MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE FIRE AND PUBLIC SAFETY SELECT COMMITTEE HELD AT COUNTY HALL, NEWPORT, ISLE OF WIGHT ON MONDAY, 21 JUNE 2004 COMMENCING AT 10.00 AM

 

Present :

 

Mr V J Morey (Chairman), Mr B E Abraham, Mr C B W Chapman, Mrs B E Foster, Miss H L Humby, Mrs M J Miller, Mr D G Williams (deputising for Mr A A Taylor)

 

Also Present (non voting) :

 

Mr A C Bartlett, Mr R G Mazillius

 

Apologies :

 

Mr J R Adams, Mr D J Knowles, Mr C H Lillywhite, Mr A A Taylor

 

 

 

1.      MINUTES

 

The minutes of the meeting held on 19 April 2004 be confirmed.

 

2.      DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

 

There were no declarations at this stage.

 

3.      PUBLIC QUESTION TIME

 

Mr M Newland of the Fire Brigades Union asked if a letter of condolence would be sent to the family of Firefighter Richard Jenkins who was killed whilst on duty.  The Chairman agreed to do this.

 

4.      VICE CHAIRMAN

 

The name of Miss H L Humby was proposed and seconded as the Fire and Public Safety Select Committees nomination for Vice Chairman.

 

ACTION TO BE TAKEN BY COUNCIL :

 

THAT Miss H L Humby be nominated as Vice Chairman of the Fire and Public Safety Select Committee.

 

5.      FORWARD PLAN

 

There were no items relating to the Fire and Public Safety Select Committee on the Council’s Forward Plan for the period of July 2004 – October 2004.

 

6.      QUARTERLY PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT REPORT 4

 

In the absence of the Portfolio Holder for Fire, Emergency Planning and Consumer Protection, the Principal Policy Officer presented the Quarterly Performance Management Report 4.

Members discussed the targets achieved with regard to the Public Service Agreement (PSA) to reduce the number of accidental fires and casualties from them.  The Chief Fire Officer advised the Select Committee it was part of the Community Fire Safety agenda which engaged in preventative measures.  The work was ongoing and targets had so far been achieved.  The Island dealt with relatively small numbers and a variation of 1 either way could make a big statistical difference.

 

A questionnaire, from the Crime and Disorder Team, had been sent to all members asking that they distribute it to their constituents.  The Select Committee believed they should have been notified prior to the questionnaires being sent out and the officers concerned should be advised of that.

 

The Select Committee asked if the use of private burial grounds had any impact on the Council’s burial figures.  The Head of Consumer Protection told members that he was unable to answer that as figures were not available.

 

Members questioned the figures with regard to injuries and asked if they were caused by lack of resources, training or misfortune.  The Chief Fire Officer advised the Select Committee that no injury was acceptable.  They were all thoroughly investigated and remedial measures put in place, each one was different.  Members asked what the long term injuries were and were advised that the Chief Fire Officer would provide members with that information.  There was some discussion with regard to financial and crewing implications of absence caused through injury to the Brigade.

 

The Select Committee were advised that although the Key Performance Indicator target for domestic burglaries had been achieved the PSA target, which was calculated differently, had not.  Members asked if the Council was penalised if the PSA targets were not met and were there any financial implications arising from this.

 

The Chief Fire Officer indicated that attendance times under the Standards of Fire Cover were reliant on sufficient numbers of retained firefighters being able to respond to incidents.

 

The Head of Consumer Protection reported that Trading Standards were now up to full strength.  Environmental Health had until recently had 4 vacancies, 2 had now been filled and the other 2 possibly being advertised as trainee posts.

 

ACTION BY THE CHIEF FIRE OFFICER :

 

a.      THAT the Select Committee be provided with information regarding long term injuries within the Fire Service.

 

b.      THAT financial and crewing implications of absence caused through injury to the Brigade be provided to members of the Select Committee.

 

ACTION BY THE STRATEGIC DIRECTOR OF ADULT AND COMMUNITY SERVICES :

 

a.      THAT a representative from the Crime and Disorder Team be invited to the July 2004 meeting to answer questions on PSA targets and financial implications for the Council if these are not met and what is being done to achieve targets.

 

b.      THAT the concerns of members relating to the recent questionnaire on crime and disorder be drawn to his attention.

7.         BUDGET MONITORING AS AT END OF MAY 2004

 

The Chief Financial Officer reported on the revenue and capital expenditure up to the end of May 2004.  The revenue budget showed a spend on redundancy costs within Community Safety, members questioned the reason for this.

 

ACTION BY THE STRATEGIC DIRECTOR OF ADULT AND COMMUNITY SERVICES :

 

THAT the information required on the redundancy costs, to be circulated to members of the Select Committee.

 

8.      WORKPLAN 2004 – 2005

 

Members gave consideration to the Select Committees Workplan for the forthcoming year, which had been comprised from the Awayday.  Guidance was given on the use of Informal meetings.

 

9.      COMMUNITY WARDENS TASK GROUP

 

Consideration was given to the establishment a Task Group to look at the development and sustainability of the current Community Warden Scheme.

 

ACTION BY SELECT COMMITTEE SUPPORT :

 

THAT a Task Group be established comprising of three members, Mr B E Abraham, Miss H L Humby and Mrs B E Foster who would collect evidence and report back to the 20 September 2004 Select Committee.

 

 

 

 

CHAIRMAN