Housing, Dundee Contract Services And Environment Services Committee - 16/04/2007

At a MEETING of the ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES AND SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 16th April, 2007.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Councillor Helen DICK, Depute Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 19th March, 2007 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I CONTAMINATED LAND STRATEGY - SITE INVESTIGATION CONTRACTS

There was submitted Report No 234-2007 by the Head of Environmental Health and Trading Standards informing of the projects undertaken in 2006/2007 and making recommendations for the continuing implementation of the Contaminated Land Regime, in particular letting of contracts for site investigation works.

The Committee agreed:-

(i) to note the projects that were undertaken in 2006/2007 as detailed in Appendix I of the report; and

(ii) to the following measures that would ensure that effective site inspection procedures are undertaken under Part IIA of the Environmental Protection Act 1990-2008:-

7         that Environmental Health and Trading Standards (EHTS) continue to use the City Engineers in a consulting role, utilising their expertise in tender preparation and project management.

7         that the City Engineer be authorised to accept the most favourable tender for each work package. All such tenders would be reported retrospectively to Committee for information and on completion of works programme.

7         that the use of the existing Unit Rate Contract for contaminated land works as approved by the Policy and Resources Committee on 14th March, 2005 be extended to the end of June 2007. Details of a new Unit Rate Contract would be the subject of a separate report and would be submitted for approval in June 2007.

7         the spending of up to 413k in financial year 2007/2008 for the purposes of progressing the Contaminated Land Strategy.

II LICENSING OF SKIN PIERCING AND TATTOOING

There was submitted Report No 205-2007 by the Head of Environmental Health and Trading Standards advising on progress of the enforcement of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 (Licensing of Skin Piercing and Tattooing) Order 2006 which came into force on 1st April, 2006.

The Committee agreed to note the progress on determining skin piercing and tattoo licences in terms of the new regime.

III COPYRIGHT DESIGNS AND PATENTS ACT 1988 - NEW DUTIES

There was submitted Agenda Note AN126-2007 advising of the commencement of UK wide legislation that brought into force new sections of the Copyright Designs and Patents Act 1988. These sections imposed new duties on local authorities to enforce the copyright offences in sections 107 and 198 of the Copyright Designs and Patents Act 1988, from 6th April, 2007.

It was reported that the public enforcement of the offences had previously been a matter for the Police alone, but this commencement complemented the long established powers and duties of local authority Trading Standards Officers, under Trade Description and Trade Marks Acts, to pursue those who sell, manufacture or distribute counterfeit 'pirated' goods.

The Treasury had made 423,000 available in Scotland to support implementation of these new duties, and Dundee City Council had been allocated 10,000.

The Committee noted that discussions were ongoing with several local authorities, to explore possible joint working opportunities to ensure the most efficient and effective use of this new money.

IV APPOINTMENT OF DIRECTOR - DUNDEE CYRENIANS

There was submitted Agenda Note AN127-2007 reporting that Stewart Ball, Waste Policy Manager, had been invited to become a Director of Dundee Cyrenians.

The Committee agreed to Mr Ball becoming a Director of Dundee Cyrenians.

V BROWN STREET KENNELS

This item was withdrawn from consideration.

The Committee resolved under Section 50(A)(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 that the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the undernoted item of business on the grounds that it involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 3, 6 and 9 of Part I of Schedule 7A of the Act.

VI CIVIC GOVERNMENT (SCOTLAND) ACT 1982 - SECTION 90 - DEFECTIVE STAIR LIGHTING

There was submitted Agenda Note AN128-2007 detailing Notices which had been served on the owners of properties requiring works to be carried out.

The Committee noted that the Head of Environmental Health and Trading Standards would carry out the works should the owners not comply within the timescales.

Helen DICK, Depute Convener.