Policy And Resources Committee - 11/12/2017

At a MEETING of the POLICY AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 11th December, 2017.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Councillor John ALEXANDER, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 13th November, 2017 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I DECLARATION OF INTEREST

No declarations of interest were made.

II COUNCIL PLAN 2017-2022

There was submitted Report No 420-2017 by the Chief Executive providing the Committee with a draft Council Plan for the period up to 2022 for its consideration.

The Committee approved the Council Plan 2017-2022.

III REVIEW OF STANDING ORDERS

There was submitted Report No 444-2017 by the Chief Executive to review the Standing Orders.

The Committee approved the proposed amendments and remitted to the Head of Democratic and Legal Services to amend the Standing Orders accordingly.

At this point the Committee agreed to suspend Standing Order No 26 in order to allow the meeting to proceed past 9.30 pm.

IV THE CHIEF SOCIAL WORK OFFICER ANNUAL REPORT 2016/2017

There was submitted Report No 430-2017 by the Chief Social Work Officer and Executive Director, Children and Families bringing forward for information and approval the Chief Social Work Officers Annual Report for 2016/2017 which was attached to the report as Appendix 1.

The Committee:-

(i) approved the attached Chief Social Work Officers Annual Report for 2016/2017; and

(ii) approved the submission of the report to the Scottish Government.

V DUNDEE CENTRAL WATERFRONT DEVELOPMENT - ACQUISITION OF LAND FROM TAY ROAD BRIDGE JOINT BOARD

On a reference to Article IV of the minute of meeting of this Committee of 8th January, 2007, there was submitted Report No 431-2017 by the Executive Director of City Development relative to the above.

The Committee agreed to acquire the land on the plan appended to the report from the Tay Road Bridge Joint Board in order to implement the Central Waterfront proposals.

VI RELIEF OF RATES - CHARITY RELIEF

There was submitted Report No 421-2017 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services relative to the above.

The Committee approved the recommendations detailed in the report.

VII CAPITAL INVESTMENT STRATEGY

There was submitted Report No 419-2017 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services introducing the Councils first Capital Investment Strategy.

The Committee approved the Capital Investment Strategy shown in Appendix 1 of the report.

VIII REVENUE MONITORING 2017/2018

There was submitted Report No 398-2017 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services providing an analysis of the 2017/2018 projected revenue outturn as at 31st October, 2017 monitored against the adjusted 2017/2018 Revenue Budget.

The Committee:-

(i) noted that the overall General Fund 2017/2018 projected revenue outturn as at 31st October, 2017 was an overspend of 1,732,000 against the adjusted 2017/2018 Revenue Budget. The projection was unchanged from the position reported at 30th September, 2017;

(ii) noted that the Housing Revenue Account as at 31st October, 2017 was projecting a breakeven position against the adjusted HRA 2017/2018 Revenue Budget;

(iii) agreed that the Council Management Team would take every reasonable action to ensure that the 2017/2018 revenue expenditure was below or in line with the adjusted Revenue Budget; and

(iv) instructed the Executive Director of Corporate Services in conjunction with the Council Management Team to continue to monitor the Councils 2017/2018 projected revenue outturn.

IX CAPITAL EXPENDITURE MONITORING 2017/2018

There was submitted Report No 396-2017 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services appraising of the latest position regarding the Councils Capital Plan 2018-2023.

The Committee noted the contents of the report.

X FINANCIAL OUTLOOK 2018/2021

There was submitted Report No 439-2017 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services advising of the financial outlook at a national level for the three year period 2018-2021. The report also outlined the current position on the Councils Revenue Budget for 2018-2021, in light of projected grant settlement figures.

The Convener, seconded by Bailie Sawers, moved that the Committee:-

(i) note the current position on the Councils Revenue Budget for 2018-2021;

(ii) note the financial outlook at a national level for the three year period 2018-2021;

(iii) note the range of projected savings and efficiencies that may be required over the next three financial years in order to deliver a balanced budget; and

(iv) note that a further report would be submitted to the Policy and Resources Committee in January, 2018 detailing the Councils actual grant settlement for 2018/2019 and the associated implications. An update on the Councils medium-term financial strategy would also be included in this report, together with the proposed procedure for setting the Councils Revenue Budget and Council Tax for 2018/2019.

As an amendment, Bailie Scott, seconded by Councillor Scott, moved that the Committee:-

Note the report, but in addition, also note:-

In last year's Scottish budget, the SNP Scottish Government made an explicit political choice to cut local government funding, despite an increase in real terms in its own funding.

The 2018/2019 block grant will again see a further increase in real terms.

Agree that there is no justification for any further fiscal tightening of local government budgets, and instruct the Chief Executive to write to the Cabinet Secretary for Finance to express concern about the financial outlook for Dundee City Council and to call for a fair share of Scottish Government funding.

On a division, there voted for the motion - the Convener, Councillors Dawson, Flynn, Hunter, Lynn, Murray, Rendall, Ross, Short, and Smith, Bailie Sawers, Lord Provost Borthwick and Depute Lord Provost Campbell (13); and for the amendment - Councillors Hay and Scott and Bailie Scott (3) - Councillors Cruickshank, Gordon, McCready, McIrvine, Malone, Marra, Richardson, Duncan and Bailie Wright declining to vote - whereupon the motion was declared carried.

XI CITY COUNCIL AND COMMITTEE TIMETABLE

There was submitted Report No 445-2017 by the Chief Executive reviewing the Council's timetable of meetings.

The Convener, seconded by Councillor Murray, moved that the Committee agree the new City Council and Committee timetable appended to the report.

As an amendment, Councillor Marra, seconded by Councillor McIrvine, moved that the Committee agree to maintain the status quo.

On a division, there voted for the motion - the Convener, Councillors Dawson, Flynn, Hunter, Lynn, Murray, Rendall, Ross, Short, Smith, Hay and Scott, Bailies Sawers and Scott, Lord Provost Borthwick and Depute Lord Provost Campbell (16); and for the amendment - Councillors Cruickshank, Gordon, McCready, McIrvine, Malone, Marra and Richardson and Bailie Wright (8) - Councillor Duncan declining to vote - whereupon the motion was declared carried.

John ALEXANDER, Convener.