Housing, Dundee Contract Services And Environment Services Committee - 20/10/2003

At a MEETING of the ENVIRONMENTAL AND CONSUMER PROTECTION COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 20th October, 2003.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Councillor STURROCK, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 15th September, 2003 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I CONSUMER DIRECT - A NATIONAL CONSUMER ADVICE HELPLINE - UPDATE

On a reference to Article II of minute of meeting of the Environmental and Consumer Protection Committee of 16th December, 2002 wherein approval was given for Dundee City Council to submit a bid to host the contact centre for a National Consumer Advice Helpline in Dundee there was submitted Agenda Note AN451-2003 reporting that Comhairle nan Eilean Siar had been selected as the preferred bidder for Consumer Direct in Scotland.

The Committee noted the selection of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar as the preferred bidder for Consumer Direct in Scotland and agreed to support the Consumer Direct initiative and accept referrals of relevant companies.

II DOG FOULING (SCOTLAND) ACT, 2003 - IMPLEMENTATION

There was submitted Report No 671-2003 by the Head of Environmental Health and Trading Standards informing the Committee of the implications of the Dog Fouling (Scotland) Act 2003 and making recommendations for the implementation of this new statutory responsibility and the promotion of responsible dog ownership.

The Committee agreed:-

(i)that the scheme of delegation be amended to allow the Head of Environmental Health and Trading Standards to authorise officers within his Department to issue fixed penalty notices in terms of section 5 of the Act;

(ii)that the Director of Leisure and Arts be remitted to consult staff and trade unions in respect of appropriate staff within Leisure and Arts Department being authorised to issue fixed penalty notices in terms of section 5 of the Act for offences within Council Parks and that a further report in this regard be submitted to a future meeting of the Leisure and Arts Services Committee in this regard; and

(iii)that the income from the Fixed Penalty Notices accrue to the Environmental Health and Trading Standards Department subject to a 10% administration charge made by the District Court.

III CONFERENCE - "WORKING TOGETHER FOR A SUSTAINABLE SCOTLAND"

The Convener agreed that this item be considered as a matter or urgency in terms of Standing Order 52(3)(b) in view of the timescales involved.

There was submitted Agenda Note AN482-2003 which reported that a Conference organised by the Centre for Scottish Public Policy entitled "Working Together for a Sustainable Scotland" would be held on Tuesday 4 November 2003 at a cost of 141 per delegate.

The Committee agreed that elected member representation at this Conference be on the basis of the Convener, one member of the SNP and one member of the Conservative Group and if any other members would like to attend they should contact the appropriate officer to ensure that a place was reserved for them.

The Committee resolved under Section 50(A)(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, that the public be excluded from the meeting for the undernoted items of business on the grounds that this may involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 3, 6 and 9 of Part 1 of Schedule 7(A) to the above Act.

IV SITE AT WRIGHT AVENUE - LEASE OF AREA OF GROUND

There was submitted Agenda Note AN452-2003 on the proposed lease of an area of ground off Wright Avenue, Dundee.

The Committee approved the provisional lease of the area of ground indicated subject to planning approval being obtained by the applicant and otherwise in the terms indicated in the agenda note.

V CIVIC GOVERNMENT (SCOTLAND) ACT, 1982 - SECTION 87(1) - BUILDINGS IN NEED OF REPAIR

There was submitted Agenda Note AN453-2003 reporting that Notices had been served on the owners of various properties requiring works to be carried out.

The Committee agreed that the Head of Environmental Health and Trading Standards be authorised to carry out the works should the owners not comply within the time allowed in the Notices.

VI CIVIC GOVERNMENT (SCOTLAND) ACT, 1982 - SECTION 90 - LIGHTING OF COMMON STAIRS

There was submitted Agenda Note AN454-2003 reporting that Notices had been served on the owners of various properties requiring works to be carried out.

The Committee agreed that the Head of Environmental Health and Trading Standards be authorised to carry out the works should the owners not comply within the time allowed in the Notices.

JULIA M STURROCK, Convener