Scrutiny Committee - 23/09/2015

At a MEETING of the SCRUTINY COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 23rd September, 2015.

Present:-

Bailie Derek SCOTT

COUNCILLORS

Councillor Kevin KEENAN, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 24th June, 2015 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I DECLARATION OF INTEREST

No declarations of interest were made.

II EXTERNAL INSPECTION REPORTS FOR WHICH GRADES ARE GOOD OR BETTER

There was submitted Report No 346-2015 by the Executive Director of Children and Families Service providing a summary of recent external inspection reports which do not require in-depth scrutiny.

The Committee:-

(i) noted the summaries of the inspection reports on Gillburn Road Residential Respite Unit, Millview Cottage and The Junction, all of which received grades of good or better in all areas covered by the inspections; and

(ii) remitted to the Executive Director of Children and Families Service to ensure that the areas for improvement, requirements and recommendations included in the reports were acted upon, both in relation to the particular services inspected and as guidance on good practice for other services.

III CORPORATE PERFORMANCE SELF-ASSESSMENT 2014/2015 - REPORT FOR THREE MONTHS TO 30TH JUNE, 2015

There was submitted Report No 303-2015 by the Chief Executive advising elected members of the performance of Dundee City Council for the three months of the financial year to 30th June, 2015 as defined by the key quarterly performance indicators.

The Committee:-

(i) noted that performance levels for the first three months of the financial year had generally been maintained or improved;

(ii) noted in particular, that for the first time, all corporate outcome indicators (ie those on pages 9 and 10 of the report) were all maintained or improved compared to the previous period; and

(iii) remitted to all Chief Officers to review the contents of Appendix 1 as it related to their service and consider if there were any indicators for which performance could be improved over the course of the 2015/2016 financial year.

IV INTERNAL AUDIT REPORTS

There was submitted Report No 342-2015 by the Chief Internal Auditor providing the Committee with a summary of the Internal Audit Reports finalised since the last meeting of this Committee.

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

V INTERNAL AUDIT REPORTS - SUMMARY OF PROGRESS ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF RECOMMENDATIONS

There was submitted Report No 343-2015 by the Chief Internal Auditor providing elected members with an update on the progress in implementing internal audit recommendations previously reported to and agreed by management.

The Committee noted the information contained within the report.

VI DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL 2014/2015 - ACCOUNTS AND AUDIT

(a) DRAFT AUDIT STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS

(i) Dundee City Council

The above report was submitted and noted (Report No 355-2015).

(ii) Dundee City Council Charitable Trusts

The above report was submitted and noted (Report No 356-2015).

(iii) Lord Provost of Dundee Charity Fund

The above report was submitted and noted (Report No 357-2015).

(b) EXTERNAL AUDITOR'S REPORT

The above report was submitted and noted (Report No 358-2015).

(c) DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL 2014/2015 ACCOUNTS AND AUDIT (RESPONSE TO THE EXTERNAL AUDITOR'S ANNUAL AUDIT REPORT)

There was submitted Report No 359-2015 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services on the outcome of the external audit of Dundee City Council for the year to 31st March, 2015.

The Committee:-

(i) noted the contents of the draft External Auditor's Report including the completed action plan at Appendix 4, and in particular that KPMG had indicated they would issue an unqualified audit opinion on each of the 2014/2015 Annual Accounts noted above;

(ii) endorsed the report as the Councils formal response to the External Auditor's Report;

(iii) agreed that each of the Audited Annual Accounts noted above be signed as necessary;

(iv) instructed the Executive Director of Corporate Services to arrange for each of the Audited Annual Accounts noted above to be signed and then returned to the external auditor;

(v) instructed the Executive Director of Corporate Services thereafter to arrange for the above annual accounts, including copies of all audit certificates and accounts of the Councils subsidiary bodies to be published on the Councils website by no later than 31st October, 2015; and

(vi) noted that the external auditors report would also be considered by the Policy and Resources Committee in due course, together with each of the Audited Annual Accounts noted above.

VII TAYSIDE PENSION FUNDS 2014/2015

(a) DRAFT AUDITED STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS FOR THE TAYSIDE PENSION FUNDS 2014/2015

The above report was submitted and noted (Report No 353-2015).

(b) EXTERNAL AUDITOR'S ANNUAL REPORT

The above report was submitted and noted (Report No 352-2015).

(c) TAYSIDE PENSION FUNDS 2014/2015 ACCOUNTS AND AUDIT

There was submitted Report No 351-2015 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services on the outcome of the external audit of Tayside Pension Funds for the year to 31st March, 2015.

The Committee:-

(i) noted the contents of the External Auditor's Annual Audit Report, in particular that KPMG LLP anticipated issuing an unqualified audit opinion;

(ii) instructed the Executive Director of Corporate Services to arrange for the Audited Statement of Accounts to be signed as necessary; and

(iii) noted that the External Auditor's Report to members would be considered by the Policy and Resources Committee and the Pension Sub-committee and Pension Board in due course, together with the Audited Statement of Accounts.

VIII BORROWING AND TREASURY MANAGEMENT IN COUNCILS (AUDIT SCOTLAND REPORT)

There was submitted Report No 328-2015 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services informing members of the report entitled "Borrowing and Treasury Management in Councils" published in March, 2015.

The Committee noted the recommendations of the report and the response from the Executive Director of Corporate Services contained in Appendix A of the report and the Audit Scotland supplementary guidance for Councillors contained in Appendix B of the report.

Kevin KEENAN, Convener.