Agenda, decisions and minutes

The agenda and reports associated with this minute can be found here

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 welcomed all to the meeting and extended Christmas Wishes and a hope for a happy, peaceful and enjoyable family time to all. The Convener intimated that hope was in sight with the pandemic vaccine.

The Convener expressed appreciation to the Chief Officer – Governance, the Committee Clerk, fellow Councillors and Councillor Lesley Dunbar for her support as Vice Convener.

Members heard that as the Public Protection Committee continued to look out for the safety of everybody in the City, it was appropriate to remind citizens and all to observe the advertised public safety measures during the pandemic.

The Chief Officer – Governance provided a brief summary of the Councillors’ Code of Conduct and Standing Orders in respect of conduct at meetings.

There was no Exempt Business.

There were no declarations.

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

Members were advised of an omission from the minute following presentation of Article 13, whereby Councillor Duncan was substituted by Councillor Graham which had been captured electronically but not represented within the minute.

The Committee resolved :-

(i)            to note the omission of Councillor Graham substituting for Councillor Duncan following presentation of Article 13 and that this would be recorded as an amendment to the Minute; and

(ii)          to otherwise approve the minute as a correct record. 

The Committee had before it the Planner.

Members heard of the intended reporting and that consultation would take place with Police Scotland, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and all relevant Council services to further plan reporting intentions.

A topic for a future thematic report by Police Scotland was suggested which would be discussed.

The Committee resolved :-

(i)            to note the Planner; and

(ii)          to note the suggested future Police Scotland Thematic Report.

The Committee had before it the letter sent from the Convener to the Scottish Police Authority following the decision taken by the Committee at the meeting on 7 October 2020 and the response to that letter received from the Authority.

The Committee resolved :-

to note the communications.

The Committee had before it the report from the Local Commander, North East Division, Police Scotland which provided information in relation to the Contact Assessment Model (CAM).

The Committee heard from Chief Inspector Mike Whitford who made reference to the recording shared with the members prior to the meeting and provided an overview of the report.

Members heard of the innovative use of technology and nationally and locally  based resources to maximise effeiceiency and better manage use of front line resources to enhance service delivery and further promote public safety.

The report recommended :-

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

The Committee resolved :- 

(i)            to approve the recommendation; and

(ii)          to congratulate Police Scotland on the introduction of new processes and use of technology during the challenges of the pandemic.

The Committee received a combined presentation from the Chief Officer – Early Intervention and Community Engagement in his role as Chair of the Criminal Justice Group of Community Planning Aberdeen, and from Detective Chief Inspector McPhail, CID and Intelligence, North East Division.

Members heard of the activities undertaken to manage and reduce instances of 'Cuckooing', which in Policing terms is described as taking over a person’s home by intimidation or other means, including the use of violence, by an Organised Crime Group (OCG) for the purposes of utilising the premises in the course of criminality.   The term ‘cuckooing’ is taken from the Cuckoo bird who invades the nests of other birds and utilises it for its own purposes.

The Committee resolved :-

to compliment and endorse the presentation given.

The Committee had before it the report from the Local Senior Officer (LSO), Scottish Fire and Service (SFRS) which presented the Local Fire and Rescue Plan 2020.

Members heard of the legal requirement that SFRS must submit the Local Fire and Rescue Plan to the Council for approval, under the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005 and that if the Council approved the plan, SFRS must publish it.

Members were reminded that the Council may monitor and provide feedback to SFRS on how SFRS carried out its functions within the Council’s area.

The report recommended :-

that the Committee consider and approve the Local Fire and Rescue Plan 2020.

The Committee resolved :-

to approve the recommendation.

The Committee had before it the report from the Local Senior Officer (LSO), Scottish Fire and Service (SFRS) which presented the SFRS Aberdeen City Performance for Quarters 1 and 2 of 2020/21.

Members heard that since the pandemic, SFRS had required to review and adapt processes and operations to continue successful delivery of their priorities and objectives.

Consideration of adapted process had seen the Legislative Fire Safety Officers in Aberdeen identify that they might be able to carry out a successful audit of a Care Home (or other premise) using Video Messaging applications. This was arranged with a local Care Home and carried out successfully. The Care Inspectorate were informed prior to the audit and asked if they could also join the Video Call to establish if this approach could be used by them. This was a success and the work was identified as best practice by SFRS Prevention and Protection Directorate and was now being adopted as a national approach during the pandemic and beyond as a tool to carry out audits in remote rural locations locally and nationally.

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 :-

(i)            to approve the recommendation; and

(ii)          to acknowledge and commend SFRS for the innovative adaption of process and use of technology during the pandemic period.

The Committee had before it the report from the Chief Officer – Integrated Children’s and Family Services.

The report presented the outcome of the Joint Inspection of Services for Children and Young People in need of Care and Protection in Aberdeen City which was presented to Committee in October 2019 and Committee had asked that an update report be brought back on delivery of the Inspections improvement plan.

Members heard that the report had been delayed due to cessation of inspection activity by the Care Inspectorate during the pandemic.

The report recommended :-

that the Committee note the report submitted to the Care Inspectorate detailing progress made by the partnership since October 2019 on the identified areas of improvement highlighted in their inspection report dated September 2019.

The Committee resolved :-

(i)            to approve the recommendation; and

(ii)          to note and commend innovative ways of working during the challenges of the pandemic and to instruct the Chief Social Work Officer to share the Committee’s appreciation to all relevant staff.

The Committee had before it the report from the Chief Officer – Governance which provided assurance on the Council’s resilience arrangements in fulfilment of its duties as a Category 1 responder under the Civil Contingencies Act 2004.

Members heard from the Assurance Manager who provided an overview of the year’s activities which had seen a strength in partnership working evident during local incidents and during the pandemic. The latter of which had presented additional assurance around Business Continuity Planning.

Members were advised that further Winter Planning Arrangements were in hand and that further details would be shared with Members and citizens once completed.

Members enquired of arrangements around EU Exit arrangements and following verbal assurances that this had not been forgotten and was ongoing, requested that an update be presented to them.

The report recommended :-

that the Committee note the progress made in developing the Council’s organisational resilience arrangements during 2020.

The Committee resolved :-

(i)            to approve the recommendation;

(ii)          to note and commend the resilience provided during the pandemic through strengthened partnership working; and

(iii)         to request the Chief Officer – Governance to provide an update to Members on the EU Exit preparedness.

The Committee had before it the report from the Chief Officer – Operations and Protective Services which presented an update on the status of UKAS accreditation and the progress of recommendations of assessment of the Aberdeen Scientific Services Laboratory (ASSL).

The Convener advised members that the ASSL had become part of the international Food Authenticity Network and was now included in the Network’s list of organisations having a general proficiency in food authenticity testing across a range of scientific techniques and food commodities and sought Members acknowledgement and congratulations.

Members heard an overview of the report from the Public Analyst who highlighted the journey to accreditation and explained some of the challenges to he continued success of the ASSL, which included retention and recruitment of staff.

The report recommended :-

that the Committee –

(a)          note the work being undertaken to implement and develop the recommendations of the 2020 UKAS re-assessment report, following a remote assessment carried out between 28 February and 19 March 2020; and

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

The Committee resolved :-

(i)            to approve the recommendations;

(ii)          to acknowledge and congratulate the Aberdeen Scientific Services Laboratory (ASSL) on its inclusion in the international Food Authenticity Network; and

(iii)         to note the challenges to the retention and recruitment of staff.

-       COUNCILLOR JENNIFER STEWART, CONVENER