City Governance Committee - 25/09/2023

At a MEETING of the CITY GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE held remotely on 25th September, 2023.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Councillor John ALEXANDER, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 4th September, 2023 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I DECLARATION OF INTEREST

There were no declarations of interest.

II BEST VALUE THEMATIC REVIEW 2022/2023

There was submitted report No 241-2023 by the Chief Executive, presenting the findings and the Improvement Action Plan in response to the Best Value Thematic Review of Dundee City Council.

The Committee agreed:-

(i) to review and consider the key messages and recommendations arising from the Best Value Thematic Review report as detailed in Appendix 1 of the report;

(ii) that the three recommendations described in section 6.3 of the report would be monitored via the Council Plan reporting process as set out in section 7.3 of the report; and

(iii) the arrangements for monitoring and reporting on attainment as set out in section 7.5 of the report; and

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

III SERVICE PLAN FOR CITY DEVELOPMENT 2023/2028

There was submitted Report No 266-2023 by the Executive Director of City Development, presenting the Service Plan for City Development for the period 2023/2028.

The Committee agreed to approve the service plan as detailed in the Appendix of the report.

IV CAPITAL EXPENDITURE MONITORING 2023/2024

There was submitted Report No 245-2023 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.

V REVENUE MONITORING 2023/2024

There was submitted Report No 229-2023 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services, providing an analysis of the 2023/2024 projected revenue outturn as at 30th June, 2023 and the impact on the Councils overall balances position.

The Committee agreed:-

(i) to note that as at 30th June, 2023, the General Fund was projecting an overall overspend of 4.252m against the adjusted 2023/2024 Revenue Budget and the impact this had on the projected Councils General Fund Balances;

(ii) to note the budget adjustments totalling 0.354m and detailed in second column of Appendix A of the report as virements to the previously approved Revenue Budget;

(iii) to note that as at 30th June, 2023, the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) was projecting an overspend of 0.600m against the adjusted HRA 2023/2024 Revenue Budget and the impact this had on the element of the projected Renewal and Repair Fund balance earmarked to HRA;

(iv) to note the position on ring-fenced grants expenditure as outlined in Appendix B of the report;

(v) to note that the Chief Executive, in consultation with Executive Directors, would take appropriate steps to manage current and recurring revenue expenditure, including reviewing all vacancies within the Council, reduce discretionary expenditure where possible and limit any new recurring commitments. Executive Directors would work with Corporate Finance to develop recovery plans to identity options to reduce the projected in year overspend;

(vi) note the key strategic, operational and financial risks being faced by the Council as outlined in Appendix C of the report; and

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

VI ANNUAL TREASURY MANAGEMENT ACTIVITY 2022/2023

There was submitted Report No 256-2023 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services, reviewing Treasury Management activities for the period 1st April, 2022 to 31st March, 2023.

The Committee agreed to note the information contained within the report and agreed the limits as outlined in Appendix 1 of the report.

VII A HUMAN RIGHTS BILL FOR SCOTLAND CONSULTATION

There was submitted Report No 273-2023 by the Chief Executive, advising of a Scottish Government consultation on proposals for a new Human Rights Bill and setting out a proposed response to be submitted on behalf of Dundee City Council.

The Committee agreed:-

(i) to note that the Scottish Government had issued a consultation paper on proposals for a new Human Rights Bill; and

(ii) the draft response to the consultation, to be submitted by the deadline of 5th October, 2023, which was set out in Appendix 1 of the report.

VIII ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR - APRIL TO JUNE 2023

There was submitted Report No 244-2023 by the Executive Director of Neighbourhood Services, providing an overview on the reporting figures to the Neighbourhood Services Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) Team for the period 1st April to 30th June, 2023.

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

IX FIREWORK CONTROL ZONES

There was submitted Report No 248-2023 by the Executive Director of Neighbourhood Services, advising of discretionary powers available to local authorities to create Firework Control Zones (FCZ) introduced in June, 2023 under the Firework and Pyrotechnic Articles (Scotland) Act 2022.

The Committee agreed:-

(i) to note the contents of the report;

(ii) to undertake wider communication and awareness raising exercise in Dundees eight wards;

(iii) to work with communities to identify potential areas and to create local mechanism for communities to request Firework Control Zones (FCZ); and

(iv) that where a community requested the creation of a zone, a cross-service working group would be established to coordinate the process and there would be early consultation with Police Scotland and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service to assist in preparing a proposal for wider consultation.

X SITE INVESTIGATION AND CONTAMINATED LAND FRAMEWORK

There was submitted Report No 249-2023 by the Executive Director of City Development, providing an update on the development of a sourcing strategy for the tender process for the carrying out of site investigations and contaminated land remediation and to seek approval to commence a compliant tender process.

The Committee agreed:-

(i) to approve the commencing of a procurement exercise in respect of the project described, based on the sourcing strategy, summarised in the report; and

(ii) to note that any contract awards to be made from this framework, that were not covered by delegation provided to officers within Council Standing Orders and Financial Regulations would be brought back to Committee for consideration in due course.

John ALEXANDER, Convener.