MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE FIRE AND PUBLIC SAFETY SELECT COMMITTEE HELD AT COUNTY HALL, NEWPORT, ISLE OF WIGHT ON MONDAY, 10 NOVEMBER 2003 COMMENCING AT 10.00 AM

 

Present :

 

Mr V J Morey (Chairman), Mr J R Adams, Mr A C Coburn, Mrs B E Foster, Mr J F Howe (deputising for Mr C B W Chapman), Mr C H Lillywhite, Mrs M J Miller, Mr G P Price, Mr I R Stephens, Mr A A Taylor

 

Portfolio Holder :

 

Mr D J Knowles

 

Apologies :

 

Mr B E Abraham, Mr C B W Chapman

 

Also Present (non voting) :

 

Mr A C Bartlett

 

 

34.              MINUTES

 

RESOLVED :

 

THAT the minutes of the meeting held on 13 October 2003 be confirmed.

 

35.              DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

 

There were no declarations made at this stage.

 

36.              WHITE PAPER – OUR FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICE

 

The Head of Select Committee and Best Value Support advised the Select Committee that representatives from the Fire Brigades Union and Our Fire Service, a newly formed local interest group, had been invited to speak on how the White Paper would affect the Isle of Wight.  Retained Fire Fighters Union had also been invited but were unable to send a representative.

 

Mr Dean Mills, Regional Secretary of the FBU, raised the following issues :

 

·         Changes to pension scheme – common law and same sex partners should be included.

·         Changes to shifts outlined in White Paper but no detail given.

·         Must make certain that response levels are maintained if additional fire prevention work undertaken.

·         Failure to address family friendly issues.

·         Use of plain language.

·         Risk based plans should be truly integrated.

Mr Mark Newland, Our Fire Service, raised the following issues :

 

·         Existing funding arrangements mean that in financial terms the Local Fire Authority would be worse off.

·         The White Paper was heavily influenced by the Bain Report.

·         Less control over the Fire Service by the Local Authority.

·         FAIRMaP – many areas of concern in policy changes.

·         Nothing to show the Fire Service had failed to perform with 97% efficiency as measured by the Government’s Audit Commission.

·         Discussion Paper – All day and all of the night.

·         Integrated Risk Management Plan recommends a reduction in attendance to automatic fire alarms.

 

The Select Committee believed that the Council should fight to keep the Fire Service Control Room on the Isle of Wight.  The Portfolio Holder reminded members that it was Council Policy to do that and a report would be going to the Executive in December 2003.  There was some debate on combining the Control Room with other public services on the Island.

 

RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND TO THE EXECUTIVE :

 

(i)         THAT the Control Room should be maintained on the Island and any attempts to relocate it to the mainland be resisted.

 

(ii)        THAT consideration be given to the impact of combining the Control Room with the Ambulance Service on the Island.

 

37.              INTERIM PERFORMANCE TARGETS FOR EMERGENCY PLANNING

 

The Chief Fire Officer advised the Select Committee that as part of the Modernising Agenda the Government had encouraged the setting and reporting of targets and monitoring mechanisms.  Members were told that the draft Civil Contingencies Bill was imminent and it was suggested that it may be advisable to wait for its publication before setting objectives that would enable the Council to carry out benchmarking initiatives with other authorities.

 

RESOLVED :

 

THAT members await new guidance that should be issued as a result of the Civil Contingencies Bill before setting objectives that would enable the Council to carry out benchmarking initiatives with other authorities.

 

38.        THE DRAFT CIVIL CONTINGENCIES BILL

 

The Chief Fire Officer reminded members that Emergency Planning worked within a legislative framework that dated from the 1948 Civil Defence Act.  The Government believed the Act was becoming outdated and proposed to implement new legislation which would deliver a single framework for Civil Protection.  The Bill defined emergencies and provided roles and responsibilities at a local level to two categories of ‘responder’ organisations.

 

Members were told that a Specialist Decontamination Incident Response Unit, funded by the Government, would be provided for the Fire Service and training would be needed for this.

 

RESOLVED :

 

THAT the proposed changes to the way emergency response was to be delivered, within a framework of better co-operation and greater resilience, be noted.

 

39.              CONSUMER PROTECTION SERVICE PLAN

 

Members debated the Service Plan prepared by the Head of Consumer Protection.  It was noted that the implementation for liquor licensing arrangements had slipped.  Discussions had been held with the Police on significant alcohol problems in the Church Litten, Newport area.  Investigations were being held to see if a Designation Order could be implemented.

 

RESOLVED :

 

THAT the report be noted.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CHAIRMAN