Community Safety And Public Protection Committee - 28/09/2020

At a MEETING of the COMMUNITY SAFETY AND PUBLIC PROTECTION COMMITTEE held remotely at Dundee on 28th September, 2020.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Councillor Kevin CORDELL, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 24th August, 2020 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I DECLARATION OF INTEREST

There were no declarations of interest.

II AIR QUALITY AND LOW EMISSION ZONE UPDATE

There was submitted Report No 224-2020 by the Executive Director of Neighbourhood Services providing an update on the Councils Air Quality Action Plan and summarising the results of the most recent full years (2019) monitoring data, providing an update on the work undertaken by Neighbourhood Services and City Development on the development of a Low Emission Zone (LEZ) for Dundee and confirmation of the 2020-2021 Programme for Government commitment for the revised introduction date for LEZs in Scotland and providing a briefing on the impact of COVID-19 on local air pollutant levels in Dundee during the lock down period between 23rd March to 31st August, 2020.

The Committee agreed to note the content of the report and to:-

(i) remit the Executive Director of Neighbourhood Services to continue to take forward the Councils Air Quality Action Plan (AQAP) measures, noting the improvements that had been achieved, and continue to work with the Scottish Government and its partners with the Cleaner Air for Scotland (CAFS) strategy and its review in order to further improve air quality throughout the city;

(ii) submit the 2020 Air Quality Annual Progress Report to the Scottish Government and the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency. (A copy of the proposed report had been circulated to all Elected Members in advance of this Committee); and

(iii) give delegated authority to the Executive Directors of Neighbourhood Services and City Development to utilise the grant funding allocated to Dundee City Council as outlined in sections 4.7 and 5.3 of this report to aid progression with measures contained within the Air Quality Action Plan and the development of the Dundee LEZ in order to meet the revised introductory date for LEZs in Scotland as outlined in Section 5.2.

The Committee further agreed to note the ongoing issues of poor air quality on Lochee Road and instructed the Executive Director of Neighbourhood Services and the Executive Director of City Development to bring forward a report as soon as practicable outlining an action plan to improve air quality at Lochee Road.

III LEADERSHIP OF PUBLIC PROTECTION ARRANGEMENTS

There was submitted Report No 242-2020 by the Chief Executive updating the Committee with regards to arrangements for leadership of the strategic public protection agenda by the Chief Officers (Public Protection) Strategic Group, including key developments over the last year and future strategic ambitions.

The Committee agreed to:-

(i) note the role of the Chief Officers (Public Protection) Strategic Group in providing leadership for the protection of children and adults at risk;

(ii) note the work undertaken by the Chief Officers (Public Protection) Strategic Group over the last year to enhance arrangements for public protection, including the response to the COVID-19 pandemic;

(iii) note the progress made in implementing the Transforming Public Protection Programme and planned next steps as outlined in section 4.5 and Appendix 4 of the report;

(iv) note the priorities for the Chief Officers (Public Protection) Strategic Group for the next year, including the implementation of the Integrated Protecting People COVID-19 Recovery Plan as outlined in section 4.5 of the report; and

(v) direct the Chief Executive to provide further updates regarding the work of the Chief Officers (Public Protection) Strategic Group and key developments in public protection to Committee on a six-monthly basis.

Kevin CORDELL, Convener.