City Governance Committee - 24/08/2026
At a MEETING of the CITY GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 24th August, 2026.
Present:-
|
Depute Lord Provost Nadia EL-NAKLA |
BAILIES
|
Will DAWSON |
Kevin KEENAN |
Fraser MACPHERSON |
|
Willie SAWERS |
Helen WRIGHT |
Derek SCOTT |
COUNCILLORS
|
Heather ANDERSON |
Lee MILLS |
Georgia CRUICKSHANK |
|
Jimmy BLACK |
Steven ROME |
George McIRVINE |
|
Kevin CORDELL |
Lynne SHORT |
Wendy SCULLIN |
|
Mark FLYNN |
Roisin SMITH |
Daniel COLEMAN |
|
Stewart HUNTER |
Siobhan TOLLAND |
Michael CRICHTON |
|
Ken LYNN |
|
Craig DUNCAN |
Councillor Mark FLYNN, Convener, in the Chair.
The minute of meeting of this Committee of 22nd June, 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
The minute of meeting of the Pension Sub-Committee and Pension Board of 23rd March, 2026, was submitted and noted for information and record purposes, a copy of which is attached to this minute as Appendix I.
III FORCESCHILDRENS RIGHTS CHARTER
This item was placed on the agenda by Councillor Duncan.
Councillor Duncan, seconded by Michael Crichton, asked that the Council adopts the Forces Childrens Rights Charter, in keeping with several other Scottish Local Authorities.
The motion by Councillor Duncan was accepted by the Committee.
Thereafter, the Committee resolved as follows:-
Committee recognises the important contribution made by Armed Forces personnel, veterans and their families to Dundee and acknowledges that children and young people from Regular, Reservist and Veteran families can experience particular challenges arising from parental deployment and separation, mobility and transitions between schools and communities.
Committee therefore welcomes the Forces Childrens Rights Charter, developed by Forces Children Scotland in partnership with children and young people from Armed Forces families, and notes that a growing number of Scottish local authorities have already formally adopted the Charter.
Committee therefore agrees to:-
- endorse and adopt the Forces Childrens Rights Charter.
- ensure appropriate awareness of the needs and rights of Forces children and young people in the development and delivery of relevant Council services.
- promote awareness of the Charter through Dundee schools and relevant Dundee Partnership organisations.
- instructs the Chief Executive to engage with Forces Children Scotland on the practical implementation and promotion of the Charter in Dundee.
IV CAPITAL EXPENDITURE MONITORING 2026/2027
There was submitted Report No 171-2026 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services, advising Committee of the latest projected 2026/2027 capital outturn position.
The Committee noted the information in the report.
V REVENUE MONITORING 2026/2027
There was submitted Report No 170-2026 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services, advising the Committee on the latest projected 2026/2027 revenue outturn position for both General Fund and HRA budgets and its impact on the Councils overall reserves.
The Committee agreed:-
(i) to note the information in the report including the latest forecasts for the General Fund and HRA as at 30th June, 2026 in Sections 5 and 6 to the report;
(ii) to agree the General Fund budget adjustments totalling 0.772m detailed in the second column of Appendix A to the report and the HRA budget adjustments detailed Appendix B to the report; and
(iii) to authorise the Executive Director of Corporate Services to take the necessary steps to control in year spend to reduce the projected overspends including through reductions in non-essential spend and in consultation with Corporate Leadership Team, identify further financial recovery options with an overall aim of ensuring both budgets deliver a final outturn in line with the respective approved budgets.
VI CHIEF EXECUTIVES SERVICE PLAN 2023/2028 - ANNUAL PEFORMANCE AND PROGRESS REPORT FOR2025/2026
There was submitted Report No 181-2026 by the Chief Executive, updating the Committee on progress made during financial year 2025/2026 in relation to the Chief Executives Service Plan for 2023/2028.
The Committee agreed to note the progress summarised in Section 5 of the report and approved the detailed progress report.
VII CORPORATE SERVICES SERVICE PLAN 2023/2027
There was submitted Report No 178-2026 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services, providing an update on the third year of the 2023/2027 Corporate Services Service Plan. The report detailed the progress that had been made toward achieving the targets and priorities in the Plan during the year 2025/2026. In addition, the report set out any areas that were not achieving current targets and the actions the service was taking to address this.
The Committee agreed to note the information in the report.
VIII CITY DEVELOPMENT SERVICE PLAN 2023/2028
There was submitted Report No 188-2026 by the Executive Director of City Development, updating the Committee on the progress made during the financial year 2025/2026 in relation to the City Development Service Plan for 2023/2028.
The Committee agreed to note the progress summarised in Section 5 of the report and approved the progress report.
IX PROVISION OF INSURANCE COVERS
The purpose of this Agenda Note ( AN25-2026) was to provide Committee with an update regarding the Councils insurance contract that were previously agreed at this Committee (minute of meeting of 4th December, 2023, Article IX, Report No 341-2023 refers).
The current insurance contract was due to expire on 30th December, 2026 although had an option to extend for an additional two years, and the Council may extend the contract by one further period of up to two years.
A comprehensive review of the external insurance market had been undertaken in conjunction with our insurance broker, Marsh, to determine whether re-tendering at this stage would deliver value for money and appropriate risk transfer for the Council. Following the completion of this review, the Executive Director was recommending that to ensure continuity of cover and provide financial stability to the Council, the most prudent approach would be for the Council to exercise the above option and extend the existing cover arrangements to 31st December, 2028.
It was noted that the full cost of funding the Councils annual insurance premiums amounts to 2.7m and provision for this is included in the approved Revenue Budget. Under the terms of the existing contract, these premiums are renewed annually. The Executive Director of Corporate Services will make provision to include any adjustment when reviewing future revenue budgets.
X VALEDICTORY - JUDY DOBBIE
The Committee, Group Leaders and Bailie Scott paid tribute to Judy Dobbie, Director, Leisure and Culture Dundee upon her retirement later this month and thanked her for her service and wished her well for the future. Other members of the Committee also paid tribute to her and Ms Dobbie replied in suitable terms.
Mark FLYNN, Convener.
At a JOINT MEETING of the PENSION SUB-COMMITTEE of the CITY GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE AND THE PENSION BOARD held remotely on 23rd March, 2026.
APPENDIX I
Present:-
PENSION SUB-COMMITTEE
BAILIES
|
Willie SAWERS |
Kevin KEENAN |
COUNCILLORS
|
Jimmy BLACK |
Steven ROME |
PENSION BOARD
|
Kenny DICK |
Stewart DONALDSON |
Bill DUFF |
|
|
Arthur NICOLL |
|
Bailie Willie SAWERS, Convener, in the Chair.
I APOLOGIES
The Sub-Committee and Board noted that apologies had been received by Councillor McHugh and Councillor Crichton.
II DECLARATION OF INTEREST
No declarations of interest were made.
III MINUTE OF PREVIOUS MEETING
The minute of meeting of 8th December, 2025 was submitted and approved.
IV APPOINTMENT OF CHAIRPERSON OF PENSION BOARD
There was submitted Agenda Note AN17-2026 advising the Sub-Committee that in accordance with the Public Service Pensions Act 2013, the Sub-Committee were asked to seek nominations for the post of Chair of the Pension Board for the period of 12 months. The post of Chair of the Pension Board was subject to annual change by the regulations.
The Sub-Committee and Board agreed that Councillor Stewart Donaldson be Chair of the Pension Board for this period.
It was noted that George Ramsay had chaired the Pension Board for the last 12 months with great dedication. Bailie Sawers, on behalf of the Pension Sub-Committee and Pension Board, paid tribute to George on his recent passing and extended condolences to his family and friends. Other members of the Sub-Committee and Pension Board associated themselves with the comments made.
V TAYSIDE PENSION FUND RISK REGISTER
There was submitted Report No 76-2026 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services seeking approval for the Quarterly Risk Register for Tayside Pension Fund.
The Sub-Committee and Board approved the Quarterly Risk Register for Tayside Pension Fund, noting no change from the previous quarterly report.
VI PENSION ADMINISTRATION PERFORMANCE - UPDATE TO 31ST DECEMBER, 2025
There was submitted Report No 77-2026 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 noted the contents of the report.
VII TAYSIDE PENSION FUND - AUDIT SCOTLAND ANNUAL AUDIT PLAN 2025/2026
There was submitted Report No 78-2026 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services providing a summary of the responsibilities and approach of Audit Scotland in respect of Tayside Pension Fund for 2025/2026.
The Sub-Committee and Board:-
(i) noted the contents of the report by Audit Scotland (as at Appendix A of the report); and
(ii) agreed to provide Audit Scotland with confirmation of any instances of actual, suspected or alleged fraud, as a requirement of the revised International Standard on Accounting (ISA) 240.
VIII TAYSIDE PENSION FUND INTERNAL AUDIT REPORTS - RISK MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK REVIEW
There was submitted Report No 79-2026 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services submitting the audit report prepared by the Funds Internal Auditor, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC).
The Sub-Committee and Board:-
(i) noted the content of the report on the audit review undertaken; and
(ii) approved the management response.
IX TREASURY POLICY STATEMENT 2026/2027
There was submitted Report No 80-2026 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services revising the Funds Treasury Policy Statement following Isios review of compliance with the Pension Regulators Revised Code.
The Sub-Committee and Board approved the policies and procedures laid out in the Treasury Policy Statement 2026/2027, noting that the policy must be reviewed annually, and that there were no changes.
X TREASURY MANAGEMENT STRATEGY 2026/2027
There was submitted Report No 81-2026 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services reviewing the Treasury Management Strategy for Tayside Pension Fund.
The Sub-Committee and Board approved the Treasury Management Strategy 2026/2027, noting that the strategy must be reviewed annually, and that there were no changes.
XI PENSION ADMINISTRATION STRATEGY
There was submitted Report No 82-2026 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services setting out the Funds policy in respect of the standards required of both the Fund and the participating employers to ensure that statutory obligations were met and to demonstrate effective and efficient service delivery. The strategy contained a variety of performance measures against which the Fund and participating employers were assessed, with performance reported to the Committee.
The Sub-Committee and Board approved the strategy contained within, noting that there were no changes.
XII TAYSIDE PENSION FUND COMMUNICATION POLICY
There was submitted Report No 83-2026 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services presenting a Communications Policy as required by the Local Government Pension Scheme (Scotland) Regulations 2014.
The Sub-Committee and Board approved the Communications Policy which had been reviewed and updated in conjunction with the Funds Administration Strategy, noting that the Communications Policy must be reviewed annually, and that there were no changes.
XIII TAYSIDE PENSION FUND BUSINESS PLAN 2026/2027
There was submitted Report No 84-2026 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services introducing the annual Business Plan for the Tayside Pension Fund.
The Sub-Committee and Board:-
(i) noted the information within the report; and
(ii) approved the 2026/2027 Business Plan which applied to the administration and management of the Tayside Pension Fund, noting that there were no major changes to the Plan.
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.
XIV TAYSIDE PENSION FUNDS
(a) INVESTMENT MONITORING REPORT - QUARTER TO 31ST DECEMBER, 2025
There was submitted Report No 85-2026 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services reviewing the investment performance of the Funds investment managers for the quarter to 31st December, 2025. The report and associated appendix 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 noted the information contained herein with regard to the performance of the Tayside Pension Fund and their Fund managers.
(b) SECURITIES LENDING 6 MONTH ACTIVITY TO 31ST DECEMBER, 2025
There was submitted Report No 86-2026 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services presenting an update on Securities Lending activity for the period ended 31st December, 2025.
The Sub-Committee and Board noted the contents of the report.
(c) QUARTERLY FUNDING UPDATE AS AT 31ST DECEMBER, 2025
There was submitted Report No 87-2026 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services reviewing the current funding level of the Fund as assessed by Barnett Waddingham, the Fund Actuary.
The Sub-Committee and Board noted the report by Barnett Waddingham.
XV OPPORTUNISTIC MANDATE UPDATE
A verbal progress report was provided by David OHara from Isio.
The Sub-Committee and Board noted that recommendations would be submitted to the June meeting.
XVI ANNUAL PERFORMANCE REVIEW TO 31ST DECEMBER, 2025
There was submitted Report No 88-2026 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services considering the Isio report on the Annual Review of Investment Performance 2025 completed in March, 2026.
The Sub-Committee and Board noted the content of the Isio report as at Appendix A of the report.
XVII PRESENTATION
David Barber and Tom Record of Fidelity gave a short presentation to the Sub-Committee and Board.
After Mr Barber and Mr Record had given their presentation and answered questions from members, the Chair thanked the presenters on behalf of members of the Sub-Committee and Board.
Willie SAWERS, Convener.