Agenda, decisions and minutes

Members were requested to intimate any declarations of interest in respect of the items on today’s agenda.

There were no declarations of interest intimated.

The Committee had before it the minute of its previous meeting of 27 October 2021, for approval.

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the minute as a correct record.

The Committee had before it the Committee Business Planner prepared by the Chief Officer – Governance.

Members thanked everyone at Aberdeen City Council, Police Scotland and Scottish Fire and Rescue Service involved in the response to Storm Arwen.  It was requested that a report be added to the Planner to bring back to Committee on the effects of Storm Arwen within Aberdeen City, the response and any lessons learned.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)         to agree that Item 4 – Police Scotland – Thematic Report: National Assets would be removed from the Planner and issued via a Service Update;

(ii)        to agree that Item 6 – Building Standards Activity Report was delayed and would revert to a six-monthly reporting cycle on 28 June 2022 then 12 December 2022;

(iii)       to instruct officers to bring an update report on the response to Storm Arwen to Committee on 2 March 2022; and

(iv)      to otherwise note the Planner.

The Committee had before it for noting, a referral from Operational Delivery Committee on 18 November 2021.

Graeme Simpson, Chief Officer – Integrated Children’s and Family Services, provided background to the Scottish Government’s Plan to #KeepThePromise and provided information and proposals on the Council’s implementation of it.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)         to endorse the Council’s commitment to The Promise; and

(ii)        to note the information provided.

The Committee had before it the report from the Local Area Commander, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) which presented data on the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Aberdeen City Inspections to date for 2021/2022, demonstrating the progress being made by the SFRS locally against the priorities and objectives for Aberdeen City.  Chay Ewing, Group Commander - SFRS spoke to the report and took questions from Members.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)         to thank Scottish Fire and Rescue Service for its continued support in maintaining public safety;

(ii)        to note the information provided in the report in relation to prevention and protection;

(iii)       to instruct the Group Commander, SFRS, to provide an update on home fire safety checks to committee on 2 March 2022; and

(iv)      to instruct the Group Commander, SFRS, to provide a six-month update on Inspections with comparisons between December 2021 figures, to committee on 28 June 2022.

The Committee had before it the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Thematic Report on Community Engagement.  Chay Ewing, Group Commander - SFRS spoke to the report and took questions from Members.

The Committee resolved:-

to note the information provided in the report.

The Committee had before it the Aberdeen City Child Protection Committee Annual Report 2020-21, the purpose of which was to provide the Committee with information and assurance on the work of the CPC.  Graeme Simpson, Chief Social Work Officer and Vice Chair of the Child Protection Committee presented the report.

The report recommended:

That the Committee:-

(a)       note the content of the CPC’s Annual Report 2020-21;

(b)       note the positive impact and effectiveness of child protection improvement initiatives detailed in the report;

(c)        note the effective working across the partnership in Aberdeen City in relation to child protection; and

(d)       note the use of statistical information to inform practice and improvement initiatives relating to child protection.

The Committee resolved to:-

(i)         endorse the CPC’s Annual Report 2020-21; and

(ii)        agree the recommendations.

The Committee had before it reports on New National Guidance for Child Protection in Scotland 2021 and New National Guidance for Child Protection Committees undertaking Learning Reviews 2021.  The purpose of the reports was to introduce Committee to the new National Guidance for Child Protection in Scotland 2021 and new National Guidance for Child Protection Committees undertaking Learning Reviews 2021 and to provide assurance that the Child Protection Committee would identify, implement and monitor any areas requiring local development.

Graeme Simpson, Chief Social Work Officer and Vice Chair of the Child Protection Committee introduced the reports and took questions from Members.

The report recommended:

That the Committee:-

(a)       note the new National Guidance for Child Protection in Scotland 2021;

(b)       note the new National Guidance for Child Protection Committees undertaking Learning Reviews 2021;

(c)        note that the Child Protection Committee (CPC) was considering the National Guidance for Child Protection in Scotland 2021 and National Guidance for Child Protection Committees undertaking Learning Reviews 2021 and that any areas requiring local development would be identified and incorporated into local planning overseen by the CPC; and

(d)       instruct the Chief Social Work Officer to provide an update within next year’s CPC Annual Report on progress made implementing the updated National Guidance for Child Protection.

The Committee resolved to:-

agree the recommendations.

The Committee had before it a report on Reviewing and Learning from the Deaths of Children and Young People.  The purpose of the report was to advise elected members of the establishment of the National Hub for Reviewing the Deaths of Children and Young People and its implications for the delivery of social work in Aberdeen City.

The report recommended:

That the Committee:-

note the contents of the report and how Aberdeen City Council social work staff would contribute to the review of deaths of children and young people.

The Committee resolved to:-

(i)         note the contents of the report and how Aberdeen City Council social work staff would contribute to the review of deaths of children and young people; and

(ii)        instruct the Chief Social Work Officer to provide the committee with the National Hub’s annual report when it is published in approximately 12 months’ time.

The Committee had before it a report on Secure Care – Children’s Rights.  The purpose of the report was to advise elected members of the findings of an independent report published by the Children’s Commissioner in relation to the use of secure care and it implications for social work practice in Aberdeen City.  Graeme Simpson, Chief Social Work Officer spoke to the report.

The report recommended:

That the Committee:-

(a)       note the report; and

(b)       instruct the Chief Social Work Officer to provide the committee with an update report at the end of 2022 on the use of Secure Care and compliance with the Secure Care regulations.

The Committee resolved to:-

agree the recommendations.

The Committee had before it a report on the Adult Support and Protection Inspection Update.  The purpose of the report was to highlight and provide assurance about preparations being undertaken for the forthcoming Joint Inspection of Adult Support and Protection (ASP) in Aberdeen.  Val Vertigans, Lead Strategic Officer Adult Public Protection – ACHSCP spoke to the report and took questions from Members.

The report recommended:

That the Committee:-

note preparations being made for the forthcoming Joint Inspection of Adult Support and Protection in Aberdeen.

The Committee resolved to:-

(i)         instruct the ACHSCP Lead for Social Work to provide the Committee with an interim service update; and

(ii)        otherwise agree the recommendations.

The Committee had before it the Resilience Annual Report.  Vikki Cuthbert , Assurance Manager - Governance introduced the report, the purpose of which was to provide a second annual assurance report on the Council’s resilience arrangements in fulfilment of its duties as a Category 1 responder under the Civil Contingencies Act 2004.

Fiona Mann, Emergency Planning, Resilience and Civic Lead spoke to the report and took questions from Members.

The report recommended:

That the Committee:-

a) note the progress made in embedding the Council’s resilience arrangements during 2021; and

b) approve the revised Generic Emergency Plan appended with tracked changes

The Committee resolved to:-

(i)         instruct officers to bring an update report on the response to Storm Arwen to Committee on 2 March 2022;

(ii)        commend the Council and its partner services for their work in relation to Storm Arwen and the response, and for keeping the city safe; and

(iii)       otherwise agree the recommendations.

The Committee had before it the Public Protection Committee Annual Effectiveness Report, the purpose of which was to present the annual report of the Public Protection Committee to enable Members to provide comment on the data contained within.  Fraser Bell, Chief Officer – Governance spoke to the report and took questions and comments from Members.

The report recommended:

That the Committee:-

(a)       provide comments and observations on the data contained within the annual report; and

(b)       note the annual report of the Public Protection Committee

The Committee resolved to:-

(i)         note that whilst the data indicated that 50% of reports submitted to the Committee had modifications to the recommendations (table 6.8), these were to additionally record the Committee’s appreciation of the successful delivery of the topic, or to reinforce assurance; and

(ii)        note the annual report of the Public Protection Committee.

The Convenor thanked Members and officers for their help and support throughout the year and wished them a happy Christmas.

The Committee resolved to:-

note the date of the next meeting.