Community Safety And Public Protection Committee - 18/02/2019

At a MEETING of the COMMUNITY SAFETY AND PUBLIC PROTECTION COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 18th February, 2019.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Councillor Alan ROSS, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 7th January, 2019 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I DECLARATION OF INTEREST

There were no declarations of interest.

II THE MAKE A STAND PLEDGE

There was submitted Report No 67-2019 by the Executive Director of Neighbourhood Services informing the Committee of the Make a Stand Pledge and seeking approval to sign the pledge.

The Committee agreed to support the signing of the Make a Stand Pledge, and that officers undertake a review of relevant policies encompassed by the Make a Stand Pledge.

III CONSULTATION RESPONSE - THE FOOD STANDARDS SCOTLAND - GUIDANCE ON FOOD TRACEABILITY, PRODUCT WITHDRAWALS ANDRECALLS

There was submitted Report No 64-2019 by the Executive Director of Neighbourhood Services seeking approval for the Councils proposed response to the Food Standards Scotland consultation on Guidance on Food Traceability, Product Withdrawals and Recalls within the UK Food Industry.

The Committee approved the response which was attached to the report at Appendix 1 and remitted the Executive Director of Neighbourhood Services to submit this to the Scottish Government accordingly.

IV CONSULTATION RESPONSE - THE FOOD STANDARDS SCOTLAND - PROPOSALS TO IMPROVE THE OUT-OF-HOME FOOD ENVIRONMENT

There was submitted Report No 65-2019 by the Executive Director of Neighbourhood Services seeking approval for the Councils proposed response to the Food Standards Scotland Consultation on Proposals to Improve the Out-of-Home Food Environment in Scotland.

The Committee approved the response which was attached to the report at Appendix 1 and remitted the Executive Director of Neighbourhood Services to submit this to the Scottish Government accordingly.

V FOOD SAFETY SERVICE PLAN 2019-2020

There was submitted Report No 63-2019 by the Executive Director of Neighbourhood Services seeking approval for the revised Food Safety Service Plan.

The Committee approved the Food Safety Service Plan contained in Appendix 1 of the report.

VI SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT CONSULTATION ON PRISONER VOTING

There was submitted Report No 94-2019 by the Executive Director of Children and Families Service seeking approval for the Councils proposed response to the Scottish Government consultation on prisoner voting. It was reported that when the Scottish Parliament gained new powers over elections in the Scotland Act 2016, it became necessary to consider how to comply with the European Convention on Human Rights on the issue of prisoner voting.

The Convener, seconded by Councillor Rendall, moved that the Committee:-

(i) note the background to the consultation; and

(ii) approve the proposed Council response to the Scottish Government consultation as detailed in the appendix to the report, in particular, the preferred option to link the enfranchisement of prisoners to those serving a sentence of two years or less.

As an amendment, Bailie Scott, seconded by Councillor Scott, moved that the Committee note the background to the consultation and approve the following response:-

(i) Dundee City Council did not agree that prisoners serving a custodial sentence should be granted the right to vote in elections and referenda. Those convicted of a crime severe enough to warrant a prison sentence should lose their right to vote and that should remain the case, noting that Dundee City Council fully supported the motion that prisoners should be encouraged to exercise civic responsibility but did not believe that this principle justified allowing prisoners to vote.

On a division, there voted for the motion - the Convener, Lord Provost Borthwick, Depute Lord Provost Campbell, Bailies Roberts, Sawers, Keenan, Wright and Macpherson and Councillors Alexander, Cordell, Dawson, Flynn, Hunter, Lynn, Murray, Rendall, Short, Smith, Cruickshank, McCready, McIrvine, Malone, Marra, Richardson and Duncan (25); and for the amendment - Bailie Scott and Councillors Hay and Scott (3) - whereupon the motion was declared carried and the report approved.

Alan ROSS, Convener.