MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE FIRE AND PUBLIC SAFETY SELECT COMMITTEE HELD AT COUNTY HALL, NEWPORT, ISLE OF WIGHT ON MONDAY, 18 NOVEMBER 2002 COMMENCING AT 10.15 AM
Present :
Mr G P Price (Chairman), Mr J R Adams, Mr A C Coburn, Mr M J Cunningham (deputising for Mr B E Abrahams), Mr G S Kendall, Mr V J Morey, Mr I R Stephens, Mr A A Taylor
Apologies :
Mr B E Abraham, Mr C B W Chapman, Mrs B E Foster, Mrs M J Miller, Mr R A Sutton
Portfolio Holder :
Mr D J Knowles
Also present (non-voting) :
Mr A C Bartlett
37. MINUTES
RESOLVED :
THAT the minutes of the meeting held on 21 October 2002 be confirmed.
38. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
There were no declarations made at this stage.
39. PROGRESS REPORT ON THE COMMUNITY FIRE SAFETY BEST VALUE REPORT
The Chief Fire Officer reported on the progress made on the ten improvement areas that had been identified within the Community Fire Safety Best Value Review Improvement Plan. Members were made aware of the action proposed in the short, medium and long term. It was noted that the Community Fire Safety Plan was being revised with a target date for adoption of April 2003.
The Select Committee was also briefed on the effect on the Island of the FBU strike action, that took place on 13/14 November 2002. The chief Fire Officer reported that the transfer of fire control to Netley during the industrial action had gone smoothly. There were two Green Goddess fire appliances, manned by Royal Navy personnel, available and these had responded to one automatic fire alarm, two chimney fires and one malicious false alarm. In addition approximately two thirds of retained firefighters had reported as available for duty. This meant that twelve pumping appliances were available. Plans were continuing to meet with the possibility of further industrial action by the FBU later in November and December.
RESOLVED :
(a) THAT the progress on the improvement areas contained within the Community Fire Safety Best Value Review Improvement Plan be noted.
(b) THAT a report on the Improvement Plan be considered in May 2003 so that progress can be monitored.
40. PRESENTATION ON THE DRUG ACTION TEAM
The Chairman welcomed Mrs Kim Brown, the Drug Action Team (DAT) Co-ordinator for the Island. Ms Brown gave a short presentation which outlined the role of DAT which was a multi agency partnership responsible for delivering against the Government agenda on drugs. This included commissioning a broad spectrum of service provision such as drug education, prevention, treatment, building community capacity, availability, preventing drug related deaths, drugs in the workplace and young people. Ms Brown expanded on the work of the DAT on the development of a treatment system for drug users. This was being developed within a national framework involving the Home Office and the National Treatment Agency. The Team was one of 149 in England and Wales and was centrally funded.
The Select Committee was advised that 165 people had received treatment for drug problems on the Island. It was the Government’s aim to increase the numbers on specialist drug treatment programmes such as this by 100% by 2008. There were national problems with the collection of appropriate data on substance misuse such as the numbers of those using, due to the illegal status of drugs as people were less likely to volunteer the information. Ms Brown outlined the differing ways of delivering treatment involving medical services, social services and support services
Treatment was funded through a pooled budget and was not a grant that expired after a certain duration. It was however dependent on the Government being satisfied over service delivery. The funding was in addition to any expenditure by the Council, Health Authority or other relevant agency.
The work of the DAT did not include alcohol at the present time. There was a Government consultation document dealing with this issue which might in due course lead to changes being made.
Ms Brown indicated that there was to be a major seminar involving the Drug Action Teams from the Island, Portsmouth, Southampton and Hampshire in January 2003 at Portsmouth. Once the arrangements had been finalised these would be circulated to members.
RESOLVED :
THAT Ms Brown be thanked for her presentation.
41. BUDGET MONITORING REPORT AS AT END OF OCTOBER
The Strategic Director of Finance and Information and County Treasurer reported on the budget position for both revenue and capital expenditure up to the end of October 2002. There were no areas which required the attention of the Select Committee.
RESOLVED :
THAT the report be accepted.
42. STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT OF CCTV ON THE ISLAND
The Chairman referred to the report of the Head of Paid Service relating to the strategic development of CCTV which had been requested by the Select Committee at its meeting on 16 September 2002.
The Select Committee expressed disappointment as to the content of the report and believed that more consultation was required with relevant officers, and the Portfolio Holder, particularly with regard to the draft Service Level Agreement.
RESOLVED :
THAT the report be deferred for further consultation.
43. PROMOTING A SAFE SOCIETY BEST VALUE REVIEW
The Select Committee was reminded that the Best Value Review on Promoting a Safe Society had been considered at the meeting on 17 June 2002. Members had asked that the action plan be amended to include specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and timebound targets. Revisions had therefore been made to the action plan to take this into account.
Members expressed concern that the report had been sent out late and this had given them insufficient time to adequately digest the revised information. It was noted that the information had to come from a number of sources and this had contributed to the delay. The Select Committee did however highlight that crime and disorder was a major priority in the Corporate Plan and all officers should be made more aware of this.
In discussing the revised action plan the Select Committee was advised of the introduction of a Patrol Strategy by Hampshire Constabulary. Members discussed the importance of having police officers on the beat and requested that further details of this strategy should be obtained.
Additionally there was a need to find suitable measurements of how effective action was in combatting crime and the fear of it.
RESOLVED :
(a) THAT a representative of Hampshire Constabulary be invited to make a presentation on the Patrol Strategy adopted on the Island.
(b) THAT the action plan be further amended to include clear and effective recommendations and submitted to the Select Committee for approval.
44. MEMBERS QUESTION TIME
Mr G Kendall queried the number of flooding incidents encountered during the recent adverse weather. The Emergency Planning Manager reported that following the installation of new pumping equipment at Ryde no problems had been experienced.
CHAIRMAN