Scrutiny Committee - 28/09/2016

At a MEETING of the SCRUTINY COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 28th September, 2016.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Councillor Kevin KEENAN, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 29th June, 2016 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I DECLARATION OF INTEREST

No declarations of interest were made.

II EXTERNAL INSPECTION - ST LUKE'S AND ST MATTHEW'S RC PRIMARY SCHOOL

There was submitted Report No 310-2016 by the Executive Director of Children and Families Services reporting the findings of the recent external inspection at St Luke's and St Matthew's RC Primary School.

The Committee:-

(i) noted the contents of the report; and

(ii) instructed the Executive Director of Children and Families Services to monitor progress towards meeting the areas for improvement contained in the report.

III INSURANCE CLAIMS HANDLING AUDIT

There was submitted Report No 294-2016 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services, together with an abridged version of the report prepared by the Council's insurers, Zurich Municipal providing an objective analysis of Dundee City Council's claims handling measured against current best practice.

The Committee noted the reports.

IV CORPORATE PERFORMANCE SELF-ASSESSMENT 2016/2017 - REPORT FOR THREE MONTHS TO 30TH JUNE, 2016

There was submitted Report No 313-2016 by the Chief Executive advising the Committee of the performance of Dundee City Council for the first three months of the financial year to 30th June, 2016 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; and

(ii) agreed that all Executive Directors should 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 coming year 2016/2017.

V INTERNAL AUDIT REPORTS

There was submitted Report No 295-2016 by the Senior Manager, Internal Audit, 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.

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

There was submitted Report No 296-2016 by the Senior Manager, Internal Audit 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.

VII CORPORATE FRAUD TEAM ACTIVITY AND PERFORMANCE (NFI)

There was submitted Report No 297-2016 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services informing elected members on the Corporate Fraud Team's activity and performance for the twelve month period from its establishment on 1st June, 2015.

The Committee:-

(i) noted the contents of the Corporate Fraud Team's Activity and Performance Report including the latest NFI results at Appendix 1 and 2 of the report;

(ii) noted that, going forward, an activity and performance report would be reported to the Scrutiny Committee on an annual basis covering the period to 1st April to 31st March; and

(iii) noted the findings of the recommendations contained in the Audit Scotland's NFI report at Appendix 3 of the report.

VIII DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL 2015/2016 - ACCOUNTS AND AUDIT

(a) DRAFT AUDIT STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS

(i) Dundee City Council

The above report was submitted and noted (Report No 305-2016).

(ii) Dundee City Council Charitable Trusts

The above report was submitted and noted (Report No 306-2016).

(iii) Lord Provost of Dundee Charity Fund

The above report was submitted and noted (Report No 307-2016).

(b) EXTERNAL AUDITOR'S REPORT

The above report was submitted and noted (Report No 308-2016).

(c) DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL 2015/2016 ACCOUNTS AND AUDIT - RESPONSE TO THE EXTERNAL AUDITOR'S ANNUAL AUDIT REPORT

There was submitted Report No 309-2016 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services on the outcome of the external audit of Dundee City Council for the year to 31st March, 2016.

The Committee:-

(i) noted the contents of the draft External Auditor's Report including the completed action plan at Appendix 5 of the report and, in particular, that KPMG had indicated they would issue an unqualified audit opinion on each of the 2015/2016 Annual Accounts noted above;

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

(iii) approved for each of the Audited Annual Accounts noted above to 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 Council's subsidiary bodies to be published on the Council's website by no later than 31st October, 2016; and

(vi) noted that the External Auditor's Report would also be considered by the Policy and Resources Committee in due course, together with each of the Audited Annual Accounts noted above.

IX TAYSIDE PENSION FUNDS 2015/2016

(a) DRAFT AUDITED STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS FOR THE TAYSIDE PENSION FUNDS 2015/2016

The above report was submitted and noted (Report No 302-2016).

(b) EXTERNAL AUDITOR'S ANNUAL REPORT

The above report was submitted and noted (Report No 303-2016).

(c) TAYSIDE PENSION FUNDS 2015/2016 - ACCOUNTS AND AUDIT

There was submitted Report No 304-2016 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services on the outcome of the external audit of Tayside Pension Funds for the year to 31st March, 2016.

The Committee:-

(i) noted the contents of the External Auditor's Annual Audit Report, in particular that KPMG LLP anticipate 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.

Kevin KEENAN, Convener.