MINUTES OF THE FIRE AND PUBLIC SAFETY SELECT COMMITTEE HELD AT COUNTY HALL, NEWPORT, ISLE OF WIGHT ON MONDAY, 19 APRIL 2005

68. MINUTES

The Minutes of the meeting held on 15 February 2005 were agreed.

69. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Mr J R Adams declared an interest in Minute 72 (c) as a local retailer in Ryde.

70. URGENT BUSINESS

On behalf of the Select Committee Members, Miss Humby extended a vote of thanks to Mr Morey for his eighteen years of service with the Isle of Wight Council. Mr Morey had been involved with the Fire Service for sixteen years and worked hard to provide the best service for the Island as well as the equipment and support necessary for the Fire Service staff. Other Members praised Mr Morey for his kindness and his gentlemanly behaviour towards his colleagues and Council officers.

Mr Morey was presented with a plaque from the Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service.

71. FORWARD PLAN

The Head of Select Committee and Review Team advised Members of the items of relevance which were contained in the Forward Plan for the period February to May 2005.

72. QUARTERLY PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT REPORT – Q3 – 2004-05

Members agreed to concentrate on the Key Areas to Watch items contained within the report and asked the Portfolio Holder to provide an update on progress made to date.

(a) The Fire and Rescue Service:

The Select Committee was informed that the majority of the high risk items listed for the Fire Service were now under control. The impact of the Regional Management Board’s (RMB) constitutional changes was still unknown, but a Business Case had been compiled and a paper would be submitted to the Select Committee in due course. Members had particular concerns about the cost, the overall philosophy of regionalisation, and the reliability of large ICT systems. It was suggested that Members should receive a copy of the minutes for the Fire Forum, which would provide further information about the 6 work streams identified within the Modernisation Agenda. Comment from Members could then be relayed directly to the LGA by the Council’s LGA Representative.

The Select Committee questioned the number and cost of false alarms currently initiated by automatic sensor equipment. Members were informed that a new policy was in draft form and the current cost of false alarm calls was over £100,000 per annum.

(b) Consumer Protection Issues:

Members noted that the new “Consumer Direct” Government funded advice helpline would be launched on the Island during June 2005.

Approximately 70 new applications had been received under the new liquor licensing legislation. Officers had been able to deal with the applications to date without reference to the Licensing Committee. A recent exercise in Ryde undertaken with other Council departments and the Police had resulted in a number of fixed penalty notices being issued to licensees in respect of sales of alcohol to an under-age youth. This exercise would be repeated in other areas on the Island.

The Select Committee was informed that approximately 2,500 registered food businesses on the Island required inspections under the current legislation. Risk evaluations were undertaken and premises scored as ‘high risk’ were inspected every 6 months. The number of inspections carried out in Quarter 3 had fallen due to recruitment difficulties and a shortage of qualified staff. However, two trainee officers should qualify as Food Safety Officers this summer which would assist with future targets.

Enforcement activity was constantly under review and where opportunity existed, tasks were combined to produce efficiency savings.

The overall cost of relocation to Jubilee Stores was approximately £70,000. It was suggested that this information be circulated to all Select Committee Members in a letter.

The Select Committee suggested that there was scope for improving arrangements for dog bins.

ACTION TO BE TAKEN BY THE ASSISTANT CHIEF FIRE OFFICER

a) Copies of the Fire Forum minutes to be circulated to Select Committee Members.

b) To provide a report about the RMB and the 6 work streams for Select Committee Members.

ACTION TO BE TAKEN BY THE HEAD OF CONSUMER PROTECTION

To provide the cost information regarding the relocation of Consumer Protection from St Nicholas to Jubilee Stores.

73. BUDGET MONITORING REPORT AS AT END OF MARCH 2005

Members were advised that of the overall projected underspend within the Fire and Rescue Service, it was intended that approximately £50,000 be carried forward to fund short term costs of modernisation issues, including FSEC, whilst the £50,000 not required for major incidents during the year be relinquished to the corporate benefit.

The grant for Emergency Planning was yet to be received and an underspend was predicted for the end of the year.

A projected overspend of £40,000 had been identified for CCTV, which included an element of back-pay related to the recent job re-evaluation exercise undertaken. Members had previously been informed that the service was within budget and were therefore concerned about the timing of this exercise. It was suggested that any increase in pay should have been identified from existing budgets. The Select Committee was advised that the situation was currently being investigated and a report would be brought to the Select Committee in due course.

Members also raised concerns about replacement dog bins, which they felt should be a priority issue for the Island. However, the Select Committee was advised that some dog bins were serviced by the National Trust, and others by English Heritage, and were therefore outside of the Council’s responsibility. The Select Committee considered that it was most important that all dog control issues be encapsulated under one Head of Service.

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

To recommend to the Executive that all elements of dog control should be encapsulated under one Head of Service in one Directorate.

74. FIRE MODERNISATION AGENDA

The Council’s LGA representative informed the Select Committee that a letter from the Audit Commission had been received advising that the national position was winding down.

The initial CPA feedback for the Island’s Fire and Rescue Service was good and it was hoped that lessons had been learned from recent experience. The full report should be available in May 2005 and the nationwide league table would be produced in August 2005.

75. VERIFICATION STUDY ACTION PLAN UPDATE

Members were informed that 32 out of the 44 items listed on the report had been completed, with the remainder well in hand. No further resources were required. It was envisaged that all items listed would be completed by the year end.

The Select Committee congratulated the Assistant Chief Fire Officer as well as the Fire and Rescue Service staff for all their hard work and commitment in moving the service forward in a very short space of time.

76. BEREAVEMENT SERVICES ISSUES – TASK GROUP ACTIVITY

The Task Group had met broadly on a bi-monthly basis and the key issue for 2004/05 was the shortfall in income, which had been based on forecasts of registered deaths on the Island. There were 150 fewer registered deaths on the Island in 2004/05 than predicted.

The Bereavement Services Task Group had investigated increased fees, mowing regimes, and the grounds maintenance contract in order to combat the shortfall in income. The budget outcome for the year end would be discussed in due course.

Members were advised that work on the air conditioning for the crematory had started, and that replacement cremators would be required in approximately 2012.

The plot of land adjacent to East Cowes cemetery was currently being monitored for changes in ground water levels. If approved by the Environment Agency, the planning application would be resubmitted.

The Select Committee acknowledged and congratulated the Bereavement Services Manager for the recent improvements, which included the hard-standing for flowers at the crematorium, the flower arrangements maintained in the Chapel, the recently installed electronic remembrance book and the improvements to Binstead Chapel and elsewhere.

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

That the Bereavement Services Task Group continue to oversee service delivery and promote service development in the future.

CHAIRMAN