Housing, Dundee Contract Services And Environment Services Committee - 18/08/2003

At a MEETING of the ENVIRONMENTAL AND CONSUMER PROTECTION COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 18th August 2003.

Present:-

COUNCILLORS

Councillor STURROCK, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 30th June, 2003 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I THE OPERATION OF THE TRADING STANDARD SERVICE 2002-2003

There was submitted Report No 547-2003 by the Head of Environmental Health and Consumer Protection on the annual report of the Chief Inspector of Weights and Measures, which included the statutory information return, and information on the operation of the Trading Standard Service for the year to 31st March, 2003.

The Committee agreed:-

(i) that the annual information return to the Department of Trade and Industry be approved;

(ii) that the annual information return be submitted to the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry in accordance with the requirements of Section 70 of the Weights and Measures Act 1985; and

(iii) that the undernoted achievements which were detailed more fully in the report be noted:-

?                Excellent statutory performance indicator results keeping the service amongst the best in Scotland in dealing with consumer problems and regulating and helping business.

?                Increased partnership working with external agencies and other local authorities.

?                Success in attracting external grant funding from Central Government, for example Internet shopping and motor vehicle testing projects.

?                A new service delivery plan detailing how the department would aim to fulfil consumer and business expectations.

?                New enforcements possibilities in the form of animal health and welfare.

II FOOD STANDARDS AUDIT OF DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL

There was submitted Agenda Note AN397-2003 advising that the Food Standards Agency had carried out its third audit of Dundee City Council's food law enforcement activities on 29th April, 2003, the aims of which were detailed in the Agenda Note.

The Committee noted that the third audit by the Food Standards Agency which fully assessed Dundee City Council's food law enforcement service had been completed to the satisfaction of the agency.

III INTRODUCTION OF A SECOND RAPID RESPONSE TEAM AND CLEANING EQUIPMENT

On a reference to Article II of the Policy and Resources Committee of 20th January, 2003, there was submitted Agenda Note AN398-2003 on the proposed introduction of a second Rapid Response Team for graffiti removal as part of the Council's 2003/2004 Quality of Life submission.

The Committee agreed to the introduction of a second Rapid Response Team to allow the functions of the Teams to be extended in order to respond to other environmental complaints. The Committee noted that the purchase of equipment necessary to deal with other environmental complaints would be the subject of a future Committee report.

The Committee resolved under Section 50(A)(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 that the public be excluded from the meeting for the undernoted item of business on the grounds that this may involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 3, 6 and 9 of Part 1 of Schedule 7(A) to the above Act.

IV CIVIC GOVERNMENT (SCOTLAND) ACT 1982 ? SECTION 87(1) ? BUILDINGS IN NEED OF REPAIR

There was submitted Agenda Note AN396-2003 reporting that notices had been served on owners of various properties requiring works to be carried out.

The Committee agreed that the Head of Environmental Health and Consumer Protection be authorised to carry out the works should the owners not comply within the time allowed in the notices.

JULIA M STURROCK, Convener.