City Governance Committee - 17/02/2025
At a MEETING of the CITY GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 17th February, 2025.
Present:-
|
Depute Lord Provost Kevin CORDELL |
BAILIES
|
Will DAWSON |
Kevin KEENAN |
Helen WRIGHT |
|
Willie SAWERS |
|
Derek SCOTT |
COUNCILLORS
|
Heather ANDERSON |
Steven ROME |
George McIRVINE |
|
Jimmy BLACK |
Lynne SHORT |
Wendy SCULLIN |
|
Mark FLYNN |
Roisin SMITH |
Pete SHEARS |
|
Stewart HUNTER |
Siobhan TOLLAND |
Daniel COLEMAN |
|
Ken LYNN |
Georgia CRUICKSHANK |
Michael CRICHTON |
|
Lee MILLS |
Dorothy McHUGH |
Craig DUNCAN |
Councillor Mark FLYNN, Convener, in the Chair.
The minute of meeting of this Committee of 20th January, 2025 was held as read.
Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.
I DECLARATION OF INTEREST
There were no declarations of interest.
II MINUTE OF MEETING OF PERSONNEL APPEALS SUB-COMMITTEE - 13TH JANUARY, 2025
The above minute, a copy of which is appended hereto, was submitted for information and record purposes (Appendix I).
III CAPITAL EXPENDITURE MONITORING 2024/2025
There was submitted Report No 32-2025 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services, appraising of the latest position regarding the Council's Capital Plan 2024/2029.
The Committee agreed to note the latest position regarding the Council's Capital Plan 2024/2029.
IV REVENUE MONITORING 2024/2025
There was submitted Report No 25-2025 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services, providing an analysis of the 2024/2025 projected revenue outturn as at 30th November, 2024 and the impact on the Councils overall balances position.
The Committee agreed:-
(i) to note that as at 30th November, 2024, the General Fund was projecting an overall overspend of 3.037m against the adjusted 2024/2025 Revenue Budget and the impact this had on the projected Councils General Fund Balances;
(ii) to note the budget adjustments totalling 5.285m as detailed in the second column of Appendix A to the report as virements to the previously approved Revenue Budget;
(iii) to note that as at 30th November, 2024, the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) was projecting an overspend of 3.898m against the adjusted HRA 2024/2025 Revenue Budget and the impact this had on the element of the projected Renewal and Repair Fund balance earmarked to HRA;
(iv) to authorise the Executive Director of Corporate Services to:-
(i) take steps to control in year spend to reduce the projected overspends including by limiting overtime, ceasing avoidable expenditure on supplies and services;
(ii) further review earmarked balances; and
(iii) in consultation with Corporate Leadership Team identify further financial recovery options.
(v) to approve the action to capitalise a total of 1.2m of HRA expenditure to reduce cost pressures, set out in section 8.3 to the report, and note if implemented this would reduce the HRA projected overspend to 2.698m. This would also increase the HRA Renewal and Repair Funds projected balance at 31st March, 2025 to 2.024m;
(vi) to note the key strategic, operational and financial risks being faced by the Council as outlined in Appendix B to the report; and
(vii) to note the current position on Leisure and Culture Dundee (LACD), as set out in section 7.1 to the report.
V CAPITAL PLAN 2025/2030
Reference was made to Article VII of the minute of this Committee held on 18th May, 2024, wherein it was agreed to prioritise projects within the available resources and to recommend allocating for 2029/2030.
There was submitted Report No 44-2025 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services, on proposed changes to the 2024/2029 Capital Plan.
The Committee agreed:-
(i) to note the impact of the current financial environment on the Capital Plan 2025/2030;
(ii) to the revised Capital Plan for 2025/2030, as detailed in Appendix A to the report;
(iii) to note the risks outlined in Appendix C to the report and that a further report on the Capital Plan would be presented to the Committee should there be any material change in circumstances; and
(iv) to note the additional general capital grant anticipated in relation to the Scottish Government Climate Emergency Fund (as outlined in section 4.2 to the report) and that further details of this would be provided to Committee in a future capital monitoring report.
VI TREASURY MANAGEMENT ACTIVITY 2024/2025 (MID-YEAR REVIEW)
There was submitted Report No 41-2025 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services, reviewing the Treasury Management activities for the period 1st April to 30th September, 2024.
The Committee agreed to note the information contained in the report.
VII ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR OCTOBER TO DECEMBER 2024
There was submitted Report No 33-2025 by the Executive Director of Neighbourhood Services, providing an overview on the reporting figures to the Neighbourhood Services Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) Team for the period 1st October to 31st December, 2024.
The Committee agreed to note the content of the report.
VIII AMENDMENT TO NON-DOMESTIC RATES EMPTY PROPERTY RELIEF OPERATIONAL POLICY
There was submitted Report No 54-2025 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services, reporting details on a proposal to amend the Councils Non-Domestic Rates Empty Property Policy.
The Committee agreed:-
(i) to note the content of the report; and
(ii) to approve the proposed amendments to the Councils Non-Domestic Rates Empty Property Policy to come into operation from 1st April, 2025 as detailed in Appendix 1 of the report.
IX APPROVAL FOR THE PROCUREMENT OF SCHOOL TRIPS FOR THE PERIOD COVERING 2025 TO 2030
There was submitted Joint Report No 53-2025 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services and the Executive Director of Children and Families Service, seeking approval to commence the procurement of individual school trips which exceeded 50,000, throughout the period 2025/2030.
The Committee agreed:-
(i) to approve the commencement of the procurement of individual school trips which exceeded 50,000, based on a documented sourcing strategy for each trip being organised throughout the period 2025 to 2030; and
(ii) to delegate authority to the Executive Director of Children and Families Service to approve the procurement sourcing strategy and direct award the purchase (each school trip exceeding 50,000).
X CONTRACT FOR THE SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE OF CRAFT AND DESIGN TECHNOLOGY EQUIPMENT (CDT)IN DUNDEE SCHOOLS
There was submitted Joint Report No 51-2025 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services and the Executive Director of Children and Families Service, seeking approval to commence with the award of a contract regarding the servicing and maintenance of Craft and Design Technology (CDT) equipment in all Dundee schools and associated buildings, leading to the award of a contract.
The Committee agreed:
(i) to delegate authority to the Executive Director of Corporate Services to award a contract to the successful bidder, following the completion of a tender process carried out in compliance with the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations of 2015. Currently, the tender process had closed and only one competent bid was received from Active Energy Solutions Ltd; and
(ii) to approve expenditure on the project to the total value described in section 3.1 to the report of 56,100 which ensured coverage until 2028.
XI SCHOOLS MICROSOFT LICENCES
There was submitted Report No 46-2025 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services, presenting a sourcing strategy and seeking approval to commence with the procurement exercise.
The Committee agreed:-
(i) to approve the commencement of a procurement exercise in respect of the purchase described, and delegate to the Head of Digital and Customer Services to make the purchase based on the sourcing strategy as detailed in Appendix 1 to the report.
XII WIRELESS NETWORK PURCHASE
There was submitted Report No 48-2025 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services, summarising the sourcing strategy for the purchase of wireless network equipment for installation across the Council estate.
The Committee agreed:-
(i) to approve the commencement of a procurement exercise in respect of the purchase described, based on the sourcing strategy detailed in Appendix 1 to the report, and delegate authority to the Head of Digital and Customer Service to make the purchase.
Mark FLYNN, Convener.
APPENDIX I
At a MEETING of the PERSONNEL APPEALS SUB-COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 13th January, 2025.
Present`:-
COUNCILLORS
|
Stewart HUNTER |
Roisin SMITH |
Pete SHEARS |
Councillor Roisin SMITH, Convener, in the Chair.
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 Neighbourhood Services had been submitted.
The Sub-Committee heard the Councils representative and witnesses and, thereafter, the Appellant, their representative and their witnesses.
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 the appeal be not upheld.
Roisin SMITH, Convener.