Policy And Resources Committee - 07/12/2009

At a MEETING of the POLICY AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 7th December, 2009.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Councillor Ken GUILD, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 23rd November, 2009 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I MINUTES

(a) PERSONNEL APPEALS SUB-COMMITTEE OF 29TH JUNE AND 26TH OCTOBER, 2009

(b) SUPERANNUATION INVESTMENT SUB-COMMITTEE OF 23RD NOVEMBER, 2009

The minutes of meetings of the above Sub-Committees, copies of which are appended hereto (Appendices I and II), were submitted for information and record purposes.

II REVENUE MONITORING 2009/2010

There was submitted Report No 595-2009 by the Director of Finance providing the Committee with an analysis of the 2009/2010 Projected Revenue Outturn as at 31st October, 2009 monitoring against the adjusted 2009/2010 Revenue Budget.

The Committee:-

(i) noted that the overall General Fund 2009/2010 Projected Revenue Outturn, as at 31st October, 2009, showed an overspend of 60,000 against the adjusted 2009/2010 Revenue Budget;

(ii) noted that the Housing Revenue Account, as at 31st October, 2009, was projecting an underspend of 164,000 against the adjusted HRA 2009/2010 Revenue Budget;

(iii) instructed the Director of Finance to take every reasonable action to ensure that the 2009/2010 revenue expenditure was below or in line with the adjusted Revenue Budget; and

(iv) instructed the Director of Finance, in conjunction with all Chief Officers of the Council, to continue to monitor the Council's 2009/2010 Projected Revenue Outturn.

III CAPITAL EXPENDITURE MONITORING 2009/2010

There was submitted Report No 569-2009 by the Director of Finance appraising members of the latest position regarding the Council's Capital Expenditure Programme for 2009/2010.

The Committee noted the contents of the report.

IV FAIRER SCOTLAND FUND 2009/2010 TRANSITION TO MAINSTREAM

There was submitted Report No 591-2009 by the Assistant Chief Executive setting out the Dundee Partnership's recommendations for ensuring a minimal Fairer Scotland Fund carry forward to 2010/2011 and budgets for ongoing regeneration activity between 2010/2011 and 2012/2013.

Councillor Guild, seconded by Councillor Duncan, moved that this Committee endorses the Dundee Partnership's funding proposals detailed in Appendix 1 of the report.

As an amendment, Bailie Scott, seconded by Councillor Hay, moved approval of the undernoted.

The 750,000 in the proposed budget for 2010/2011 be shared equally between the six new forums and the Local Community Planning Partnerships in The Ferry and West End.

This amended proposal to be referred back to the Dundee Partnership so that the necessary adjustments can be made.

On a division, there voted for the motion - Councillors Guild, Barrie, Black, Bowes, Andy Dawson, Will Dawson, Duncan, Fordyce, Hunter, Lynn, Melville, Roberts, Ross, Bailie Sawers, Lord Provost Letford and Depute Lord Provost Borthwick (16); and for the amendment - Councillors Keenan, Asif, Bidwell, Ferguson, Gordon, McCready, Hay, Macpherson, Dick, Bailie Wallace and Bailie Scott (11) - whereupon the motion was declared carried.

Thereafter, it was agreed that a detailed report regarding the Fairer Scotland Fund would be submitted to the Policy and Resources Committee in January 2010.

V DUNDEE CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU - FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE 2009/2010

Councillor Black declared a non-financial interest by virtue of being the Council's representative on the Board of Dundee Citizens' Advice Bureau.

After considering Report No 567-2009 by the Director of Finance, the Committee approved the revenue grant for Dundee Citizens' Advice Bureau of 110,000 for the financial year 2009/2010.

VI RELIEF OF RATES - CHARITY RELIEF

There was submitted Report No 579-2009 by the Director of Finance seeking authorisation to grant charity relief on the undernoted non-domestic properties.

The Committee approved accordingly.

VII TREASURY MANAGEMENT ACTIVITY 2009/2010 (SIX MONTHS TO 30TH SEPTEMBER, 2009)

There was submitted Report No 581-2009 by the Director of Finance reviewing the Treasury Management activities for the period 1st April, 2009 to 30th September, 2009.

The Committee noted the information contained therein.

VIII REVISED LOCAL GOVERNMENT FINANCE SETTLEMENT 2010/2011 AND REVENUE BUDGET/COUNCIL TAX SETTING PROCEDURE

There was submitted Report No 593-2009 by the Director of Finance advising members of the recent announcements made by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth in respect of the revised Local Government Settlement for 2010/2011.

Councillor Guild, seconded by Councillor Duncan, moved that the Committee:-

(i) noted the Council's revised Revenue Funding Allocation for 2010/2011, as recently announced by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth, and the associated implications;

(ii) noted the current position on the Revenue Budget for the three year period 2010/2013;

(iii) agreed that the savings and efficiencies detailed in Appendix A and totalling 0.442m be treated as technical budget adjustments and be included in the 2010/2013 Provisional Revenue Budget volume, which would be issued on 4th February, 2010; and

(iv) approved the procedures to be followed for setting the 2010/2011 Revenue Budget and Council Tax level, as set out in Section 10 and Appendix B of the report.

An amendment, Councillor Keenan, seconded by Councillor Gordon moved:-

That in view of the level of savings that are required in 2010/2011, all savings proposals and budget adjustments should be brought back to an early Policy and Resources Committee before the budget meeting so that detailed scrutiny of these proposals can be undertaken by members and Council Tax payers. If the SNP cuts are not acceptable then there will be time to meet with the Scottish Government to seek additional funds to protect services.

On a division, there voted for the motion - Councillors Guild, Barrie, Black, Bowes, Andy Dawson, Will Dawson, Duncan, Fordyce, Hunter, Lynn, Melville, Roberts, Ross, Macpherson, Dick, Bailie Sawers and Lord Provost Letford (17); and for the amendment - Councillors Keenan, Asif, Bidwell, Ferguson, Gordon, McCready, Hay, Bailie Wallace, Bailie Scott and Depute Lord Provost Borthwick (10) - whereupon the motion was declared carried.

IX DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL ACCOUNTS 2008/2009

(a) STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS

The above report was submitted and noted. (Report No 605-2009).

(b) EXTERNAL AUDITOR'S REPORT

The above report was submitted and noted. (Report No 606-2009).

(c) EXTERNAL AUDITOR'S REPORT - RESPONSE FROM DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL

There was submitted Report No 576-2009 by the Director of Finance in response to the report by the Council's External Auditor on the audit of Dundee City Council for the year to 31st March, 2009.

The Committee endorsed the report as the Council's formal response to the External Auditor's report and noted the completed Action Plan appended to the report.

X REALIGNMENT OF SUPPORTING PEOPLE FUNDING TO SCOTTISH VETERANS HOUSING ASSOCIATION - ROSENDAEL

On a reference to Article I of the minute of meeting of the Social Work and Health Committee of 24th August, 2009, there was submitted Report No 396-2009 by the Chief Executive informing members of the positive outcome to the discussions between officers of Dundee City Council and the management of Rosendael and seeking approval for a revised funding package from the Supporting People Budget and through Housing Benefit.

The Committee approved the realignment of Supporting People funding to the Scottish Veterans' Housing Association in respect of their accommodation at Rosendael to take account of the outcome of a Supporting People Service Review, the introduction of a new service level agreement for five additional residents and a separate review of the organisation's eligible rent levels for Housing Benefit purposes.

XI WHITFIELD REGENERATION PROJECT: WHITFIELD LIFE SERVICES FACILITY

There was submitted Report No 564-2009 by the Housing Regeneration Manager seeking approval for the establishment of a combined services facility for NHS, Social Work and Leisure and Communities use as part of the Whitfield Regeneration Project.

The Committee:-

(i) agreed to establish the Whitfield Life Services Facility in association with NHS Tayside;

(ii) remitted to the Housing Regeneration Manager to arrange for the necessary design and financial estimates to be prepared;

(iii) remitted to the Director of City Development to develop the necessary joint procurement and management arrangements with NHS Tayside; and

(iv) remitted to the Chief Architectural Services Officer to bring forward a further report with design, costs and programme details to a future meeting.

The Committee resolved under Section 50(A)(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 that the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the undernoted item of business on the grounds that it involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 1 of Part I of Schedule 7A of the Act.

XII FIBRE CITY

After considering Report No 582-2009 by the Chief Executive relative to the above, the Committee approved the recommendations detailed therein.

Ken GUILD, Convener.