City Governance Committee - 22/06/2026

At a MEETING of the CITY GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 22nd June, 2026.

 

Present:-

 

Lord Provost Bill CAMPBELL

Depute Lord Provost Nadia EL-NAKLA

 

BAILIES

 

Will DAWSON	Kevin KEENAN	Christina ROBERTS
Willie SAWERS	Helen WRIGHT	Derek SCOTT
	Fraser MACPHERSON

 

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 8th June, 2026 was held as read.

 

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

 

I DECLARATION OF INTEREST

 

There were no declarations of interest.

 

II COUNCIL PLAN 2022/2027 - PROGRESS REPORT FOR 2025/2026

 

There was submitted Report No 127-2026 by the Chief Executive, providing the fourth annual progress report on the Council Plan 2022/2027.

 

The Committee agreed:-

 

(i) to note the progress made in 2025/2026;

 

(ii) to remit the report to the Scrutiny and Audit Committee for further consideration; and

 

(iii) to remit the Council Leadership Team to monitor progress and implement improvements as necessary to deliver the outcomes agreed.

 

III FAIRNESS AND LOCAL CHILD POVERTY ACTION PLAN - ANNUAL REPORT FOR 2025/2026

 

There was submitted Report No 140-2026 by the Chief Executive, presenting the combined Fairness and Local Child Poverty Action Plan Report showing progress during 2025/2026.

 

The Committee agreed:-

 

(i) to approve the Dundee Fairness and Local Child Poverty Action Plan Annual Report for 2025/2026 as detailed in Appendix 1 to the report.

 

IV LOCAL GOVERNMENT BENCHMARKING FRAMEWORK PERFORMANCE INDICATORS 2024/2025

 

There was submitted Report No 126-2026 by the Chief Executive, advising Committee of the performance of Dundee City Council, for the financial year 2024/2025, as defined by the performance indicators compiled by the Improvement Service for the Local Government Benchmark Framework (LGBF). It focussed on the 40 indicators that most align to the priorities as set out in the Council Plan 2022/2027 and described the Councils performance in relation to our comparator authorities (ie LGBF Family Group) for these.

 

The Committee agreed:-

 

(i) to note the results contained in summary at Section 5.2 to the report and more fully in Appendix 1 to the report;

 

(ii) to remit the report to the Scrutiny and Audit Committee for further consideration; and

 

(iii) to remit the Council Leadership Team to review the selected areas of improvement in Section 6 to the report.

 

V NON-DOMESTIC RATES DISCRETIONARY AND HARDSHIP RELIEF POLICY

 

There was submitted Report No 121-2026 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services, providing Committee with details of the Councils Non-Domestic Rates (NDR) Discretionary and Hardship Relief Policy that exists to offer additional support by granting discretionary relief to charities, organisations and other businesses in exceptional circumstances.

 

The Committee agreed to note the information in the report including the Councils NDR Discretionary and Hardship Relief Policy as detailed in Appendix 1 to the report.

 

VI HEALTH AND CARE (STAFFING) SCOTLAND ACT 2019 - STATUTORY ANNUAL REPORT

 

There was submitted Joint Report No 135-2026 by the Executive Director, Dundee Health and Social Care Partnership and Interim Executive Director of Children and Families Service, seeking approval of the Councils statutory annual report in relation to the Health and Care (Staffing) (Scotland) Act 2019.

 

The Committee agreed:-

 

(i) to note the requirement on Dundee City Council to produce and publish an annual report under Section 3(6) of the Health and Care (Staffing) (Scotland) Act 2019 by 30th June, 2026;

 

(ii) to approve the proposal as consistent with arrangements implemented in 2025, that the Dundee Integration Joint Board and Dundee City Council publish a joint annual report covering all aspects of social care and social work services (including early years services and housing support services);

 

(iii) to approve the content of the draft annual report (attached as Appendix 1 to the report) as this related to the functions of Dundee City Council. Noting the content within the report that relates to the functions of Dundee Integration Joint Board would be considered at their meeting on 24th June, 2026; and

 

(iv) to note the planned approach to publication of the report following its approval by both the IJB and Dundee City Council.

 

VII PROCUREMENT SOURCING STRATEGY APPROVAL FOR DIGITAL TO PHYSICAL MAIL DELIVERY SERVICE

 

There was submitted Report No 130-2026 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services, providing a summary of the details of a procurement sourcing strategy that has been completed for digital-to-physical mail delivery service.

 

The Committee agreed:-

 

(i) to note the information in the report;

 

(ii) to approve the proposed route to market as set out in Section 6 of the report, in compliance with the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015; and

 

(iii) to approve the extension of the current contract for one year.

 

VIII HMRC INCREASE TO BUSINESS MILEAGE RATE

 

Reference was made to Agenda Note AN97-2013 - Casual User Mileage Rate which was approved by the Policy and Resources Committee on 19th August, 2013 (Article XI refers). Approval was given to increase the casual user mileage rate to 45p per mile from 1st September, 2013, as a result of the effective implementation of the Staff Travel Plan. This rate reflected the rate set by HMRC for the Approved Mileage Allowance Payment (AMAP).

 

On 21st May, 2026, the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced a revision to the AMAP rate, the first increase in over 15 years, with the new rate set at 55p per mile, effective from 6th April, 2026.

 

It was, therefore, recommended that Dundee City Council increase the business mileage rate to 55p per mile and backdate this rate to 6th April, 2026, in line with HMRCs Approved Mileage Allowance Payment. This rate would apply to both officers and elected members reimbursement claims.

 

Leased car milage rates are not impacted by this change as these are paid in line with HMRC Advisory Fuel Rates which are issued every three months.

 

The financial implications of this increase, based on mileage submissions for 2025/2026, was estimated at circa 100,000 in a full financial year. Officers would continue to ensure the optimum use of the Councils Staff Travel Policy to ensure that mileage was only claimed where this was necessary.

 

The Executive Director of Corporate Services had confirmed that the costs associated with implementation of the revised rate would be monitored closely and where these costs cannot be contained within existing approved budgets then provision would be released from the General Contingency Fund to meet this. Any costs associated with staff funded from the Housing Revenue Account would require to be funded separately from this budget. The appropriate adjustments would be made to future years budgets as part of the 2027/2028 budget setting process.

 

IX RECESS SUB-COMMITTEE - ESTABLISHMENT

 

It was reported that the Council's Recess would commence on 4th July, 2026 and end on 15th August, 2026.

 

To facilitate the smooth, continuous conduct of the Council's business, it was proposed that a Recess Sub-Committee of the Council be set up to deal with matters of an urgent nature which the Chief Executive or Head of Democratic and Legal Services believe cannot wait for the next ordinary meeting of the Committee concerned during that period and that its operating arrangements be as follows:-

 

(i) Membership - 5 members of the Administration, 3 members of the Labour Group and 1 member of the Liberal Democrat Group.

 

(ii) Chair - Leader of the Administration or nominee.

 

(iii) Substitutes - in terms of Standing Order No 45(3) it shall be competent for substitutions to be intimated and effected for individual meetings.

 

(iv) Quorum - 3 members.

 

(v) Dates - to be arranged when required.

 

(vi) Remit - to deal with any urgent business arising during the recess period.

 

(vii) Power - full delegated powers to deal with business laid before it.

 

Notwithstanding the above, it may be necessary in view of its quasi-judicial nature to arrange meetings of the Personnel Appeals Sub-Committee.

 

The Committee may resolve 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 involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 3, 6 and 9 of Part I of Schedule 7A of the Act.

 

X TENDER APPROVAL FOR OPPORTUNISTIC PRIVATE MARKETS ASSET ALLOCATION - INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT SERVICES

 

There was submitted Report No 138-2026 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services, providing details of the outcome of the procurement process and seeking approval to award a contract for the appointment of an Investment Fund Manager to manage the opportunistic asset allocation for Tayside Pension Fund.

 

The Committee agreed to the recommendations as listed.

 

XI CONTRACT FOR SERVICES

 

There was submitted Report No 149-2026 by the Executive Director of City Development, advising Committee that Loganair had given formal notice of its intention to cease operating the Dundee to London air service on 18th September, 2026 and seeking approval to commission consultants to review whether there was an economic case to establish a new Public Service Obligation.

 

The Committee agreed to the recommendations as listed.

 

 

 

 

Mark FLYNN, Convener.