MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE FIRE AND PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE HELD AT COUNTY HALL, NEWPORT, ISLE OF WIGHT ON MONDAY 18 FEBRUARY 2002 COMMENCING AT 11.00 AM

Present :

Mr D J Knowles (Chairman), Mr J R Adams, Mrs B E Foster, Mrs M J Miller, Mr V J Morey, Mr I R Stephens, Mr R A Sutton, Mr A A Taylor, Mrs J L Wareham

Apologies :

Mr C B W Chapman

Also Present:

Mr P D Joyce, Mr D G Williams

25.      MINUTES

RESOLVED :

THAT, subject to minute number 21, resolution (ii) being amended to read ‘ be first priorities in the 2002/03 capital programme’ the minutes of the meeting held on 4 February 2002 be confirmed.

26.      DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

There were no declarations received at this stage.

27.      EMERGENCY PLANNING SERVICE BEST VALUE REPORT

Members received the Best Value Report from the Emergency Planning Service. Its scope was to determine the effectiveness of the service in the drawing up, testing and activating of plans which sought to care for the Islands environment and community during emergency situations. In recent years the emphasis had changed from war time planning to planning for civil emergencies based on local risk assessment. An overview was given of the separate emergency plans and current responsibilities, together with future developments which could have an impact on the service. Members were advised as to recent benchmarking exercises which had been conducted with other coastal waterfront unitary authorities of similar size and population. It was reported that the Isle of Wight compared favourably bearing in mind that it did not have a county border where mutual support could be qucikly provided.

Consultation had taken place with the wider public (represented by the Citizens Panel) and stakeholders and partners. It was apparent from the answers given by the Citizens Panel that little was known about Emergency Planning Section and its profile needed to be raised if support from the community was to continue. However, consultation showed that despite this a large majority believed the service was important enough for the Council to make a greater contribution if central government significantly reduced it’s level of funding. Emphasis also needed to be placed on engaging stakeholders in formulating and testing plans in the future as 12% of stakeholders felt they did not have an appropriate level of involvement with the Emergency Planning Service. Officers agreed to investigate this further.

Members considered the issues and requested that after concerns raised by the severe weather last year that more could be done in the future concerning the coordination and communication with the various agencies and departments involved an emergency situation. They were also keen to view the response plan.

Training needs were also discussed after the unsuccessful revenue bid to provide a Training Officer. Members recognised the importance of continuous training and suggested that working alongside the Learning Centre could be explored.

RESOLVED :

           (i)        THAT the Executive be recommended to accept the Best Value Report for Emergency Planning Service

           (ii)       THAT a report be brought back to the Select Committee on coordinating responses to flooding incidents.

           (iii)       THAT a report be brought back to the Select Committee detailing options for delivering the Training Plan.

28.      THE PROVISION OF AND SAFETY IN COUNCIL CEMETERIES

Consideration was given to proposals for future provision of burial land and the safety of people using cemeteries. The Council, as burial authority had under a duty to provide burial land, but there was no requirement to provide land at specific locations. The authority provided space at twelve locations on the Island although none of these cemeteries were to the West of Newport where the Churches had in the past provided burial space for residents who wished to be buried in their own area. A request had been received from Gatcombe and Freshwater and Totland Parochial Church Council for financial assistance in extending their churchyards. No funding had been identified for the purpose and there was no legal obligation on the council in this respect. However, if these churchyards were to become full declared “closed” then the burial authority would be required to maintain the churchyard with the associated costs involved and a reduction in choice for the public.

Members were informed that the area of land adjacent to East Cowes Cemetery was owned by the Council with a covenant which restricted use of the land to burial purposes only. If the covenant was to be lifted members would then have the option to sell some of the land, or extend the cemetery or both in any proportion. The local member spoke against these proposals and believed the covenant should remain in place.

Advice was given regarding the safety of headstones as the council, as landowners, had a responsibility for the safety of persons using the cemetery. As time elapsed it was difficult and sometimes impossible to locate the owner of a memorial and the authority then effectively became responsible for the maintenance and safety of that memorial. Concern was expressed about reports in some parts of the country where headstones judged to be unsafe had been laid down without consultation with the family concerned. An assurance was given that every effort would be made to track down family members and headstones would only be laid down if they posed an immediate danger. A successful bid had been made under the Council’s insurance risk management scheme and the capital bid for cemetery improvements had now been released to enable an assessment of safety of memorials to be carried out.

Members believed the report raised many important issues concerning the future of cemeteries on the Island and suggested that a Task Group be formed to look at these matter in depth, in particular the land adjacent to East Cowes cemetery and arrangements in West Wight. In relation to the covenant on land adjoining East Cowes cemetery it was agreed that it should remain in place and reconsidered when the Task Group had completed its review.

RESOLVED :

           (i)        THAT a Bereavement Services Task Group be established with the following terms of reference :-

To investigate and make recommendations to the July 2002 meeting of the Select Committee on the use of public and private land for burial purposes.

           (ii)       THAT an assessment be carried out to identify potentially dangerous memorials.

29.      FORWARD PLAN

The Chief Fire Officer reported that the Fire and Rescue Service Premises Strategy would not be ready to be reported to the Executive until October 2002.

CHAIRMAN