Agendas, reports and minutes

A meeting of the Community Safety, Public Engagement and Equalities Committee will take place in the Council Chamber, Council Headquarters, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness on Wednesday 30 September 2015 at 2.00 pm (or following the Audit and Scrutiny Committee – whichever is the later).

Webcast Notice: This meeting will be filmed and broadcast over the Internet on the Highland Council website and will be archived and available for viewing for 12 months thereafter.

You are invited to attend the meeting and a note of the business to be considered is attached.

Yours faithfully

Michelle Morris
Depute Chief Executive/
Director of Corporate Development

1. Apologies for Absence
Leisgeulan

2. Declarations of Interest
Foillseachaidhean Com-pàirt

Members are asked to consider whether they have an interest to declare in relation to any item on the agenda for this meeting. Any Member making a declaration of interest should indicate whether it is a financial or non-financial interest and include some information on the nature of the interest. Advice may be sought from Officers prior to the meeting taking place.

3. Recess Powers
Cumhachdan Fosaidh

The Committee is invited to note that the Recess Powers granted by the Council at its meeting on 25 June 2015 have not been exercised in relation to the business of the Community Safety, Public Engagement and Equalities Committee.

Community Safety
Sàbhailteachd Phoblach

4. Consultations Regarding Police Services
Co-chomhairlean mu Sheirbheisean Poileis

There is circulated Report No CPE/12/15 dated 4 September 2015 by the Head of Policy and Reform which outlines the background to 2 consultations on police services and the Council’s response to these. The first consultation sought views on the impact of changes to police front counter opening hours and the second, from HM Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland, on police call handling. The report outlines the background, the process for collating the responses and asks Members to note the responses to these separate consultations.

The Committee is invited to note the background to the reviews into police front counter opening hours and call handling and the responses submitted as part of these reviews.

5. Police Service Reports
Aithisgean Seirbheis Poileis

(a) Independent Assurance Review Police Scotland – Call Handling Interim Report
Ath-structaradh Seòmar Smachd

There is circulated (pp 10-22) Report dated 31 August 2015 by HM Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland (HMICS) which provides an update on the progress of the independent assurance review.

The Committee is invited to note the update.

(b) Performance Against the Highland Local Policing Plan 2014-2017
Coileanadh mu Choinneamh Plana Obair-phoilis Ionadail na Gàidhealtachd 2014-2017

There is circulated (pp 23-36) Report No CPE/13/15 dated 21 September 2015 by the Divisional Commander for Police which provides an update to Committee Members on the progress with reference to the objectives outlined in the Highland 2014-2017 Policing Plan.

The Committee is invited to scrutinise the performance report against Policing Plan Objectives April 2015 - August 2015.

(c) National Child Abuse Investigation Unit
Aonad Sgrùdaidh Nàiseanta airson Droch Dhìol air Cloinn

A verbal report will be given on the National Child Abuse Investigation Unit.

6. Fire and Rescue Service Reports
Aithisgean na Seirbheis Smàlaidh is Teasairginn

(a) Quarterly Performance Report for Quarter 1 2015/16
Aithisg Dèanadais Ràitheil airson Ràith 1 2015/16

There is circulated (pp 37-39) Report No CPE/14/15 dated 14 September 2015 by the Local Senior Officer for Fire and Rescue, together with accompanying quarterly performance report (QPR), which provides detail on Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) performance across a range of Intervention, Prevention and Protection activities for Quarter 1, 2015/16.

The Committee is invited to scrutinise and comment on SFRS service delivery and performance contained within the Report and attached QPR for Quarter 1, 2015-16.

(b) Unwanted Fire Alarm Management Update
Cunntas às Ùr mu Rianachd Innealan-Rabhaidh Teine gun Iarraidh

There is circulated (pp 40-44) Report No CPE/15/15 dated 19 September 2015 by the Local Senior Officer for Fire and Rescue which provides an overview of Unwanted Fire Alarm Signals (UFAS) as well as the operational activity within the Highland area attributable to UFAS and the work being undertaken by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) and local personnel to reduce the impact on the service and local communities.

The Committee is invited to note and discuss the content of this report. 

(c) Community Engagement Update
Cunntas às Ùr mu Chom-pàirteachas Poblach

There is circulated (pp 45-56) Report No CPE/16/15 dated 18 September 2015 by the Local Senior Officer for Fire and Rescue which provides Committee Members with an overview of Scottish Fire and Rescue Service activities aligned with legislative responsibilities and partnership agreed outcomes contained in the Highland SOA 2013 – 2019. These activities include the delivery of free home fire safety visits (HFSV) aimed at reducing dwelling house fires, local partnership activities targeting the most vulnerable within our communities, supporting road safety intervention and the reduction of fire related antisocial behaviour through delivery of targeted youth engagement activities.

The Committee is invited to note and discuss the contents contained within the Report.

7. Scottish Ambulance Service Quarterly Report
Aithisg Seirbheis Charbadan-eiridinn na h-Alba

There is circulated for noting performance report by the Scottish Ambulance Service for the Highland area for the period May to September 2015.

Public Engagement
Com-pàirt Phoblach

8. Community Planning Board – Minutes
Bòrd Dealbhaidh Choimhearsnachd – Geàrr-chunntas

There are circulated for noting minutes of meeting of the Community Planning Board held on 3 June 2015, which were approved by the Board at its meeting on 11 September 2015.

Equalities
Co-ionannachdan

9. Employee Survey: Fairer Highland Elements
Suirbhidh Luchd-obrach: Clàr Gàidhealtachd nas Cothromaiche

There is circulated Report No CPE/17/15 dated 22 September 2015 by the Head of Policy and Reform which provides a summary of the analysis of a set of questions that measures employees’ views of the Fairer Highland element of the Council’s 7th Employee Survey.

The Committee is invited to:-

i. note the generally positive results of the Employee Survey which give regard to equality of opportunity; and

ii. agree to further analysis of the equality data by protected characteristic to be taken to the equalities working group to consider at service level.