Agenda and minutes

Minute of Meeting of the Audit and Scrutiny Committee held on 29 June 2021 to be approved and signed by the Chairman. (Copy attached.)

There had been circulated copies of the Minute of the meeting held on Tuesday, 29 June 2021.

DECISION
APPROVED for signature by the Chairman.

Presentation on the Responsible Dog Ownership Strategy.

Papers attached –

(a)  Presentation

(b)  (i) Report to Council May 2018

(ii) Appendix 3 for report to Council

(iii) Appendix 4 for report to Council

2.1     There had been circulated copies of a presentation on the Responsible Dog Ownership Strategy Review 2018-2022 along with the original Update report and appendices on the Responsible Dog Ownership Strategy & Measures to Control Dog Fouling, which was considered and approved at the meeting of full Council on 31 May 2018.  The Principal Regulatory Services Officer – Trading Standards & Animal Health, Ms Lloyd gave the presentation and confirmed that the 2018 recommendations to Council had all been completed.   This included securing the supply of dog bags from The Dogs Trust.  However, this supply had now ceased due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on The Dogs Trust and a new supplier of dog bags at a low or zero cost was being sought.  It was further noted that the post of Information and Education Officer was currently being advertised.

2.2     Ms Lloyd gave details of the progress made on the key objectives of the Strategy.  The key objectives outlined were:

-       To educate dog owners in the principles of responsible dog ownership.

-       To raise awareness of the legal responsibilities associated with dog ownership.

-       To reduce the number of dog fouling instances through education, partnership working and enforcement.

-       To improve the use of information and intelligence and share this with key partners.

-       To clarify and raise awareness of the roles and responsibilities of Scottish Borders Council and those of our key partners including Police Scotland.

-       To improve and simplify the way in which members of the public can report instances of dog fouling.

-       To work more closely with communities on developing local solutions.

-       To ensure that robust enforcement action is taken, where appropriate.

2.3     Alongside the progress made on the Responsible Dog Ownership Strategy, Ms Lloyd also spoke of the impact of the objectives.  Campaign materials aimed at children were produced as part of the education programme on safe behaviour with dogs and keeping dogs safe.  Visits were made to events in communities alongside poster campaigns to promote responsible dog ownership.  Work was undertaken with PDSA at community events to provide a free basic health check for dogs.  Community events visits were ceased due to the onset of the COVID-19 but work in this objective area led to Scottish Borders Council winning the Dogs Trust Partnership Scheme 2018-19.  The legal responsibility of dog owners was highlighted.  Where dogs were found not to be under control, Scottish Borders Council’s dedicated control officer could enforce relevant legislation to serve a dog control notice including a mandate requiring dogs to be walked on a lead, wear a muzzle or only to be walked in certain areas.  It was noted that to support compliance with legislation that Scottish Borders Council had a free programme to implant dog microchips.  A stencil and poster campaign was used to pursue a reduction in dog fouling instances.  In highlighting work on improving the use of information and intelligence, it was noted that legislation was under review to determine if a dog  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.

Councillor Greenwell raised the matter of the Scottish Borders Autism Strategy which had been launched in 2015 and needed to be reviewed to assess its effectiveness and whether this could be included in the Scrutiny Work Programme.  Members heard that the Scottish Borders Autism Strategy was owned by the H&SC Integrated Joint Board and not by Scottish Borders Council so may be better reviwed through the Integrated Joint Board and undertook to check on the most appropriate process for a review of the Scottish Borders Autism Strategy.  Members were supportive of the Committee reviewing the effectiveness of the Strategy if possible.

DECISION
AGREED that the Clerk to the Council would update the Audit and Scrutiny Committee at its next meeting on an appropriate process to review the Scottish Borders Autism Strategy.