Fire and Public Safety Select Committee Minutes

MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE FIRE AND PUBLIC SAFETY SELECT COMMITTEE HELD AT COUNTY HALL, NEWPORT, ISLE OF WIGHT ON MONDAY, 18 OCTOBER 2004 COMMENCING AT 10.00 AM

Present :

Mr V J Morey (Chairman), Mr B E Abraham, Mr J R Adams, Mr C B W Chapman, Miss H L Humby, Mrs M J Miller, Mr A A Taylor

Portfolio Holder :

Mr D J Knowles

Also Present (non voting) :

Mr A C Bartlett, Mr J A Bowker, Mr J Effemey, Mrs M A Jarman, Mr R G Mazillius, Mr R A Sutton

31. MINUTES

The Minutes of the meeting held on 20 September 2004 were confirmed.

32. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

There were no declarations at this stage.

33. URGENT BUSINESS – LIVEX 2004 UPDATE

The Chairman agreed to an item of urgent business in order that members be given an update.

The Emergency Planning Officer reminded members that Livex had been a two day exercise held on 13 and 14 October 2004. The first day had dealt with a combined response from the Emergency Services to a major incident and the second day dealt with recovery. He believed it had strengthened partnerships but there was a need to look at some of the procedures. There had been some communications problems but it was believed these could be overcome by a police officer being in attendance in the Local Authority Incident Room.

34. FORWARD PLAN

Mrs M J Miller was proposed and seconded as the Fire Champion for the Select Committee.

The Fire Champion for the Select Committee reported on the Forward Plan for November 2004 to February 2005. She indicated that the Executive would be considering the Integrated Personal Development System on 17 November 2004, Proposed Changes to Dog Prohibited Beach Bylaw on 8 December 2004 and Local Authority Fire and Rescue Services Conditions of Service on 12 January 2005.

The Select Committee were advised that the Conditions of Service had arisen from recommendations made by a sub committee of the Executive. Members asked that the item be brought to the Select Committee.

ACTION TO BE TAKEN BY THE HEAD OF SELECT COMMITTEE AND BEST VALUE SUPPORT :

The Local Authority Fire and Rescue Services Conditions of Service be included within the Select Committee’s future work programme.

35. FIRE SAFETY INSPECTION PROGRAMME

The Select Committee were made aware that changes were to be made to Fire Safety legislation. If the Fire Safety Inspection Programme were adopted then the Authority would be compliant with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2004 when it became law in March 2005. The Reform Order would be risk assessment based.

Members were made aware of the removal of the fire certification regime. The Select Committee noted that certificates displayed in hotels, guest houses etc would no longer be issued. Members believed that a certificate of some sort should be displayed to show a building had been formally risk assessed.

There was some discussion with regard to putting sprinklers in new builds and houses of multiple occupation. The Select Committee were advised that the Fire Service did make recommendations for domestic sprinklers to be installed. Members believed it was cheaper for sprinklers to be installed as new developments were being built.

ACTION TO BE TAKEN BY THE PORTFOLIO HOLDER FOR FIRE, EMERGENCY PLANNING AND CONSUMER PROTECTION AND CHIEF FIRE OFFICER :

Alternatives to the Fire Certificate be explored as a way of demonstrating buildings have been adequately risk assessed and were fully compliant.

36. FIRE AUTHORITY INTEGRATED RISK MANAGEMENT PLAN ACTION PLAN

The Select Committee were reminded that the Action Plan had been developed as part of the Integrated Risk Management Plan (IRMP), action from the plan would feed into the Service Plan. ICT work was ongoing and was dependent on getting funding in future years.

Members discussed various aspects of the Action Plan including the procurement of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). The Council were part of a national procurement project which would ensure cost benefits and any PPE provided would be fit for the purpose.

The Portfolio Holder was asked if he had attended any meetings recently in connection with the Fire Control Centre. The Regional Management Board (RMB) discussion had centred on cost apportion modal, projected costs for the Isle of Wight would be approximately 2.9% of the overall package. The RMB had set up six work streams. All Fire Authorities had one representative on the RMB and a Fire Authority could decide not to participate in a particular work stream but that could give the Minister the authority to intervene.

There was some discussion with reference to lack of funding for outcomes. The Chief Fire Officer explained that the budget process involved submitting a series of growth bids, with each bid being underpinned by certain information. Service Plan bids for the Fire Service were in the region of £460,000 and they were working with the Best Value Review Unit with a view to prioritising their bids.

There were separate arrangements for Implementing Electronic Government money and the Fire Service had bid for and received two lots. Unfortunately there would be no more as that money was now being retained centrally and had been earmarked for identifiable national projects.

37. SERVICE PLANS 2005/06

(a) Consumer Protection

The Head of Consumer Protection advised the Select Committee that he had three priorities, one of which was to ensure that new liquor licensing legislation was effectively implemented. Modern technology to make the services more effective was being used.

Members noted that there were bids for trainee Trading Standards and Environmental Health Officers. The Head of Consumer Protection advised that it was important to maintain a core of officers who were trained to a high level. He had negotiated with the Head of Human Resources a limited resource from central funding to support training costs of one post Some Members suggested that the role of enforcement within the Authority could be reviewed and there were savings to be made.

ACTION TO BE TAKEN BY THE HEAD OF CONSUMER PROTECTION

That the core competences of the enforcement roles within Consumer Protection be reviewed and brought back to the Select Committee in three months.

(b) Fire and Rescue, Emergency Planning

The Select Committee were reminded that the revenue bids for the Fire Service were to be prioritised in conjunction with the Council’s Best Value Review Unit.

Members were advised that the Business Development Unit for Adult and Community Services was included in the Service Plans as it covered Community Safety. There was nothing in the Service Plan for Community Safety.

38. COMMUNITY WARDENS TASK GROUP

The Chairman of the Community Wardens Task Group, Mr B Abraham, indicated that he had visited the Ryde Wardens and had been impressed with the work they did and how they became involved with their community. The scheme should be encouraged throughout the Island. The only drawback to the Ryde scheme was they could only work during daylight hours and members believed there was more of a need for evening working in some areas. The cost of the Ryde Warden scheme was £20,000 per warden with an additional £3,000 for the cost of the vehicle.

The Task Group had looked at various ways of funding a warden scheme including decriminalised parking, although it had since been included within the Environment Services Directorate Service Plan. A meeting had been arranged for 23 November 2004 between Town and Parish Councils, Business Associations, Chamber of Commerce, Housing Associations and Superintendent Stephanie Morgan.

Members asked what the cost to the Council was for vandalism and anti-social behaviour as they believed there were savings to be made. Vandalism in schools alone cost £50,000 for 2003/04 and had already reached that figure by September 2004. The Select Committee believed that some services within the Council could have multi-functional roles, although there was some debate that the dog wardens could be better utilised.

The Safer Communities Manager advised members that Superintendent S Morgan was to apply for four Police Community Support Officers who would move within the Community Safety Team. The two PSA targets that were likely to be delivered would bring in approximately £½m in 2006 some of that funding would then be used towards a warden scheme. To maintain the Ryde wardens they would need to be transferred to the Safer Communities Team from April 2005. Pan development was also hoping to employ two wardens.

ACTION TO BE TAKEN BY THE PORTFOLIO HOLDER FOR FIRE, EMERGENCY PLANNING AND CONSUMER PROTECTION :

(a) The Ryde Community Wardens be transferred to the Safer Communities Team, with effect from April 2005.

(b) Work on a multi-functional approach to enforcement be continued and further opportunities throughout the Council be explored.

39. VERIFICATION STUDY ACTION PLAN UPDATE

The Chief Fire Officer reported on the achievements to date with the Action Plan. The final version of the Plan had been approved by the Executive at its meeting on 6 October 2004.

CHAIRMAN