Agenda, decisions and minutes

The agenda, reports associated with this minute can be found here, whilst the recording of the meeting can be found here.

Please note that if any changes are made to this minute at the point of approval, these will be outlined in the subsequent minute and this document will not be retrospectively altered.

The Convener invited Members to declare any interests in the business before the Committee.

Councillor Lesley Dunbar, Vice Convener,  declared an interest in Item 14 (Assurance on Child Poverty Action Plan – CUS/21/086) by virtue of her position as a Board member of CFINE and considered that the nature of her interest did not require her to leave the meeting and therefore chose to remain in the meeting for consideration of the item.

The Committee had before it the draft minute of its previous meeting.

The Committee resolved :-

to approve the minute as a correct record.

The Committee had before it the Committee Planner.

Members heard that the planner represented current and future business and advised that following Members’ suggestions, themes for future reporting by Police Scotland and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service were now included.

Members were asked to consider themes for future reporting by all services and statutory bodies reporting to the Committee.

The Committee resolved :-

to note the Committee planner.

The Committee had before it the report from the Chief Officer – Strategic Place Planning which presented information intended to provide assurance and an overview of Council responsibilities in relation to securing dangerous buildings  and protecting public safety, as well as activity on unauthorised building work  and unauthorised occupation of buildings.

Members heard from the Building Standards Manager who provided explanation to the report and provided response to Member’s questions.

The report recommended :-

that the Committee –

a)            note and endorse the contents of the report and appendix; and

b)            agree to 6 monthly assurance reporting – next update 28October 2021.

The Committee resolved :-

to  approve the recommendations.

The Committee had before it the report from the Chief Officer – Operations and Protective Services which presented an update on the Environmental Health and Trading  Standards response to COVID-19, noting that the update is current with  Scottish Government directions and guidance as at date of submission.

Members heard from the Protective Services Manager who provided an overview of the report and included an update on the current position as the current lockdown progress continued.

Members expressed appreciation of the duties being undertaken by the Service which included local, regional and national participation.

The report recommended :-

that the Committee note and endorse the update of Protective Services’ (Environmental Health & Trading Standards) response to COVID-19.

The Committee resolved :-

to approve the recommendation.

The Convener introduced Chief Superintendent Macdonald, the Local Police Commander who prior to delivery of the following report, provided Members with an update on policing relevant to the covid pandemic since his last update to the Committee.

Members heard that whilst trends and behaviours were historically analysed over 3/5 year periods, the current situation rendered difficulties in comparison against historic trends. This position was likely to continue for some time and would be referenced in most future reports.

Chief Superintendent Macdonald indicated that broadly people were accepting of the pandemic restrictions however he believed that where there had been behaviour contrary to any legislation or guidance, these were generally from frustration rather than overt defiance.

The Committee resolved:-

to note the update.

The Committee had before it the report from the Local Police Commander, Police Scotland which presented information on Police Scotland’s Complaints process and the local context in respect of figures, recurring themes and insight into work  undertaken to improve both our response to Complaints About the Police and to reduce the volume of such reports.

Chief Superintendent Macdonald presented the report and responded to discussion and questions from Members.

The report recommended :-

that the Committee discuss, comment on and endorse the report.

The Committee resolved :-

to approve the recommendation.

The Committee had before it the report from the Local Area Commander (LAC), Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) which presented the performance of Scottish Fire and Rescue Service  (SFRS) against the objectives contained within the Aberdeen City Local Fire  and Rescue Plan.

The LAC, Area Commander Farquharson, presented the report and provide some commentary around the data referenced.

The LAC assisted Members during discussion and answered questions as posed.

The report recommended :-

that the Committee consider and note the performance data provided in Appendix Ain relation to the SFRS 2020/21 Performance Report.

The Committee resolved :-

to approve the recommendation.

The Committee had before it the report from the Chief Officer – Integrated Children’s and Family Services which presented the annual report on the progress of Corporate  Parenting responsibilities and a refreshed and updated Corporate Parenting  Plan 2021-2023.

Members heard from the Children’s Services Manager who provided an overview of the report and the accompanying reference materials :-

·         Aberdeen City #KeepThePromise Corporate Parenting Plan 2021-2023

·         Aberdeen City Champions Board #KeepThePromise Plan 2021-2023

·         Aberdeen Care Experience (ACE) Participation report May 2020-March 2021

Members acknowledged their responsibilities as Corporate Parents and encouraged delivery of future training discussed during the presentation.

Members made particular reference to Peter Melrose, Development Officer and his contributions to the ACE Advisors and were saddened to hear of Peter’s recent health challenges connected to the pandemic.

Members wish to extend their appreciations and wishes for a return to full health to Peter and wished him well on his return to Australia.

The report recommended :-

that the Committee –

a)            note and endorse progress and activities against key Corporate Parenting duties;

b)            note the updated Corporate Parenting Plan 2021-2023 (Appendix 1);

c)            note the Champions Board Plan 2021-2023 (Appendix 2);

d)            note Aberdeen Care Experience (ACE) Participation report May 2020-March 2021 (Appendix 3); and

e)            note that a further annual update will be presented to the committee in April 2022.

The Committee resolved :-

to approve the recommendations.

The Committee had before it the report from the Chief Officer – Early Intervention and Community Empowerment.

The report presented information to provide assurance to the Committee that the Child Poverty Action Plan Report 2019/20 had been agreed by the Operational Delivery Committee.

Members heard from the Chief Officer – Early Intervention and Community Empowerment who referenced the Community Planning Outcomes Profile and displayed this to Members.

The report recommended :-

that the Committee –

a)            note that that the Council had approved the Local Child Poverty Action Plan  Report for 2019/20 in accordance with the requirements of the Child Poverty (Scotland) Act 2017 at the meeting of the Operational Delivery  Committee on 13 January 2021; and

b)            note that following the Operational Delivery Committee on 13January 2021 the Local Child Poverty Action Plan Report for 2019/20 was submitted to the Scottish Government as required.

The Committee resolved :-

to approve the recommendations.

The Convener required to deal with a domestic situation and absented herself prior to the following item. The Vice Convener substituted, and the Convener returned at the conclusion of this item.

The Committee had before it the report from the Chief Officer – Aberdeen City Health and Social Care Partnership (ACHSCP) which shared the Aberdeen Adult Protection Committee (APC)  Convener’s Biennial Report for 2018-20, as published, with the Committee.

Members heard from the Lead for Social Work (ACHSCP) who provided context around the report and advised that a new Independent Convener for Adult Protection had recently been appointed.

The report recommended :-

that the Committee note and endorse the information contained within the report.

The Committee resolved :-

to approve the recommendation.

The Committee had before it the report from the Chief Officer – Aberdeen City Health and Social Care Partnership (ACHSCP) which informed the Committee of the recent publication by the Care Inspectorate of its inspection report into the justice social work service.

Members heard from the Lead for Social Work (ACHSCP) who explained the processes undertaken during the inspection which was paused due to the pandemic then recommenced in a different format.

Members acknowledged that effective self-assessment activity had proved very successful in assisting achieve such a positive report from the Care Inspectorate.

The report recommended :-

that the Committee note and endorse the information contained within the report.

The Committee resolved :-

to approve the recommendation.

The Committee had before it the report from the Chief Officer – Aberdeen City Health and Social Care Partnership (ACHSCP) which provided the Committee with an update on the progress of the statutory Appropriate Adult Service since its commencement on 10 January 2020.

Members heard from the Lead for Social Care (ACHSCP) who provided information on the activities undertaken to date though advised that take up had been reduced to the continuing pandemic.

Members enquired if it would be appropriate to seek a further update and it was agreed to provide a report to Committee on 7 December 2021.

The report recommended :-

that the Committee note and endorse the information contained within the report.

The Committee resolved :-

(i)            to approve the recommendation; and

(ii)          to receive an updated report to Committee on 7 December 2021.

The Committee had before it the report from the Chief Officer – Early Intervention and Community Engagement in his capacity as Chair of the Community Justice Group which updated the Committee on the progress of the Aberdeen Violence Against Women Partnership (AVAWP).

Members heard an overview of the report and of some of the challenges experienced during the pandemic period.

The report recommended :-

that the Committee –

(i)            note and endorse the information contained within this report and appendices; and

(ii)          note that in future an annual assurance report will be presented to the Committee by the Chief Officer – Early Intervention and Community Empowerment.

The Committee resolved :-

to approve the recommendations

The Committee had before it the report from the Chief Officer – Governance which provided the Committee with assurance of the on-going activities in relation to EU Exit.

Members heard from the Chief Officer – Governance who provided overview of the stand-by arrangements in place around EU Exit.

In response to questions regarding EU Settlement requirements, Members were advised that this was being monitored by People and Organisational Development and significant updates would be reported to Committee as appropriate.

The report recommended :-

that the Committee note the content of the report.

The Committee resolved :-

to approve the recommendation.

- Councillor Jennifer Stewart, Convener