MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE FIRE AND PUBLIC SAFETY SELECT COMMITTEE HELD AT COUNTY HALL, NEWPORT, ISLE OF WIGHT ON MONDAY, 14 APRIL 2003 COMMENCING AT 10.00 AM
Present :
Mr G P Price (Chairman), Mr B E Abraham, Mr J R Adams, Mr A C Coburn, Mrs B E Foster, Mr G S Kendall, Mr V J Morey, Mr I R Stephens, Mr R A Sutton Mr A A Taylor
Apologies :
Mr D J Knowles, Mrs M J Miller
Also present (non-voting) :
Mr A C Bartlett, Mr J A Bowker, Mr J H Fleming, Mr C R Hancock, Mrs S A Smart, Mr D G Williams
64. MINUTES
RESOLVED :
THAT the minutes of the meeting held on 10 February 2003 be confirmed.
65. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
There were no declarations made at this stage.
66. PUBLIC QUESTION TIME
Mr M Newland, Chairman of the Isle of Wight Branch of the FBU, asked a question in relation to the costs of lock up provision/secure compound arrangements during the most recent industrial action. (PQ 10/03).
Mr G Jackaman, Secretary of the Isle of Wight Branch of the FBU, asked a question in relation to the purpose of the security guard during the most recent industrial action. (PQ 11/03).
A copy of the questions and replies given are contained in the Public Question Register.
67. BUDGET MONITORING REPORT AS AT END OF MARCH 2003
(During discussion Mr A C Coburn declared a personal interest)
The Chief Financial Officer reported on the revenue and capital budget as at the end of March 2003. It was noted that there had been an underspend of £50,000 from the Fire and Rescue Service - contingency fund, £50,000 from Trading Standards - staff vacancies, £60,000 from Environmental Health - staff vacancies and retirements and together with a surplus in income generation of £28,000 in Licensing. The Select Committee suggested that the budget surplus of £28,000 from the Licensing Service could be carried forward to be used for financing the increased cost of service provision within licensing. Members understood that money had been committed for the Fire House Refurbishment but this was not shown in the report.
RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND TO EXECUTIVE :
THAT the budget surplus of £28,000 for the licensing service be carried forward to be used for financing the increased service provision within licensing.
68. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH - OUT OF HOURS SERVICE
The Select Committee considered the report of the Head of Consumer Protection on the Environmental Health Out of Hours Service. The service had been reviewed in 1997, at which time it was concluded that the provision of a night service was most needed on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. When officers were not on duty Wightcare logged calls and faxed them to Environmental Health. Members asked if a mapping exercise, or any consultation had been carried out which would build up a picture and evaluate how best to tackle any hot spots. The Committee were advised that many problems could be resolved over the phone. It was believed that this was an area which would benefit from the Council’s proposed call-centre as part of the Great Access to Great Services (GAGS).
RESOLVED :
(i) THAT the Environmental Health Department look at mapping noise and nuisance complaints to try and ascertain if there are any hot spots.
(ii) THAT the Environmental Health Department consult with all Isle of Wight Council members and Town and Parish Councils.
(iii) THAT the report be noted and its content forwarded to the GAGS Project Board for consideration.
(iv) THAT the Environmental Health Manager and Head of Organizational Development liaise to produce scripting for a future CRM Project.
(v) THAT no changes be made to the current service until the impact of the GAGS Agenda has been ascertained.
69. STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT OF CCTV ON THE ISLAND
The Select Committee received the report of the Head of Select Committee and Best Value Support on the Strategic Development on CCTV on the Island. The report had been requested by the Fire and Public Safety Select Committee at its 16 December 2002 meeting. More detailed discussions had been held with the relevant Portfolio Holders on 22 January 2003.
Members had been concerned for some time that the CCTV service had been overspending and that was inappropriately affecting the Social Services and Housing Directorate’s budget. The CCTV service was currently underfunded, partly due to the Council’s inability to secure expected funding. The revenue overspending in 2002/03 was estimated to be £30,000. To adjust the revenue budget to avoid recurring overspending, an additional £30,700 was needed for 2003/04 and a figure of £44,200 for 2004/05 and thereafter. It was suggested that CCTV could be extended commercially, although there were limitations on use in the private sector.
The Select Committee sought answers to a number of questions which included :
• Where would the funding come from?
• How had the schemes been implemented without the proper funding being in place?
• An assurance that the proposed funding would cover the costs properly?
• Why local businesses were not paying toward CCTV?
• Was there any new revenue through partnerships?
• Purchaser/provider split?
• How could any new schemes be asked to adhere to strict funding criteria when original schemes were not?
• Whether under the Local Government Act 2000, there would be a specified ban on double taxation from next year.
• Could the CCTV service be bought in?
• Why had the relevant Portfolio Holders come to the conclusions they had?
• Could CCTV be marketed in the private sector?
The Best Value report on CCTV was referred to. Members believed that the report was inadequate and a proper analysis of the problems and irregularities was needed and should be brought back to the Committee when all the issues had been fully clarified. They also believed that the Portfolio Holders should attend the Committee and advise members why they had made the recommendations that were before them. Members were also aware that a visit had been made to Portsmouth to see how their CCTV system worked and asked for a full report on this.
RESOLVED :
THAT no action be taken until all the issues raised by the Select Committee had been satisfactorily answered.
70. WORKPLAN
The Head of Select Committee and Best Value Support presented a copy of the Fire and Public Safety Select Committee Workplan for the forthcoming months. Members agreed the content of the workplan but believed that Mr A Drain, as Head of Select Committee Support, should not be writing reports for the Committee, they believed that should be done by the appropriate officer.
RESOLVED :
THAT the workplan be agreed.
71. APPOINTMENT OF A REPRESENTATIVE TO THE ISLE OF WIGHT VICTIM SUPPORT SCHEME
The Strategic Director of Corporate and Environment Services reported on a vacancy for a council representative on the Isle of Wight Victim Support Scheme. In accordance with the Council’s policy nominations had been sought but no nominations received.
The name of Mr J R Adams was moved and seconded and following a vote it was :-
RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND TO THE EXECUTIVE :
THAT the Executive be recommended to approve the appointment of Mr J R Adams to the vacancy on the Isle of Wight Victim Support Scheme.
CHAIRMAN