Agenda Document Pack - Police and Fire and Rescue Board - 10/02/2026
Midlothian Council · 10 February 2026
Back to Police and Fire and Rescue Board — 10 February 2026 and its agenda
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Notice of Meeting and Agenda Police and Fire and Rescue Board Venue: Normandy Court/ Hybrid, Normandy Court, 20 Normandy Dr, Dalkeith, EH22 1JG Date: Tuesday, 10 February 2026 Time: 11:00 Executive Director : Place Contact: Clerk Name: Democratic Services Clerk Telephone: Clerk Email: democratic.services@midlothian.gov.uk Further Information: This is a meeting which is open to members of the public. Privacy notice: Please note that this meeting may be recorded. The recording may be publicly available following the meeting. If you would like to know how Midlothian Council collects, uses and shares your personal information, please visit our website: www.midlothian.gov.uk Page 1 of 24
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1 Welcome, Introductions and Apologies 2 Order of Business Including notice of new business submitted as urgent for consideration at the end of the meeting. 3 Declaration of Interest Members should declare any financial and non-financial interests they have in the items of business for consideration, identifying the relevant agenda item and the nature of their interest. 4 Minute of Previous Meeting 4.1 Minute of the Police Fire and Rescue Board Meeting of 8 December 2025 submitted for approval 3 - 10 4.2 Action Log 11 - 14 5 Public Reports 5.1 Police Scotland – verbal update 5.2 Scottish Fire and Rescue Service – verbal update 5.3 Protective Services Report 2025-26 Q3 15 - 24 6 Private Reports No items for discussion 7 Date of Next Meeting The next meeting will be held on Monday 1 June 2026. Page 2 of 24
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INTERNAL USE ONLY DRAFT BY/DATE: REVIEW BY/DATE: 1-993 Minute of Meeting Police and Fire and Rescue Board Tuesday 10 February 2026 Item No 4.1 Police and Fire and Rescue Board Date Time Venue Monday 8 December 2025 11:00am MS Teams Present: Councillor Parry (Chair) Councillor Alexander Councillor Curran Councillor McEwan Councillor Smaill In attendance: Midlothian Council Councillor Winchester Derek Oliver, Executive Director Children, Young People and Partnerships (Acting) Police Scotland Chief Superintendent Gregg Banks, Divisional Commander Inspector David Rourke, Deputy Local Area Commander Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) Steve Oliver, Group Commander Midlothian East Lothian and Scottish Borders 1. Welcome and Apologies The Chair welcomed everyone to this meeting of the Police and Fire and Rescue Board (PFRB). There were no apologies presented. 2. Order of Business The order of business is as per the agenda. A late paper was received for agenda item 5.1 and was accepted into the order of business. Page 3 of 24
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3. Declarations of Interest PFRB Members were invited to declare their interest in items of the agenda. The Chair reminded PFRB Members that declarations of interest and transparency statements can be made at this time or when individual items are discussed. No declarations of interest were intimated at this stage of proceedings. 4. Minute of Previous Meeting 4.1 The Minute of the Police and Fire and Rescue Board Meeting of 22 September 2025 was submitted for approval and unanimously approved as the correct record. 4.2 The Action Log was noted and actions recommended for closure were closed. The Chair advised item 8 in the action log, 5.4 Protective Services Q1 report 2025/26 can also be marked for closure as this information was submitted by the Executive Director Children, Young People and Partnerships (Acting) on 7 December 2025. 5. Public Report Report No. Report Title Presented by: 5.1 Police Scotland Q2 2025-26 Scrutiny Report Deputy Local Area Commander The Deputy Local Area Commander presented the Midlothian Scrutiny Q2 Report 2025/2026 providing detail on each subject and highlighted the salient points within. The Chair thanked the Deputy Local Area Commander and invited questions from the Board. The Board expressed satisfaction around the increased detection in offences related to speeding and drugs. The Board raised the issue of off-road bikes and electric scooters being driven dangerously causing damage to fields and noted Police Scotland’s perceived lack of action in this area is a concern for residents. The Deputy Local Area Commander advised that this is a vastly underreported issue and that while this is a UK wide issue, Midlothian has been very successful in tackling perpetrators thanks to the proactiveness of Community Officers and members of the public who share information. The Deputy Local Area Commander advised Police forces in Greater Manchester, Merseyside and Wales have asked for advice on how to reproduce Midlothian’s success. The Deputy Local Area Commander stressed the importance of residents engaging with Community Officers and encouraged Board Members to engage with Community Councils to ensure Police Scotland continue to have intelligence available to pursue perpetrators. The Chair agreed those having information and not filing a report poses an obstacle to Police Scotland investigating and added it is important to publicise the Police Scotland online reporting form for non-urgent matters. Board Members sought clarification on whether off-road bikes can be seized and destroyed by Police Scotland, as this had been managed a few years ago. The Page 4 of 24
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Deputy Local Area Commander explained that due to motor vehicles requiring insurance to be driven in a public place, and off-road motorbikes not being insurable, it is possible for Police Scotland to seize the bike if perpetrator is apprehended on a road, public walkway, or in the event they escape but are tracked within 24 hours. However, this matter is going through governance at the moment. The Deputy Local Area Commander clarified that to ride an off-road bike in a field, which is private grounds, it would be necessary to have the owner’s permission. On the other hand, the Procurator Fiscal considers a walkway public ground and insurance is required. The Board asked if Police Scotland were using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to track down perpetrators or if the main source is intelligence from the community. The Deputy Local Area Commander explained that there is a national discussion on the ethical use of AI and Police Scotland are reviewing governance on the matter to have a process in place before utilising this new technology. Until then crime detection and investigation rely on Close Circuit Television (CCTV) camera images and “old-fashioned police work”. However, there are new technologies which have been introduced, such as the use of SmartSpray which can be used on unidentified perpetrators who are not apprehended for later identification. Councillor McEwan thanked the Deputy Local Area Commander for the information submitted and asked if it was possible to see data on incidents with Police involvement in schools included in scrutiny reports in the new year. The Deputy Local Area Commander advised that they will engage with Education to set up a system for schools to log incidents and state whether these were dealt with inhouse or reported to Police. The Board queried whether there is any indication that there are racially aggravated incidents logged in schools. The Deputy Local Area Commander reassured the Board that hate crime is taken very seriously and that having reviewed all school incident reports this is not a trend. The Board welcomed the news that Police Scotland has received Scottish Government funding to reduce the incidence of shoplifting and asked if there are higher incidences of this crime due to the cost-of-living crisis. The Board also asked whether perpetrators resorting to shoplifting out of necessity are being signposted to the appropriate support services. The Deputy Local Area Commander advised that Police Scotland has used additional funding to tackle shoplifting in time for the festive period. Shoplifting is a complex issue but funding an addiction or stealing out of necessity are two key motivators, and in both cases, Police Scotland have engaged with the Local Authority to develop a process to make referrals to food banks or drug and alcohol services. Results have been positive and resulted in referrals for individuals previously unknown to Midlothian and East Lothian Drug and Alcohol Partnerships (MELDAP). The funding from the Scottish Government will be used to analyse shoplifting in more detail and identify incidents and which may be linked to organised crime. Board Members also expressed their concerns about the increase in sexual crime figures and asked if Midlothian is ranking higher compared to other Scottish Local Authorities. The Deputy Local Area Commander advised that the figures for Midlothian mirror what is seen at a national level, and advised the increase is also motivated by victims being more confident to report, and reports being made now for historical sexual offences going back to 1994. The Divisional Commander praised the proactive work Police Scotland takes to tackle sexual violence, such as engaging with young people in education settings to discuss the relationship advice that they are encountering online. There are also increased numbers of Page 5 of 24
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applications asking for disclosures concerning a new partner’s previous domestic violence history under the Right to Know scheme. The Chair reminded Police Scotland representatives that there is still an open item on the Action Log asking for a breakdown of the rape statistics between historical and current incidents and advised it would be helpful for the Board to have an additional breakdown by age groups. The Board praised the joint working between Police Scotland and the Council’s Housing Department to tackle antisocial behaviour among tenants however stated that it would be desirable to see the Council taking a more robust approach. The Executive Director Children, Young People and Partnerships (Acting) confirmed that the Council works with Police Scotland to issue warrants for problematic tenants. The Board discussed speeding offences and asked why some of the speed cameras within the area are being covered and whether this is linked to a dynamic approach or a financial matter between Police Scotland and Traffic Scotland. The Deputy Local Area Commander advised that Police Scotland works on enforcing guidance provided by Traffic Scotland, and ultimately the Scottish Government. The cameras are currently covered due to a review on that process and based on the outcome of the review the location of the cameras will be confirmed. It was also confirmed that Police Scotland will enforce the new Midlothian 20 mile per hour speed limit, but the enforcement is for areas where there is an existing accident casualty profile, and this profile does not currently exist in Midlothian. In terms of hooded cameras, the Board asked for clarification whether this happens after a camera being in operation and there are no accidents. The Deputy Local Area Commander advised that the mobile sites are constantly reviewed, but there is no clarity about the specific time frames utilised for this review. The Chair asked the Police Scotland representatives to confirm the specific triggers for hooding or unhooding cameras and inform the Board. Councillor Winchester left the meeting at 11.49am. Decision The Board noted the update. Action Engage with schools to develop a system to log all incidents in schools detailing which were dealt with inhouse and which were reported to Police – Police Scotland. Confirm the trigger for hooding and unhooding speed cameras – Police Scotland. Page 6 of 24
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Report No. Report Title Presented by: 5.2 Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Q1 and Q2 Scrutiny Report Group Commander – Midlothian, East Lothian and Scottish Borders The Group Commander for Midlothian, East Lothian and Scottish Borders provided an update on the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) for the benefit of the Board. • Following Commander Mark Bingham’s retirement, his post will be taken by Commander Murray Dalgleish. • The development of the new Fire and Rescue Service Plans has been postponed due to allocation, but progress within each Local Authority has been discussed and it is expected the outcomes of this assessment will be shared in early 2026. • Work on the new Dalkeith fire station has been delayed due to costs being increased by the selected contractor. This led the Service to retender and resulted in the works being delayed by 6 months, but this was acceptable considering the potential savings. It is expected the works will be completed by the next PFRB meeting in February 2026. The Group Commander for Midlothian, East Lothian and Scottish Borders presented the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Q1, and Q2 Scrutiny Report providing detail on each subject and highlighted the salient points within. The Chair thanked the Group Commander, noting the joint work that had been carried out in the run up to Bonfire Night and invited questions. While the Board welcomed the reduction in incident numbers, the fire at the old Rosslynlee Hospital site prompted concern about historic buildings with no onsite presence or those inhabited by vulnerable residents being at increased risk of arson. The Board asked if high value assets could be assessed as they are particularly attractive to arsonists. The Group Commander advised the enquiry regarding Rosslynlee Hospital is ongoing and findings will be shared with the Board when available. Where a historic or high value asset is classed as a domestic property, a home visit can be arranged to support residents and ensure they are safe. Uninhabited relevant premises are still classed as empty buildings, and there is little control over this as responsibility will ultimately fall to the responsible person. Councillor Smaill voiced concern about the arson risk at Vogrie House and encouraged the Group Commander to work with the Executive Director Children, Young People and Partnerships (Acting) to protect this asset. The Group Commander advised it would be possible to carry out a site visit to understand access points and where to access water supply, but this may be everything that can be done within the SFRS’s scope. The Executive Director Children, Young People and Partnerships (Acting) advised this matter is taken seriously by the Place Directorate and there is a former fireperson that has been thoroughly involved with SFRS safety visits. The Board queried the increase on fire safety enforcement out with domestic properties and asked if there is a protocol for visiting licensed premises such as restaurants or pubs to ensure they have all equipment in place and have a fire safety plan or whether these visits are done on a self-referral basis. The Group Commander advised certain premises classed by the SFRS as high impact, such Page 7 of 24
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as a care home would attract an annual fire safety audit. As well as the audit, these sites would be visited by the local crew on a regular basis, so they are familiar with the site layout. The frequency of the fire safety audit would be determined by the risk posed by the premises, and premises can come off the list depending on the use. There is a nominal target of 122 fire audits per auditing officer per year, so the target depends on the number of auditing officers within the Service. The audit can take between half a day or more than one day if issues are found. In that case the preferred course of action is the SFRS working with premises to ensure issues are resolved rather than take prohibitive action. The Chair referred to the report figures about unwanted fire alarms and asked if there are any premises that are causing Penicuik to be at the top the list. The Group Commander advised in the event of an alarm the process is to contact the responsible person, and in the event, there is no one, then response is deployed. Sites identified as having residents sleeping overnight, such as care homes, bed and breakfast accommodation, hostels and hotels would warrant the full level of response, and 18 incidents in Penicuik were within the hotel/motel category. While there is no full data to back the figures, many of those hotel/motel categories were temporary homeless accommodation. Any premises which are identified as a repeat offenders will be given advice. Decision The Board noted the update. Action Develop a fire protection plan for Vogrie House - SFRS and Executive Director Children, Young People and Partnerships (Acting). Report No. Report Title Presented by: 5.3 Protective Services Q2 2025-26 Executive Director Children, Young People and Partnerships (Acting) The Executive Director Children, Young People and Partnerships (Acting), as head of Protective Services presented the Midlothian Protective Services Q2 Report 2025/2026 providing detail on each subject and highlighted the salient points within. The Chair thanked the Executive Director Children, Young People and Partnerships (Acting) for their report and invited questions from the Board. The Board queried the reason behind repeated Trading Standards visits to one premise within Penicuik Ward. The Executive Director Children, Young People and Partnerships (Acting) advised counterfeit tobacco products were seized on all occasions the premises were visited in joint operations between Trading Standards and Police Scotland, and reports were submitted to the Procurator Fiscal. Councillor McEwan queried whether it would be possible to shut down these repeat offenders. The Executive Director Children, Young People and Partnerships (Acting) explained what often happens is the business will change ownership, but it may be possible to publicise the actions Trading Standards is carrying out to protect the public and reassure legitimate businesses that action is taken against those that are not operating in compliance and conformance of Trading Standards regulations. The consequences of breaking the law would be Page 8 of 24
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up to the Crown Procurator Fiscal, and the Council Protective Services has a zero-tolerance policy. It is also important to ensure members of the public keep reporting premises that may be breaking regulations. Board Members queried the reporting of parking regulations. The Executive Director Children, Young People and Partnerships (Acting) advised pavement parking restrictions are universally applied, and when a report of illegal parking is made Parking Attendants are asked to report to the area. In some cases, the Council will try to encourage behavioural change by engaging with residents. Parking Attendants also work during the holidays to ensure parking restrictions continue to be observed. Any parking concerns are to be reported to Wayne Clark, Group Manager Roads and Transportation in the first instance. The Chair praised the unsung role of the Parking Attendants and asked the Executive Director Children, Young People and Partnerships (Acting) that they are congratulated. The Divisional Commander, Police Scotland, left the meeting at 12:30pm. Given the proximity to the festive season the Board raised seasonal issues such as delivery vans parking on pavements and the increase in counterfeit merchandise. The Executive Director Children, Young People and Partnerships (Acting) advised that the parking regulations specify when delivery vehicles can legally park on the pavement. More information on the regulations is available under the Parking Restrictions page in the Midlothian Council website, this page indicates that if certain conditions are met delivery vehicles can benefit from a grace period of up to 20 minutes to park on the pavement while loading and offloading, after which time they will be liable to a parking fine. Trading Standards is also vigilant about counterfeit products, and it is known that products responding to fads and trends are targets for counterfeiting. These counterfeit products do not bear the Conformité Européene (CE) mark or meet safety regulations and can pose a risk to consumers. Trading Standards has access to national and international intelligence that can be used for enforcing regulations. If any member of the public suspects counterfeit activity, then an anonymous report can be made to Trading Standards though the Council website. Councillor Curran asked the Executive Director Children, Young People and Partnerships (Acting) if renewal figures for liquor licenses can be included under a separate heading within the civic licenses section of the Protective Services Report in the future. The Executive Director Children, Young People and Partnerships (Acting) advised it would be possible to split applications between new applications and renewals in future reports. Decision The Board noted the update. Action Civic Licence section of future Public Protection reports to indicate which liquor applications are new and which are renewals - Executive Director Children, Young People and Partnerships (Acting). If Page 9 of 24
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6. Private Reports No items for discussion 7. Date of next meeting The meeting concluded at 12.36pm. The next meeting will be held on Tuesday 10 February 2026. Page 10 of 24
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Police and Fire and Rescue Board Action Log No Date of Meeting Item No and Title Action Action Owner Expected completion date Comments 1 08.05.2025 5.1 Police Scotland Q3 & Q4 Performance Report 2024/2025 Provide clarity on the guidance regarding the use of electric bikes and scooters. Police Scotland September 2025 Awaiting confirmation from Police Scotland that this item can be recommended for closure. 2 08.05.2025 5.1 Police Scotland Q3 & Q4 Performance Report 2024/2025 Provide clarity on the legalisation in relation to cannabis vapes. Police Scotland September 2025 Awaiting confirmation from Police Scotland that this item can be recommended for closure. 3 22.09.2025 Frequency of Reporting & Meetings Discuss changing the meeting frequency to algin with Police Scotland and Fire & Rescue Service reporting with the Standing Orders Working Group. Democratic Services February 2026 Recommended for Closure The Standing Orders Working Group discussed the proposal to change the meeting frequency and agreed that they would like to retain the 4 meetings per year. Where there are no scrutiny reports for presentation the sessions could be used for a thematic discussion. Police and Fire and Rescue Board Tuesday 10 February 2026 Item No 4.2 Page 11 of 24
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No Date of Meeting Item No and Title Action Action Owner Expected completion date Comments 4 22.09.2025 5.2 Police Scotland Midlothian Scrutiny Q1 Report 2025/2026 Provide a breakdown of the rape statistics between historical and current. Include a breakdown of the age groups impacted. Police Scotland December 2025 5 22.09.2025 5.4 Protective Services Q1 Report 2025/26 Provide more granular information in relation to the Fixed Penalty Notice statistics to help identify behavioural change. Chief Officer Place December 2025 Recommended for Closure Detail in relation to the Fixed Penalty Notices to help identify behavioural change circulated to all Elected Members on 7 December 2025. 6 08/12/2025 5.1 Police Scotland Q2 2025-26 Scrutiny Report Engage with Education to set up a system for schools to log incidents detailing whether these were dealt with inhouse or reported to the Police. Police Scotland June 2026 7 08/12/2025 5.1 Police Scotland Q2 2025- 26 Scrutiny Report Confirm the trigger for hooding and unhooding speed cameras. Police Scotland TBC 8 08/12/2025 5.2 Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Q1 and Q2 Scrutiny Report Develop a fire protection plan for Vogrie House, including a familiarisation visit and consider if there are other buildings that require this. SFRS / Executive Director Children, Young People and Partnerships (Acting) TBC Page 12 of 24
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No Date of Meeting Item No and Title Action Action Owner Expected completion date Comments 9 08/12/2025 5.3 Protective Services Q2 2025-26 Update the Civic Licence section the report to indicate which liquor licence applications are new and which are renewals. Executive Director Children, Young People and Partnerships (Acting) TBC Page 13 of 24
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Licensing 60 47 87 64 Q2 25/26 Q3 25/26 Number of Civic Government Licence applications new applications renewals 130 10 Q3 25/26 Number of Liquor Licence applications new applications renewals Protective Services - Police and Fire Board Quarter 3 report Police and Fire and Rescue Board Tuesday 10 February 2026 Item No 5.3 Other civic licences applied for during Q3: Liquor Licensing Applications - 136 granted Hire Car Booking Office Licence – 1 App for Renewal – 2 Apps granted Market Operators Licence - 1 App for Renewal - 1 App granted Public Charitable Collections - 3 Apps granted Public Processions - 5 Apps granted Second Hand Car Dealer’s Licence – 1 App for Renewal – 1 App granted Second Hand Dealer’s Licence - 1 App for Grant - 1 App granted Street Trader – Roving – 1 App for Grant - 0 Apps granted Street Trader Static - 2 Apps for Renewal - 1 App granted Tattoo - 2 Apps for Grant - 1 App for Renewal - 4 Apps granted Window Cleaner Licences – 1 App for Grant – 1 App for Renewal – 1 Granted Taxi Licence – 6 Apps for Renewal – 7 Apps granted Taxi Driver’s Licence – 5 Apps for Renewal – 5 Apps granted Private Hire Car Licence - 9 Apps for Grant - 28 Apps for Renewal - 40 Apps granted Private Hire Car Driver’s Licence - 25 Apps for Grant – 18 Apps for Renewal – 46 Apps granted 109 118 167 122 140 Q3 24/25 Q4 24/25 Q1 25/26 Q2 25/26 Q3 25/26 Number of Liquor Licence applications received 78% 45% 139% 83% 110% Q3 24/25 Q4 24/25 Q1 25/26 Q2 25/26 Q3 25/26 Percentage of Civic Government Licence applications determined 97% of liquor licence applications were determined this quarter. There were no Civic Government Act applications referred to the General Purposes Committee this quarter There were 106 Civic Government Licence applications received this quarter Page 15 of 24
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1 1 0 0 0 Q3 24/25 Q4 24/25 Q1 25/26 Q2 25/26 Q3 25/26 Number of Business Workplace Health and Safety Improvement notices served 0 2 3 2 0 0 Q2 24/25 Q3 24/25 Q4 24/25 Q1 25/26 Q2 25/26 Q3 25/26 Number of Business Workplace Health and Safety Prohibition notices served Workplace Health and Safety 10 14 4 8 12 Q3 24/25 Q4 24/25 Q1 25/26 Q2 25/26 Q3 25/26 Number of workplace safety RIDDOR reports received There were no RIDDOR related visits that took place to investigate business workplace health and safety incidents this quarter. There were no business workplace health and safety proactive inspections this quarter. Page 16 of 24
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23 4 11 22 1314 2 3 5 3 Q3 24/25 Q4 24/25 Q1 25/26 Q2 25/26 Q3 25/26 Number of Private water supplies sampled inspected 58 65 75 58 51 5 9 5 1 3 Q3 24/25 Q4 24/25 Q1 25/26 Q2 25/26 Q3 25/26 Number of Abandoned Vehicles reported notices served 2 6 1 0 0 Q3 24/25 Q4 24/25 Q1 25/26 Q2 25/26 Q3 25/26 Number of Abandoned Vehicles which have been removed for destruction Public Health 33 44 36 35 36 Q3 24/25 Q4 24/25 Q1 25/26 Q2 25/26 Q3 25/26 Number of Planning Application consultations received 329 Public Health Service requests were received from Midlothian residents and businesses this quarter. 97% of Public Health complaints received a first response within timescales this quarter. 74 Public Health Service requests were received from internal sources this quarter. There were no Environmental Protection Abatement 1990 Notices served this quarter. 8 short term let Licences issued this quarter. 5 short term let Applications received this quarter. Page 17 of 24
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Civil Contingencies and events Training and Exercising: • Coordinated the Midlothian Council response to the remaining two phases of Exercise Pegasus, the national pandemic exercise (phase 1 was within the Q2 reporting period). An exercise report is expected in due course. • Coordinated Midlothian Council participation in a table-top exercise coordinated and facilitated by the Lothian and Borders Multi-Agency CONTEST Group • Coordinated a severe weather related briefing by a Met Office Civil Contingencies Adviser to the Managers’ Forum. • Promulgated information to relevant services on (and attended) a briefing session relating to Hostile Vehicle Mitigation. • Promulgated information to relevant services on (and attended) a training session relating to Resilience Direct which is a Cabinet Office system for sharing information during planning and response. CONTEST/Prevent: • Support is given to the CONTEST and Prevent SPOC on an ongoing basis, including representation at multi-agency meetings on behalf of the SPOC. • Pertinent guidance and information is hosted on the Emergency Planning site on Mid-Hub. • Drafted, on behalf of the CONTEST SPOC, the Midlothian Council contribution to the Lothian and Borders Multi-Agency CONTEST Group’s annual report to Scottish Government on CONTEST activities. • Monitoring of progress with the anticipated national guidance relating to The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act, also known as “Martyn’s Law”. The guidance is expected to assist organisations comply with the Act. There will be at least a 24-month implementation period (from April 2025). Plans and Procedures: Plans and Procedures updated this quarter: • Emergency Contacts Directory (reflecting staff changes) • Severe Weather Plan Business Continuity Planning: • The draft Corporate BC Plan update reported in Q1 awaiting approval/comments. • There are regular, scheduled, meetings with Cyber Security specialists in Digital Services. • Midlothian chairs a group of Scottish local authority representatives invested in BC planning. • Support to services for Business Continuity activities and enquiries • Participated in a Business and Digital Services BC Planning Day, facilitated by Chief Officer Corporate Solutions Page 18 of 24
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Public events Ongoing, routine representation at/participation in: • Internal meetings requiring a Contingency Planning input • Torness Emergency Planning Consultative Group meetings and other Torness multi-agency meetings requiring representation from Midlothian Council. • Local Authority Resilience Group Scotland (LARGS) - networking meetings of resilience practitioners • General resilience support to colleagues as required. • Lothian and Borders Local Resilience Partnership meetings (and associated sub-groups) • National Community Resilience Group • Ongoing monitoring and circulation of information and liaison with services regarding the Public Switched Telephone Network switch-off (in conjunction with Digital Services). • Contributed to the development of a Midlothian Community Action information article on Storms (initiated through the Care for People group). To note: Following attendance at meetings, seminars, presentations, training sessions, a summary of all pertinent information is forwarded to senior manager(s) and other colleagues as appropriate. Invitations are also forwarded where the subject might be of direct interest to other services/partners. Progress with review of emergency plans and business continuity arrangements remains challenging due to reduced resources. 9 6 13 6 11 Q3 24/25 Q4 24/25 Q1 25/26 Q2 25/26 Q3 25/26 Number of organisations engaged with the Safety Advisory Group or similar 4 events were called to full Safety Advisory Group meetings during Q3, and further planning to co- ordinate plans for the 11 Remembrance/ Armistice events was undertaken. The Festive Lights swich on events were reviewed fully but no SAG attendance required. Planning for 2026 Gala season has commenced. Page 19 of 24
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2 6 2 0 4 Q3 24/25 Q4 24/25 Q1 25/26 Q2 25/26 Q3 25/26 Number of Food Law Remedial Action notices served 63 113 116 73 84 Q3 24/25 Q4 24/25 Q1 25/26 Q2 25/26 Q3 25/26 Number of Food Law interventions carried out (food hygiene and food standards) Food Hygiene and Standards 0% 85% 58% 72% 100% Q3 24/25 Q4 24/25 Q1 25/26 Q2 25/26 Q3 25/26 Percentage of priority 1 and 2 premises receiving completed food law interventions in line with the Service Plan 12 62 33 20 28 Q3… Q4… Q1… Q2… Q3… Number of Food/non-food samples taken 42 Food law service requests were received from Midlothian residents and businesses this quarter. (Includes food safety and food standards). 95% of food related service requests from Midlothian residents and businesses were responded to within the target response time of 10 working days this quarter. (Includes food safety and food standards). Page 20 of 24
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28 31 46 33 34 Q3 24/25 Q4 24/25 Q1 25/26 Q2 25/26 Q3 25/26 Number of consumer complaints received by Trading Standards 37 21 21 35 41 Q3 24/25 Q4 24/25 Q1 25/26 Q2 25/26 Q3 25/26 Number of intelligence logs input to Intelligence Database (IDB) 0 0 0 1 0 Q3 24/25 Q4 24/25 Q1 25/26 Q2 25/26 Q3 25/26 Number of cases reported to Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service Trading Standards 11 5 6 2 4 Q3 24/25 Q4 24/25 Q1 25/26 Q2 25/26 Q3 25/26 Number of business advice requests received by Trading Standards Trading Standards Campaigns/Joint working/Initiative details: Police officers joined Trading Standards on 9 visits to shops. There has been regular contact over the shops in Penicuik from where two seizures of tobacco were made as stated in the first page of this report under Successes. We hope to work out a strategy for the Dalkeith shop that is suspected of selling illicit tobacco. Police and Fire officers joined Trading Standards to check that retailers of fireworks were storing them safely and to advise that sales must only be made to adults. 100% of Consumer complaints were responded to within 5 working days this quarter. 81% of Consumer complaints were completed within 14 days this quarter. 100% of Business advice requests were responded to within 5 working days this quarter. 75% of Business advice requests were completed within 14 days this quarter. Develop and implement a Trusted Trader Scheme: Plans to implement this scheme are on hold due to resourcing. Page 21 of 24
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Trading Standards 14.7% 4.4% 8.0% 4.0% 7.0% Q3 24/25 Q4 24/25 Q1 25/26 Q2 25/26 Q3 25/26 Percentage of businesses registered for tobacco/vapes in Midlothian visited 34% 24% 25% 26% 22% Q3 24/25 Q4 24/25 Q1 25/26 Q2 25/26 Q3 25/26 Percentage of planned inspections achieved in line with the Service Plan (cumulative) 41 Trading Standards Primary Inspections were carried out this quarter. The target is 186 premises, including 6 farms, to inspect this year. In Q3, 37 of these premises have been inspected. So far this year, 11 additional inspections and 10 of the target premises have ceased trading. 48 0 6 20 21 Q3 24/25 Q4 24/25 Q1 25/26 Q2 25/26 Q3 25/26 Number of interventions carried out regarding tobacco and nicotine containing products A total of 137 premises are believed to be registered and selling tobacco and/or vapes at 01/04/25. 10 were visited this quarter. Page 22 of 24
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Parking – Fixed Penalty Notices (FPN) served Q3 24/25 Q4 24/25 Q1 25/26 Q2 25/26 Q3 25/26 01 - Parked in a restricted street during the prescribed hours 121 139 131 94 165 01CO - Parked in a restricted street during the prescribed hours 24 22 17 13 18 02 - Parked or loading/unloading in a restricted street where waiting and loading/unloading restrictions are in force 101 88 93 55 95 02o - Parked or loading/unloading in a restricted street where waiting and loading/unloading restrictions are in force 0 0 0 0 0 02q - Parked or loading/unloading in a restricted street where waiting and loading/unloading restrictions are in force 0 0 0 7 0 07 - Parked with payment made to extend the stay beyond initial time 0 3 3 0 3 100 - Section 50 Parked on a pavement 143 165 302 99 412 101 - Section 56 Parked adjacent to a dropped kerb at a known crossing point 51 38 58 21 63 102 - Section 54 Parked where no part of the vehicle is within 50 centimetres of the carriageway edge 3 7 6 1 7 11 - Parked without payment of the parking charge 0 0 0 0 1 14 - Parked in an electric vehicles charging place during restricted hours without charging 24 7 38 23 33 23 - Parked in a parking place not designated for that class of vehicle 2 4 2 1 1 23f - Parked in a parking place not designated for that class of vehicle 0 0 0 0 0 24 - Not parked correctly within the markings of the parking bay or place 45 36 43 30 28 24p - Not parked correctly within the markings of the parking bay or place 0 0 0 0 0 25 - Parked in a loading place during restricted hours without loading 76 62 63 67 92 25CO - Parked in a loading place during restricted hours without loading 6 8 4 7 16 30 - Parked for longer than permitted 170 133 144 153 126 40 - Parked in a designated disabled person's parking place without displaying a valid disabled person's badge 138 119 168 99 304 45 - Parked on a taxi rank 3 2 2 3 5 46 - Stopped where prohibited (on a red route or clearway) 0 0 0 0 0 47 - Stopped on a restricted bus stop or stand 39 22 39 38 52 48 - Parked in a restricted area outside a School 0 0 0 0 2 71 - Parked in an electric vehicle charging place during restricted hours without charging 29 43 39 1 21 81 - Parked in a restricted area in a car park 1 1 1 0 0 82 - Parked after the expiry of paid for time 48 57 62 40 29 83 - Parked in a car park without clearly displaying a valid pay and display ticket or voucher or parking clock 173 158 164 177 245 86 - Not parked correctly within the markings of the parking bay or place 15 16 21 8 2 87 - Parked in a designated disabled person's parking place without displaying a valid disabled person's badge 19 7 14 8 13 91 - Parked in a car park or area not designated for that class of vehicle 2 2 5 0 3 Total 1,233 1,168 1,429 986 1,775 Parking – Fixed Penalty Notices (FPN) served Page 23 of 24
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