MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE FIRE AND PUBLIC SAFETY SELECT COMMITTEE HELD AT COUNTY HALL, NEWPORT, ISLE OF WIGHT ON MONDAY, 19 APRIL 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, Mr A C Coburn, Mrs B E Foster, Mrs B Lawson, Mr C H Lillywhite, Mrs M J Miller, Mr G P Price, Mr I R Stephens, Mr A A Taylor
Also Present (non voting) :
Mr A C Bartlett, Mr J A Bowker, Mrs M A Jarman
65. MINUTES
RESOLVED :
THAT the minutes of the meeting held on 15 March 2004 be confirmed.
66. URGENT BUSINESS – RYDE COMMUNITY STREET WARDENS
The Chairman agreed to an item of urgent business as this gave an opportunity for the Select Committee to be advised on issues that they had raised at previous meetings.
The Community Partnership Manager advised the Select Committee that the Community Street Warden scheme currently operating in Ryde had been made possible by a successful bid for funding from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) together with a financial contribution from Ryde Community Forum. The scheme was initially funded for one year but further funding for the two posts had been secured until March 2005. After that time funding from the ODPM would cease and alternative financial support would need to be sought.
The Community Wardens were pro-active within the community and were helping to raise the quality of life for residents. They were also working with youths and young children in the area. Wardens regularly patrolled housing estates and worked closely with Medina Housing Association.
There was some concern with regard to central government stopping funding for the Community Street Wardens and although members would like to see more Community Street Wardens on the Island they believed partnerships for their funding was needed. It was suggested that a proper study should be undertaken. Although Community Wardens were a good idea and helped to build relationships with the local community members believed they were not a substitute for the beat bobby. The Select Committee also noted that the Housing Association had written a letter of support but did not appear to be forthcoming with any funding towards the project.
The Community Partnership Manager advised the Select Committee that Medina Housing Association had been approached on this issue and were willing to offer some funding towards the project.
The Select Committee were advised that the Police would not contribute towards funding the Community Wardens. Although there had been extra monies paid to the Police precept this year members indicated that they had not as yet seen any extra
Police and suggested that a study be carried out to see if the Island had got anything extra.
RESOLVED :
THAT the Community Street Warden scheme be reviewed at the Fire and Public Safety Select Committee Development Day in order to review the full range of schemes available before making any recommendations.
67. BUDGET MONITORING AS AT THE END OF FEBRUARY 2004
The Chief Financial Officer reported on the revenue and capital expenditure up to the end of February 2004.
Members questioned the possible overspend of £30,000 for the Coroners budget and were advised that a national study was being carried out to benchmark Coroners costs. It was noted that a Trading Standards Officer had recently been appointed. The Select Committee asked if the costs for replacing dog bins included the cost of emptying but were advised that it was just the capital cost of supplying new bins.
RESOLVED :
THAT the report be noted.
68. LIVEX 2004 – STATUS REPORT ON THE LOCAL AUTHORITY’S PREPAREDNESS
The Acting Emergency Planning Manager presented a report on the Council’s readiness for the LIVEX exercise which was due to be held on the 13 and 14 October 2004. All the emergency services would be involved, but the Police would lead the exercise.
Committee Room 1, County Hall, Newport would be used as the incident room. There would be an opportunity for members to be briefed during the exercise and site visits would be organised over the two days. A desk-top exercise was due to be held on Thursday, 22 April 2004. Members asked what contingency plans were in operation if Committee Room 1 was unavailable and were advised that Ryde Fire Station would provide minimal cover.
The Select Committee indicated that the phone lists for Heads of Service and Directors did not appear to be up to date and asked if there was a need to contact an officer in an emergency they would require these details. Members were told that in an emergency the Liaison Officer and Emergency Planning had contact numbers. The Select Committee believed that, they as Councillors were on call for 24 hours 7 days a week, then officers should similarly be on call.
Members were advised that the Chief Executive Officer had agreed that funding for the exercise would be found from within existing budgets. The trip to the Gold Command Centre in Netley for officers would come out of expenses and would be paid for by the organisation undertaking the travel. Members voiced some concern as to how the money was found from within existing budgets especially after a headroom exercise had been undertaken to achieve savings.
RESOLVED :
THAT the report be noted.
69. MEMBERS’ QUESTION TIME
Mrs M J Miller a question in relation to the Audit Commission report on the Verification of the Progress of Modernisation with the Fire Authority and a report in the County Press of reported problems between the Chief Fire Officer and his staff. The Deputy Chief Fire Officer advised that there were 23 action points to be addressed, a report could be brought back to a future meeting of the Select Committee.
Mrs B E Foster asked a question in relation to a fire that had been burning in Carisbrooke for 46 days, which was caused by a developer clearing a site. The Fire Brigade had been called out to the fire on three separate occasions, and she questioned whether there a charge for that. The Deputy Chief Fire Officer replied that fire fighting was free.
CHAIRMAN