Agenda, decisions and minutes

there was no urgent business.

There was no exempt business.

There were no Declarations of Interest.

The Committee had before it the minute of its previous meeting of 23 February 2022, for approval.

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the minute as an accurate record.

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

The Committee resolved:-

(i)             to note that the Chief Officer – Governance would circulate information after the meeting regarding the Police Scotland - Thematic Report: Mental Health & Wellbeing Support; and

(ii)            to otherwise note the content of the Planner.

There were no notices of motion.

There were no referrals.

The Committee had before it the Police Scotland Thematic Report on Road Safety in North East Scotland which had been authored by Ian Wallace, Coordinator, Road Safety North East Scotland (RSNES) and Chief Superintendent Kate Stephen, North East Division, Police Scotland.

Kate Stephen, Chief Superintendent – Police Scotland, spoke to the report and took questions from Members.

The report recommended:

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

The Committee resolved:-

(i)             to note that the Chief Superintendent would update Committee regarding differences between rural and urban road safety statistics through the Roads Policing section of the 2021-22 Performance Report, which was due to be presented to Committee on 12 October 2022;

(ii)            to note that the Chief Superintendent would update Committee regarding specific drug driving campaigns through the Roads Policing section of the 2021-22 Performance Report, which was due to be presented to Committee on 12 October 2022; and

(iii)          to otherwise endorse the report.

The Committee had before it the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Annual Performance Report 2021-22.

Andy Dick, Group Commander – SFRS, spoke to the report and took questions from Members.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)             to note the work carried out in respect of reducing deliberate fires and unwanted fire alarm signals;

(ii)            to agree that the 2022/23 Performance Report would use a four-year average in order to give a comparison out with the covid period; and

(iii)          to otherwise note the performance data provided in Appendix A in relation to the SFRS 2021/22 Performance Report.

The Committee had before it the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Thematic Report on Inspections.

Andy Dick, Group Commander – SFRS, spoke to the report and took questions from Members.

The Committee resolved:-

to note the information provided in the report in relation to prevention and protection through Inspections.

The Committee had before it the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Draft Strategic Plan 2022-2025.

Andy Dick, Group Commander – SFRS, spoke to the report and took questions from Members.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)             to note that the Group Commander would present a thematic report in respect of tracking and monitoring of initiatives to Committee on 12 December 2022; and

(ii)            to otherwise note the content of the draft Strategic Plan 2022-25.

The Committee had before it a report sharing the findings of the recent Joint Inspection of Adult Support and Protection (ASP) in Aberdeen which was published by the Care Inspectorate on 21 June 2022.

Campbell Thomson, Chair of the Adult Protection Committee, spoke to the report outlining the next steps and responded to questions from members.

The report recommended:

that the Committee note the findings of the recent Joint Inspection of Adult Support and Protection in Aberdeen and next steps.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)             to note the findings of the recent Joint Inspection of Adult Support and Protection in Aberdeen;

(ii)            to note the next step of reviewing the Improvement Plan was to be submitted to the Care Inspectorate by 3 August 2022; and

(iii)          to note that progress in relation to the areas identified for improvement would be overseen by the Care Inspectorate Link Inspector, who was a member of the Adult Protection Committee.

The Committee had before it a report on the implementation of the approved recommendations of the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) assessment of the Aberdeen Scientific Services Laboratory (ASSL).

Laura Cruickshank, Laboratory Manager spoke to the report.

The report recommended:

that the Committee:-

(a)           note the work being undertaken to implement and develop the recommendations of the 2022 UKAS re-assessment report, following a remote assessment carried out between 16 and 30 March 2022; and

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

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the recommendations.

The Committee had before it the six-monthly Building Standards Activity Report which  provided 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.

Gordon Spence, Building Standards Manager, spoke to the report and responded to questions from Members.

The report recommended:

that the Committee:-

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

(b)           agree to receive a further Building Standards Activity Report at the meeting of the Public Protection Committee on 12 December 2022.

The Committee resolved:-

to approve the recommendations.

The Committee had before it the date of the next meeting.

The Committee resolved:-

to note the date of the next meeting.

- COUNCILLOR CIARAN MCRAE, Convener.