Policy And Resources Committee - 12/01/2015

At a MEETING of the POLICY AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 12th January, 2015.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Councillor Ken GUILD, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 8th December, 2014 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I DECLARATION OF INTEREST

No declarations of interest were made.

II MINUTES

(a) PENSION INVESTMENT SUB-COMMITTEE

(b) PERSONNEL APPEALS SUB-COMMITTEE

The minutes of meetings of the Pensions Investment Sub-Committee of 1st December, 2014 and Personnel Appeals Sub-Committee of 1st December, 2014, copies of which are appended hereto (Appendices I and II), were submitted for information and record purposes.

III REVENUE MONITORING

There was submitted Report No 15-2015 by the Director of Corporate Services providing an analysis of the 2014/2015 Projected Revenue Outturn as at 30th November, 2014 monitored against the adjusted 2014/2015 Revenue Budget.

The Committee:-

(i) noted that the overall General Fund 2014/2015 Projected Revenue Outturn as at 30th November, 2014 was projecting an underspend of 45,000 against the adjusted 2014/2015 Revenue Budget;

(ii) noted that the Housing Revenue Account as at 30th November, 2014 was projecting a breakeven position against the adjusted HRA 2014/2015 Revenue Budget;

(iii) instructed the Director of Corporate Services to take every reasonable action to ensure that the 2014/2015 revenue expenditure was below or in line with the adjusted Revenue Budget; and

(iv) instructed the Director of Corporate Services, in conjunction with all Chief Officers, to continue to monitor the Council's 2014/2015 Projected Revenue Outturn.

IV CAPITAL MONITORING

There was submitted Report No 12-2015 by the Director of Corporate Services appraising members of the latest position regarding the Council's Capital Expenditure Programme for 2014/2015.

The Committee noted the contents of the report.

V DUNDEE COMMUNITY REGENERATION FUND 2014/2015

There was submitted Report No 13-2015 by the Chief Executive relative to the above.

The Committee noted the allocations to the Community Regeneration Fund for 2014/2015 and approved the funding proposals contained in Section 5.2 of the report (Appendix III).

VI DUNDEE CULTURAL STRATEGY, CITY OF DESIGN AND PLACE PARTNERSHIP PROPOSAL

There was submitted Report No 7-2015 by the Director, Leisure and Communities relative to the above.

The Committee:-

(i) noted the significant achievements arising from the consistent support provided by partners to implementation of the Cultural Strategy 2009/2014. Over 85% of all actions contained in the Strategy had been achieved, with some ongoing;

(ii) noted the development of a forward Cultural Strategy for the period 2015/2025 and Action Plan for the next five years, 2015/2020 which was approved by the Dundee Partnership Management Group at its meeting on 5th December, 2014;

(iii) committed to resourcing those actions which would require City Council support; and

(iv) agreed to support the Dundee Partnership proposal for Place Partnership status to progress implementation over the next three years.

VII CREATIVE DUNDEE

There was submitted Report No 8-2015 by the Director, Leisure and Communities relative to the above.

The Committee:-

(i) noted the achievements of Creative Dundee over the past eighteen months since it became a constituted social enterprise; and

(ii) approved a one-off grant of 40,000 to enable it to consolidate its position and enter into a development partnership with Creative Scotland.

VIII LOCAL GOVERNMENT FINANCE SETTLEMENT 2015/2016 AND FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS FOR THE CITY COUNCIL

There was submitted Report No 23-2015 by the Director of Corporate Services advising elected members of the announcement made by the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Constitution and the Economy on 11th December, 2014 in respect of the Local Government Finance Settlement for 2015/2016.

The Committee:-

(i) noted the contents of the report;

(ii) noted the Council's Revenue and Capital Funding Allocations for 2015/2016, as announced by the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Constitution and the Economy on 11th December, 2014, and the associated implications;

(iii) noted the terms of the settlement to be provided to Local Government, as previously advised by the then Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth in a letter to COSLA dated 9th October, 2014;

(iv) noted the current position on the Council's Provisional 2015/2016 Revenue Budget and Draft 2015/2018 Capital Plan;

(v) noted that the financial information included in the report would be updated as necessary and included in the Council Tax proposals to be submitted to the Special Policy and Resources Committee on 12th February, 2015;

(vi) approved the procedures to be followed for setting the 2015/2016 Revenue Budget and Council Tax level, as set out in Section 10 and Appendix 2 of the report;

(vii) agreed that the procedures for setting the Councils 2015/2018 Capital Plan be the same as those for setting the 2015/2016 Revenue Budget and Council Tax; and

(viii) noted the medium-term financial outlook as set out in Section 7 of the report.

IX CHANGING FOR THE FUTURE PROGRAMME - MONITORING REPORT

There was submitted Report No 5-2015 by the Director of Corporate Services providing a further update on the savings and progress of the Changing for the Future Programme.

The Committee noted:-

(i) the savings totalling 14.198m arising from reports which had previously been approved by the Board, as shown in Appendix 1 of the report;

(ii) that 12.877m of the savings shown in Appendix 1 had been reflected in the approved 2014/2015 Revenue Budget and that further savings would be reflected in future years' Revenue Budgets;

(iii) that resources would be focussed for the next six months on the projects detailed in paragraph 4.5 of the report;

(iv) that the individual projects within the programme continued to be progressed and were monitored by the Council's management team on a regular basis; and

(v) that further update reports would be submitted to future meetings of the Changing for the Future Board and Policy and Resources Committee.

X REVIEW OF HOUSING REPAIRS CENTRE AND HOUSING INVESTMENT UNIT

There was submitted Report No 6-2015 by the Director of Corporate Services summarising the findings from a review of the Housing Repairs Centre and the Housing Investment Unit.

The Committee agreed that the Housing Repairs Centre be consolidated into the Corporate Contact Centre to provide greater efficiencies in contact handling and to further drive forward one contact centre for Dundee City Council.

XI PROVISION OF OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH SERVICES

There was submitted Report No 14-2015 by the Director of Corporate Services seeking approval for the appointment of People Asset Management Ltd to provide occupational health services to the Council from 1st April, 2015 to 31st March, 2018, with an option to extend for a further two years.

The Committee approved the appointment of People Asset Management Ltd, it being noted that the appointment would enable the Council to effectively manage its occupational health responsibilities including physiotherapy and counselling services.

XII SCOTLANDS CLIMATE CHANGE DECLARATION YEAR 6 - 2013/2014

There was submitted Report No 4-2015 by the Chief Executive informing the Committee of the work undertaken over the last year in support of the Council's commitment to the Scottish Climate Change Declaration.

The Committee noted the contents of the report.

Ken GUILD, Convener.

At a MEETING of the PENSION INVESTMENT SUB-COMMITTEE OF THE POLICY AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 1st December, 2014.

APPENDIX I

Present:-

COUNCILLORS

Councillor Jimmy BLACK, Depute Convener, in the Chair.

I DECLARATION OF INTEREST

No declarations of interest were made.

II TAYSIDE PENSION FUNDS RISK REGISTER

There was submitted Report No 454-2014 by the Director of Corporate Services updating the Risk Register for the Tayside Pension Funds.

The Sub-Committee approved the updated Risk Register for the Tayside Pension Fund and Tayside Transport Pension Fund.

III PROPOSED TIMETABLE OF MEETINGS FOR 2015

There was submitted Report No 456-2014 by the Director of Corporate Services proposing a suggested programme of meetings of the Pension Investment Sub-Committee to cover investment performance and issues arising in 2015.

The Sub-Committee examined the dates set out in the timetable in Appendix 1 and agreed the proposed programme of meetings.

The Sub-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 items of business on the grounds that they involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 4, 6 and 11 of Part I of Schedule 7A of the Act.

IV TAYSIDE PENSION FUNDS

(a) PERFORMANCE SUMMARIES

There was submitted Report No 453-2014 by the Director of Corporate Services relating to Performance Summaries for the quarter, twelve months, three years, five years and ten years to 30th September, 2014 reviewing the investment performance of the Main Funds five Fund Managers (including Property) and the Financing Fund for the quarter to 30th September, 2014. It also considered the performance of the Transport Fund which invested with three of these Managers.

The report compared investment performance of the Funds with the Funds specific benchmarks which consisted of various stock and security market indices.

The Sub-Committee noted the information contained therein with regard to the performance of the Tayside Pension Fund and Tayside Transport Pension Fund and their Fund Managers.

(b) SUMMARIES OF INVESTMENTS AND TRANSACTIONS

There was submitted Report No 441-2014 by the Director of Corporate Services summarising investments and transactions for the quarter to 30th September, 2014 reviewing the investment activities of the Main Funds seven Fund Managers for the quarter to 30th September, 2014. The Transport Fund shared three of these Managers and their transactions were included.

The report summarised the transaction of each Fund Manager and showed the market values of the Main and Transport Fund.

The Sub-Committee noted the information contained therein with regard to the activities of the Tayside Pension Fund and Tayside Transport Pension Fund and their Fund Managers.

V TRIENNIAL ACTUARIAL VALUATION TO 31ST MARCH, 2014

A position update was given to members by the Fund Actuary.

The Sub-Committee noted the findings of the Fund Actuary.

VI SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE INVESTMENT - SIX MONTHLY REPORT

There was submitted Report No 455-2014 by the Director of Corporate Services reviewing the progress by the Fund Managers regarding the positive engagement Policy on Environment, Social and Corporate Governance approved by the Sub-Committee on 17th November, 2008.

The Sub-Committee noted the information contained within this report with regard to the activities of the Fund Managers during the six month period ended 30th September, 2014.

VII PRESENTATION

Rob Marsden and Gordon Strachan from Fidelity Worldwide Investment gave a short presentation.

A summary of the performance of the Portfolio was given noting the key performance drivers and comparison of this to benchmark figures. It was noted that the Portfolio was continuing to out-perform its benchmark, with the performance objective being to consistently achieve this over rolling three year period.

The Chair thanked the speakers for their presentation.

Jimmy BLACK, Depute Convener.

At a MEETING of the PERSONNEL APPEALS SUB-COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 1st December, 2014.

APPENDIX II

Present:-

Depute Lord Provost Christina ROBERTS

COUNCILLORS

Councillor David BOWES, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 18th August, 2014 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

The Sub-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 items of business on the grounds that they involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 1 of Part I of Schedule 7A of the Act.

I DECLARATION OF INTEREST

There were no declarations of interest.

II APPEAL AGAINST DISMISSAL

It was reported that an appeal against dismissal from an employee of the Environment Department had been submitted.

The Sub-Committee heard the Council's representative and witnesses and, thereafter, the Appellant and his representative.

After questions had been put and answers given by both parties to each other and the witnesses and by members of the Sub-Committee, the parties withdrew.

Thereafter, following careful consideration of all the information, the Sub-Committee agreed that the grounds of the appeal had not been substantiated and that the appeal be not upheld.

David BOWES, Convener.

APPENDIX III