMENT ANNUAL REPORT

There was submitted Report No 32-2023 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services, presenting the annual Review of Risk Management and the Review of Risks in the Councils Corporate Risk Register.

The Committee agreed:-

(i) to note the content of the report; and

(ii) to remit the report to the Scrutiny Committee for further consideration.

VI TREASURY POLICY STATEMENT 2023/2024

There was submitted Report No 66-2023 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services, reviewing the Councils Treasury Policy Statement which was intended to govern all borrowing and lending transactions carried out by the Council.

The Committee agreed to approve the policies and procedures laid out in the Treasury Policy Statement 2023/2024 which was appended to the report.

VII TREASURY MANAGEMENT STRATEGY 2023/2024

There was submitted Report No 68-2023 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services, introducing the Dundee City Council Treasury Management Strategy Statement and Annual Investment Strategy for 2023/2024, the preparation of which was a requirement of the Councils Treasury Policy Statement and the CIPFA Code of Practice on Treasury Management.

The Committee agreed:-

(i) to note that in terms of the Treasury Policy Statement, the Executive Director of Corporate Services was obliged to present the annual Treasury Management Strategy at the start of each financial year; and

(ii) to approve the strategy proposed by the Executive Director of Corporate Services for 2023/2024 as set out in the document Treasury Management Strategy 2023/2024 which was appended to the report.

VIII RENEWAL OF MICROSOFT ENTERPRISE AGREEMENT

There was submitted Report No 80-2023 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services, seeking consideration of the Councils requirement to renew its license entitlement to use Microsoft products and services. The existing agreement was due to expire and a replacement agreement was required to be put in place.

The Committee agreed:-

(i) to the Council entering a new three year Enterprise Subscription Agreement with Microsoft and to purchase Microsoft Licenses; and

(ii) to remit the Head of Customer Services and IT to purchase Microsoft Licenses under the new Enterprise Agreement, following a compliant procurement process using Crown Commercial Services Microsoft 365 Aggregated Procurement.

John ALEXANDER, Convener.