Scrutiny Committee - 06/12/2023

At a MEETING of the SCRUTINY COMMITTEE held remotely on 6th December, 2023.

Present:-

Depute Lord Provost Kevin CORDELL

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Bailie Kevin KEENAN, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 25th October, 2023 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I DECLARATION OF INTEREST

There were no declarations of interest.

II EDUCATION SCOTLAND (HMI) INSPECTION OF CRAIGOWL PRIMARY SCHOOL

There was submitted Report No 365-2023 by the Executive Director of Children and Families Services, reporting on the findings of the Education Scotland (HMI) inspection of Craigowl Primary School.

The Committee agreed:-

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

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

III FIRE AND RESCUE QUARTERLY PERFORMANCE REPORT

There was submitted Report No 367-2023 by Area Commander Jason Sharp, providing information for the Committee regarding the performance of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service against the priorities, outcomes and performance measures detailed within the Local Fire and Rescue Plan for Dundee 2020/2023, to facilitate local scrutiny.

The Committee noted, scrutinised and questioned the content of the report.

IV DUNDEE POLICING AREA QUARTERLY POLICE REPORT

There was submitted Report No 368-2023 by Chief Superintendent Davison, providing information to the Committee regarding the performance of Police Scotland to facilitate local scrutiny. Appendix A provided information in relation to some of the work which had taken place within Dundee Local Policing Area.

The Committee noted, scrutinised and questioned the content of the report.

V BI-ANNUAL REPORT ON COMPLAINTS

There was submitted Report No 346-2023 by the Chief Executive, reporting on performance regarding complaints in the first half of 2023/2024, with comparisons to previous periods, and to show how the Council continued to learn from complaints.

The Committee agreed:-

(i) to note the key performance indicators on complaints closed between 1st April, 2023 and 30th September, 2023, with trends from previous periods;

(ii) to note a summary of complaints about the Council received by and determined by the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman during 2022/2023;

(iii) to note examples of the range and volume of transactions the Council had with customers and citizens as a context for the number of complaints;

(iv) to note examples of how complaints had been used to improve services;

(v) to note results of the satisfaction survey sent to people who made complaints; and

(vi) to note examples of compliments received about Council services.

VI INTERNAL AUDIT PLAN UPDATE AND PROGRESS REPORT

There was submitted Report No 356-2023 by the Chief Internal Auditor, submitting to the Committee an update on the progress towards delivering the 2023/2024 Internal Audit Plan; the audits from previous years plans that were not completed at June, 2023; and information about the number of open internal audit recommendations. The report also provided an update about the revision of Global Internal Audit Standards and Public Sector Internal Audit Standards (PSIAS).

The Committee agreed:-

(i) to note the progress with the Internal Audit Plan;

(ii) to note the appointment of a contractor to support the work of Internal Audit and the audits it is intended they undertake to assist with the completion of the plan; and

(iii) to the removal of three items from the plan as set out in Section 4.5 of the report.

VII INTERNAL AUDIT CHARTER

There was submitted Report No 357-2023 by the Chief Internal Auditor submitting to the Committee a revised Internal Audit Charter, which had been updated to incorporate a mission statement and make some minor changes to job titles and names.

The Committee were asked to approve the revised Internal Audit Charter (with changes tracked) as detailed in Appendix A to the report.

VIII DUNDEE INTEGRATION JOINT BOARD INTERNAL AUDIT REPORT

There was submitted Report No 269-2023 by the Chief Internal Auditor, submitting to the Committee, for information only, the Dundee Integration Joint Board (IJB) internal audit report for Viability of External Providers.

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

IX BEST VALUE THEMATIC REVIEW 2022/2023

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

(This report was remitted to this Committee for further consideration as agreed at the meeting of the City Governance Committee of 25th September, 2023).

The Committee agreed:-

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

(ii) to agree that the three recommendations described in paragraph 6.3 would be monitored via the Council Plan reporting process as set out in paragraph 7.3;

(iii) to agree the arrangements for monitoring and reporting on attainment as set out in paragraph 7.5; and

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

X CITY PLAN FOR DUNDEE 2022/2032 - ANNUAL REPORT FOR 2022/2023

There was submitted Report No 291-2023 by the Chief Executive updating the Committee on the City Plan for Dundee 2022/2032 which was considered and agreed by the Dundee Partnership on 14th September, 2023. The Dundee Partnership Management Group are committed to bringing updates to their individual organisations for noting.

The report was remitted to this Committee for further consideration as agreed at the meeting of the City Governance Committee of 23rd October, 2023.

The Committee agreed:-

(i) to note the progress made since the launch of the City Plan for Dundee 2022/2032 in September, 2022;

(ii) to note the revised structure of the Partnership and appoints two elected members to each of the new Strategic Leadership Groups as outlined in Section 5.7 to the report;

(iii) to remit the annual report to the Scrutiny Committee for further consideration;

(iv) to remit the Council Leadership Team to monitor Dundee City Councils commitment and inputs to delivering actions supporting this plan; and

(v) to remit the Strategic Leadership Groups to review Performance Indicators that have deteriorated and take measures to counter this going forward.

Kevin KEENAN, Convener.