Policy And Resources Committee - 18/11/2013

At a MEETING of the POLICY AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE (POLICE, FIRE AND COMMUNITY SAFETY) held at Dundee on 18th November, 2013.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Councillor Ken GUILD, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 12th August, 2013 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Councillor Macpherson declared a non-financial interest by virtue of his brother being Chief Superintendent in Police Scotland, Tayside Division.

Bailie Borthwick and Councillor Dawson declared non-financial interests by virtue of family members being serving Police Officers.

II SCOTTISH FIRE AND RESCUE - DUNDEE CITY QUARTERLY PERFORMANCE REPORT

There was submitted Report No 468-2013 by Area Manager Stapley of Scottish Fire and Rescue providing suitable performance information relating to the first quarter of reporting year 2013/2014 to facilitate local scrutiny into the performance of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service against the priorities and objectives detailed within the Dundee Fire and Rescue Plan.

The Committee scrutinised and questioned the content of the quarterly performance report attached at Appendix A to the report and, where relevant, agreed to provide feedback on the suitability or otherwise of the report to meet the needs of the Committee for on-going scrutiny of performance.

III SCOTTISH FIRE AND RESCUE UPDATE

There was submitted by Area Manager Stapley of Scottish Fire and Rescue Report No 469-2013 informing the Committee of recent developments within the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.

The Committee considered and noted the information contained within the report, noted any implications this may have for Dundee, and agreed to provide suitable feedback to the Local Senior Officer that the Committee considered relevant.

IV HOME SAFETY SCHEME - OPERATING MODEL

There was submitted Report No 408-2013 by Director of Environment and Director of Leisure and Communities seeking approval for the Home Safety Scheme - Operating Model.

The Committee agreed to:-

(i) approve the Home Safety Scheme Operating Model;

(ii) approve, in principle, and support the use of CATS - Co-ordinated Advice Tracking System, a system currently in use within Dundee City Council;

(iii) agree to the partner roles and responsibilities detailed in the report; and

(iv) agree that the Home Safety Projects Officer, Environment Department takes on the role of Co-ordinator for Dundee City Council during the initial project to ascertain the viability of the initiative report the findings and recommendations to the Dundee Partnership Group.

V CITY OF DUNDEE LOCAL POLICING AREA PERFORMANCE RESULTS 1ST APRIL, 2013 TO 30THSEPTEMBER, 2013

There was submitted Report No 471-2013 by Chief Superintendent Macpherson of Police Scotland providing members with local policing performance results for the quarter 1st April, 2013 to 30th September, 2013.

The Committee noted and scrutinised the content of the report.

VI POLICE SCOTLAND - OPERATIONAL ISSUES REPORT (PART 1)

There was submitted Report No 470-2013 by Chief Superintendent Macpherson of Police Scotland providing members with background operational information to the performance information.

The Committee noted and scrutinised the operational report.

VII POLICE SCOTLAND - REVIEW

(a) PUBLIC COUNTER SERVICES

This item was included on the Agenda at the request of Councillor Brennan.

Councillor Brennan, seconded by Councillor Cruickshank moved that Committee note the review being undertaken by Police Scotland of public counter services; express its concern that at the Maryfield Police Station and at the Longhaugh Police Station in Dundee the counter service provision is recommended for closure; note further with concern the reduction in the number of hours of the counter service at both the Lochee and Downfield Police Stations; and resolve to inform Police Scotland that Dundee City Council expresses its opposition to the proposed changes to the Police counter service in Dundee; and that the Committee seek an assurance from the Police Scotland Local Commander that future consultations and any future significant service changes, including service curtailment, concerning or connected to policing in Dundee will be the subject of a Report to the Policy and Resources Committee (Police, Fire and Community Safety) during the consultation period.

As an amendment, Councillor Guild, seconded by Lord Provost Duncan moved that the Council note the review being undertaken by Police Scotland of service priorities and agrees that the most effective use of police funding is to ensure the prevention and detection of crime that the Committee agree that this would be best achieved by maintaining and where possible increasing the number of serving police officers and note that this number is increasing in Scotland whilst reducing in England; and note that the traditional role of police station counters had to a considerable extent been overtaken by use of email, Crimestoppers phone lines and 101 calls and support Police Scotland's proposals to target available funding on the most effective operational methods.

On a division there voted for the motion - Bailies Wright and Scott and Councillors Keenan, Asif, Bidwell, Brennan, Cruickshank, Ferguson, Gordon, McCready, McGovern and Macpherson (12); and for the amendment - Lord Provost Duncan, Depute Lord Provost Roberts and Councillors Guild, Black, Bowes, Campbell, Cordell, Dawson, Hunter, Lynn, McDonald, Melville, Murray and Ross (14) - (Bailie Borthwick being absent when the vote was undertaken) - whereupon the amendment was declared carried.

(b) PUBLIC COUNTER PROVISIONS - DUNDEE CITY

There was submitted Report No 482-2013 by Chief Superintendent Macpherson providing the Committee with information on the proposals for Police Public Counter Service Provision within Dundee City.

The Committee agreed to scrutinise and question the report.

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 paragraph 14 of Part I of Schedule 7A of the Act.

VIII POLICE OPERATIONAL ISSUES (PART 2)

Chief Inspector Trickett gave a verbal update to members on operational issues.

Ken GUILD, Convener.