City Governance Committee - 20/04/2026

At a MEETING of the CITY GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 20th April, 2026.

Present:-

Lord Provost Bill CAMPBELL

Depute Lord Provost Nadia EL-NAKLA

BAILIES

Will DAWSON	Helen WRIGHT	Fraser MACPHERSON
Kevin KEENAN		Derek SCOTT

COUNCILLORS

Heather ANDERSON	Steven ROME	Dorothy McHUGH
Jimmy BLACK	Lynne SHORT	George McIRVINE
Kevin CORDELL	Roisin SMITH	Wendy SCULLIN
Mark FLYNN	Siobhan TOLLAND	Pete SHEARS
Stewart HUNTER	Georgia CRUICKSHANK	Daniel COLEMAN
Ken LYNN	Jax FINNEGAN	Michael CRICHTON
Lee MILLS		Craig DUNCAN

Councillor Mark FLYNN, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 5th March, 2026 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 THE PENSION SUB-COMMITTEE AND PENSION BOARD - 8THDECEMBER, 2025

The above minute, a copy of which is appended hereto, was submitted for information and record purposes (Appendix I).

III REGULATION OF VAPE RETAILERS

This item was placed on the agenda by Councillor Coleman and Councillor Crichton. They wished to highlight the current limitations in the regulation of vape retailers and seek Committee approval for the Chief Executive to write to the Scottish Government requesting consideration of a licensing regime.

Committee notes:-

- The increasing prevalence of vape retail outlets within the city.

- The current legislative framework, which requires retailer registration but does not provide for a licensing regime.

- Concerns regarding the accessibility and visibility of vaping products, particularly to young people.

It therefore recognises:-

- That existing powers available to local authorities are primarily enforcement-based and do not allow for proactive control over the number, location, or operation of vape retailers.

- The potential public health implications associated with the growth of vaping, particularly among under-18s.

- That there is a need for stronger regulatory controls, including consideration of a statutory licensing regime for vape retailers, similar to that applied to alcohol and other age-restricted products.

Committee therefore instructs the Chief Executive to write to the Scottish Government seeking:-

(i) consultation being undertaken on consideration of introducing a national licensing scheme for vape retailers including;

- enhanced powers for local authorities to regulate the location and density of such premises;

- strengthened enforcement mechanisms to support Trading Standards activity;

- full funding be made available from Scottish Government to support the additional workload for local government which would arise out of a national vape licensing scheme;

(ii) that consultation be undertaken with all Scottish Local Authorities, Police Scotland and Scottish Fire and Rescue; and

(iii) it further agrees to instruct the Chief Executive to write to COSLA to ask that the Conventions membership be invited to consider a co-ordinated national position on the regulation of vape retailers.

IV CAPITAL EXPENDITURE MONITORING 2025/2026

There was submitted Report No 58-2026 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services, appraising of the latest position regarding the Councils Capital Plan 2026/2031.

The Committee agreed to note the latest position regarding the Councils Capital Plan for 2026/2031.

V REVENUE MONITORING 2025/2026

There was submitted Report No 59-2026 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services, providing an analysis of the 2025/2026 projected revenue outturn as at 31st January, 2026 and the impact on the Councils overall revenue budget position.

The Committee agreed:-

(i) to note that as at 31st January, 2026, the General Fund was projecting an overall overspend for the year of 1.918m against the adjusted 2025/2026 Revenue Budget, the impact this had on the Councils General Fund Balances and the actions being taken to address the forecast budget shortfall;

(ii) to note the budget adjustments totalling 9.584m and detailed in the second column of Appendix A and (summarised in Appendix B) to the report as adjustments to the previously approved Revenue Budget;

(iii) to note that as at 31st January, 2026, the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) was projecting an overspend of 2.716m against the adjusted HRA 2025/2026 Revenue Budget and the impact this had on the projected Renewal and Repair Fund balance earmarked to HRA; and

(iv) to note that as outlined in section 3.3 of the report, this reflected anticipated costs associated with the Voluntary Severance and Early Retirement (VSER) scheme.

VI CHARTER TO REDUCE GAMBLING HARMS IN THE WORKPLACE

There was submitted Report No 55-2026 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services, seeking formal endorsement and implementation of the Charter to Reduce Gambling Harms in the Workplace, integrating it into the Councils Workforce Wellbeing Framework and Gambling Harms Support Policy, and to note the planned partnership working with NHS Tayside and Leisure & Culture Dundee towards adoption of the Charter. The Charter directly supports Dundee City Councils wider wellbeing aims by strengthening our commitment to early intervention, stigma reduction, and the creation of a safe, supportive and healthy working culture.

The Committee agreed:-

(i) to formally endorse the Charter to Reduce Gambling Harms in the Workplace;

(ii) to integrate the Charter into the Councils Workforce Wellbeing Framework and Gambling Harms Support Policy;

(iii) to remit People Services to co-ordinate implementation and evaluation, including policy alignment, training, and awareness campaigns;

(iv) to support engagement with external partners, including NHS Tayside and Leisure & Culture Dundee, to co-design resources and referral pathways;

(v) to promote the Charter with other external organisations as appropriate, and share learning and lessons from implementation process; and

(vi) to request annual progress reporting, commencing 12 months from launch, to the Council Leadership Team, with a view to sharing best practice across other local authorities and public sector bodies.

VII PRIDE IN PLACE IMPACT FUND

There was submitted Report No 96-2026 by the Executive Director of Neighbourhood Services, providing an update on the allocation of UK Government (UKG) funding from its Pride in Place Programme to Dundee City Council and seeking approval, in principle, to engage with communities on proposals to utilise the allocation for improvements to Camperdown Park.

The Committee agreed:-

(i) to note the allocation of this funding and agreed for officers to engage with communities in relation to the proposed project at Camperdown Park, as outlined at Section 5 of the report; and

(ii) to delegate the Executive Director of Neighbourhood Services to progress the proposals in line with the Pride in Place Programme funding criteria and bring forward a further tender report to Committee in early 2027, seeking approval once consultation and designs had been finalised, including an updated master plan for Camperdown Park.

VIII COMMUNITY ASSET TRANSFER OF FAIRFIELD COMMUNITY SPORTS HUB AND BALERNOEDUCATION CENTRE

There was submitted Joint Report No 90-2026 by the Executive Director of Neighbourhood Services and the Executive Director of City Development, seeking approval for the disposal, as a Community Asset Transfer, of Fairfield Community Sports Hub, Fairfield Park and seeking approval for a 25 year lease at 1 per year on a full repairing and insuring lease, as a Community Asset Transfer, with a tenant right to break with an option of the right to buy for 1, for Balerno Education Centre.

The Committee agreed:-

(i) to approve the disposal of Fairfield Community Sports Hub, Drumgeith Road, DD5 0JX and Fairfield Park, Happyhillock Road to Fairfield Community Sports Hub Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation number 043752 (SCIO) for the sum of 1. A map of the requested asset was shown at Appendix 1 to the report;

(ii) to approve a 25 year lease at 1 per year on a full repairing and insuring lease of Balerno Education Centre, 29 Happyhillock Road, Dundee and adjacent land to Fairfield Community Sports Hub SCIO with a tenant right to break with an option of a right to buy for 1. A map of the requested asset was shown at Appendix 2 to the report; and

(iii) to delegate the Executive Director of City Development to negotiate any appropriate variations to the demise, or detailed terms of lease and sale, required to satisfy the proposed asset transfer.

IX TENDER APPROVAL FOR RENEWAL OF MICROSOFT ENTERPRISE AGREEMENT

There was submitted Report No 69-2026 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services, providing details of the outcome of a procurement process and seeking approval of a contract award for renewal of the Microsoft Enterprise Agreement and licensing for Microsoft products.

The Committee agreed:-

(i) to note the information in the report; and

(ii) to approve the award of contract to Phoenix Software following a competitive procedure, which was carried out as outlined in Section 6 of the report, in compliance with the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015.

Mark FLYNN, Convener.

APPENDIX I

At a JOINT MEETING of the PENSION SUB-COMMITTEE of the CITY GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE AND THE PENSION BOARD held remotely on 8th December, 2025.

Present:-

PENSION SUB-COMMITTEE

BAILIES

Willie SAWERS

Kevin KEENAN

COUNCILLORS

Ken LYNN	Steven ROME	Michael CRICHTON
	Dorothy McHUGH

PENSION BOARD

Bill DUFF	Stewart DONALDSON	Arthur NICOLL
George RAMSAY		Kenny DICK

Bailie Willie SAWERS, Convener, in the Chair.

I APOLOGIES

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Michael Charlton.

II DECLARATION OF INTEREST

No declarations of interest were made.

III MINUTE OF PREVIOUS MEETING

The minute of meeting of 22nd September, 2025 was submitted and approved.

IV TAYSIDE PENSION FUND RISK REGISTER

There was submitted Report No 362-2025 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services seeking approval for the Quarterly Risk Register for Tayside Pension Fund.

The Sub-Committee and Board:-

(i) approved the Quarterly Risk Register for Tayside Pension Fund, noting no change from the previous quarterly report.

V PENSION ADMINISTRATION PERFORMANCE - UPDATE TO 30TH SEPTEMBER, 2025

There was submitted Report No 363-2025 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services providing information on the recent quarters operational performance in relation to Pension Administration and other general developments in this area over the above period.

The Sub-Committee and Board:-

(i) noted the content of the report.

VI TREASURY MANAGEMENT ACTIVITY 2025/2026 (MID-YEAR REVIEW)

There was submitted Report No 364-2025 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services reviewing Tayside Pension Funds Treasury Management activities for the period 1st April, 2025 to 30th September, 2025.

The Sub-Committee and Board:-

(i) noted the content of the report.

VII PROPOSED TIMETABLE OF MEETINGS FOR 2026

There was submitted Report No 365-2025 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services proposing a suggested programme of meetings of the Pension Sub-Committee and Pension Board in 2026.

The Sub-Committee and Board:-

(i) examined the dates set out in the timetable in Appendix 1 to the report and agreed the proposed programme of meetings.

The Sub-Committee and Board 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.

VIII TAYSIDE PENSION FUND

(a) PERFORMANCE SUMMARIES

There was submitted Report No 367-2025 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services reviewing investment performance of the Funds investment managers for the quarter to 30th September, 2025. The report compared investment performance of the Fund with the Funds specific benchmarks which consisted of various stock and security market indices.

The Sub-Committee and Board:-

(i) noted the information contained therein with regard to the performance of the Tayside Main Fund and their Fund Managers.

(b) SUMMARIES OF INVESTMENTS AND TRANSACTIONS

There was submitted Report No 368-2025 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services reviewing the investment activities of Tayside Pension Funds seven Fund Managers for the quarter to 30th September, 2025 and summarising the transactions of each Fund Manager and showing the market values of the Pension Fund.

The Sub-Committee and Board:-

(i) noted the information contained therein with regard to the performance of the Tayside Main Fund and their Fund Managers.

There was submitted Report No 369-2025 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services reviewing the current funding level of the Fund as assessed by the Fund Actuary.

The Sub-Committee and Board:-

(i) noted the report by the Fund Actuary.

IX PROPERTY MANDATE

There was submitted Report No 370-2025 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services informing the Sub-Committee of the recommendations of the Funds investment advisors and outlined their proposal to ensure the mandate continued to fulfil the Fund requirements.

The Sub-Committee and Board:-

(i) noted the content of the report.

X ANNUAL ASSESSMENT OF INVESTMENT ADVISORY SERVICES 2025

There was submitted Report No 371-2025 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services, providing information on the annual assessment of investment advisory service performance undertaken by Fund Officers as required by the Competition and Markets Authority.

The Sub-Committee and Board:-

(i) noted the content of the report.

XI PRESENTATION

Tim Gooding from Baillie Gifford gave a short presentation to the Sub-Committee and Board.

After Tim Gooding had given his presentation and answered questions from members, the Chair thanked the presenter on behalf of members of the Sub-Committee and Board.

Willie SAWERS, Chair.