Policy And Resources Committee - 12/06/2023

At a MEETING of the POLICY AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE held remotely on 12th June, 2023.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Councillor John ALEXANDER, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 24th April, 2023 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I DECLARATION OF INTEREST

There were no declarations of interest.

II SEWAGE DISCHARGES INTO SCOTLANDS RIVERS AND SEAS

This item had been placed on the agenda by Councillor Duncan and Councillor Coleman who asked the Committee to write to Scottish Ministers to express its concern at the number of recorded sewage spills in Scotlands rivers and seas having increased by 40% over the last five years and asked that Ministers take steps to compel Scottish Water to improve performance to drastically reduce sewage spillages and also improve the level of monitoring of sewage discharge pipes across Scotland.

Thereafter, the Committee resolved as follows:-

The Committee notes official Scottish Water figures showing that sewage was dumped at least 14,000 times across Scotland in 2022, an increase of 30% compared to 2021, but that no monitoring is conducted in Dundee.

It also understands that, across Scotland, only 4% of sewage overflow points are monitored (144 out of 3,614), compared to around 90% in England, so the actual figure will be much worse nationwide. The Committee believes that the local environment and everyone who uses our rivers and beaches deserve the highest possible protection. It also notes calls from campaigners for every sewage dump to be properly recorded and published, the introduction of legally-binding targets for reducing these overflows, the upgrading of Scotlands ageing sewage system, an end to dumping around Scotlands best beaches and a faster process for the protection of bathing waters.

Committee therefore requests that the Chief Executive contacts both Alex Plant, Chief Executive of Scottish Water and Miri McAllan MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Just Transition Scottish Government to endorse these calls, set out the Councils concern and to request an urgent update on the situation in Dundee.

III BUDGET INVESTMENT PROPOSALS - TACKLING SOCIAL INEQUALITY

There was submitted Report No 161-2023 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services, recommending how the investment proposals agreed in the 2023/2024 Budget would be allocated.

The Committee agreed:-

(i) to the allocations and purposes for investment of 905k as set out in Appendix 1 of the report;

(ii) to authorise the Lead Officers indicated to take the necessary steps to implement the proposals to the report; and

(iii) to note that a further report setting out proposals for the balance of funding would be presented to a future meeting of the Committee.

IV PURCHASE OF ENTERPRISE BACKUP SYSTEM

There was submitted Report No 168-2023 by the Executive Director of Corporate Services, on the purchase of a new Enterprise backup and data protection system. The existing system was approaching end of life later this year and a replacement system was required.

The Committee agreed:-

(i) to agree to the purchase of the Enterprise Backup and Data Protection System; and

(ii) to remit the Head of Customer Services and IT to purchase a new Enterprise Backup and Data Protection System, following a compliant procurement process using NHS Digital Workplace Solutions framework.

John ALEXANDER, Convener.