Agenda, decisions and minutes

There was no urgent business.

There was no exempt business.

No declarations of interest were intimated.

There were no requests for deputation.

The Committee had before the minute from the previous meeting of 9 May 2018 for approval.

The Committee resolved:-

To approve the minute as a correct record.

The Committee had before it the committee business planner as prepared by the Chief Officer Governance. 

The Committee resolved:-

(i)           to transfer the Crematorium Management Compliance Report to the Operational Delivery Committee business planner;

(ii)          to remove the Development of Models for Civic Leadership from the business planner; and

(iii)         otherwise note the committee business planner.

There were no notices of motion.

There were no referrals from Council, Committees and Sub-Committees.

The Committee had before it a report by the Chief Officer Governance (cover report) and Campbell Thomson (Chief Superintendent, North East Division, Police Scotland – Appendix A) which presented the Police Scotland Annual Performance Report - April 2017- March 18 for Committee scrutiny.

The report recommended:-

That the Committee review, discuss and comment on the report.

Chief Superintendent Thomson provided an overview of the annual performance report and highlighted that a significant decrease in crime had been recorded and there had been continued improvement in detection rates. Mr Thomson emphasised the importance of partnership working within the Community Planning Aberdeen framework and the role of the public in supporting public safety. He advised the Committee that whilst improvements in performance had been welcomed by the North East Division, he assured Members that complacency would not be tolerated, and it was their aspiration to follow up on this good performance next year and increase the levels of public safety in the North East of Scotland.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)           to request the North East Division to provide further information on how it supports the Ask Angela campaign and for this response to be circulated to Members by email;

(ii)          to request the North East Division to provide an update on its work with schools to tackle vandalism on school estates and for this response to be circulated to Members by email;

(iii)         endorse the report; and

(iv)         to thank Chief Superintendent Thomson for his informative presentation.

The Committee had before it a report by the Chief Operating Officer which advised of the multi-agency work overseen by Aberdeen City Child Protection Committee as set out in the 2017 Annual Report.

The report recommended:-

That the Committee –

(a)          Note the content of this report; and

(b)          Endorse the work of the Aberdeen City Child Protection Committee as detailed in its 2017 Annual Report.

Kymme Fraser (Programme Development Manager, Operations) delivered a presentation to the Committee on the governance, role and priorities of the Aberdeen City Child Protection Committee.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)           to approve the recommendations; and

(ii)          to thank Kymme Fraser for her informative presentation, and to request that the slides be circulated to Members.

The Committee had before it a report by the Chief Operating Officer which sought Committee approval to submit the Council’s proposed response to the Scottish Government Equality and Human Rights Committee’s call for Evidence by 6 July 2018.

The report recommended:-

That the Committee instruct the Chief Operating Officer to submit the response contained in the Appendix of the report to the Scottish Government by the 9^th July 2018.

The Committee resolved:-

To approve the recommendation.

The Committee had before it a report by the Chief Operating Officer which sought Committee approval to submit the proposed Aberdeen City Council response to the Scottish Government consultation on the Protection of Vulnerable Groups and the Disclosure of Criminal Information consultation by 18 July 2018.

The report recommended:-

That the Committee instruct the Chief Operating Officer to submit the response detailed in this report by the 18th^th July 2018.

The Committee resolved:-

To approve the recommendation.

The Committee had before it a report by the Chief Operating Officer which sought delegated authority from Committee to submit a response on behalf of Aberdeen City Council to the Scottish Government on the Review of Part 1 of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 and creation of a Family Justice Modernisation Strategy by 7 August 2018.

The report recommended:-

That the Committee –

(a)          Provide delegated authority to the Chief Operating Officer to submit a response to the consultation on the above paper by 7 August 2018; and

(b)          Agree that the Convenor be consulted on the proposed response prior to its

submission.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)          to provide delegated authority to the Chief Operating Officer to submit a response to the consultation on the above paper by 7 August 2018; and

(ii)         to instruct the Chief Operating Officer to consult Members of the Committee prior to submission of the proposed response.

The Committee had before it a report by the Director of Customer Services which provided an update on the status of UKAS accreditation and progress on the recommendations of assessment of the Aberdeen Scientific Services Laboratory.

The report recommended:-

That the Committee –

(a)          Note the work being undertaken to implement and develop the recommendations of the 15^th and 16^th March 2018 UKAS surveillance report; and

(b)          Endorse the continuation of accreditation as a license to operate.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)          to note the work being undertaken to implement and develop the recommendations of assessment of the Aberdeen Scientific Services Laboratory;

(ii)         to clarify in para 6.2, that failure to acquire UKAS/DWTS accreditation would mean that the laboratory could not provide services to any prospective clients; and

(iii)        to endorse the continuation of accreditation as a license to operate.

10:00am, 10 October 2018.

The Convener congratulated the Equalities Team on the successful event they delivered on 22 June 2018 which recognised the work of community representatives, volunteers and interpreters as part of the Great Get Together in memory of Jo Cox. Thereafter she thanked Members and officers for their support and contributions, and hoped they all enjoyed their time off during the Summer recess.

The Committee resolved:-

To congratulate the Equalities Team for delivering a successful event as part of the Great Get Together in memory of Jo Cox.

-           COUNCILLOR JENNIFER STEWART, Convener