Members are requested to consider the identification of:

a)  declarations of interest by individual Members in relation to any item of business on the Agenda

b)  any additional items of business which the Chair has determined should be considered as matters of urgency; and

c)  items of business which may require the exclusion of the press and public during consideration thereof because of the possibility of the disclosure of exempt information.

Members considered the identification of declarations of interest, any urgent additional items, and any business that may require the exclusion of the press and public.

Resolved that:

a)  no declarations of interest were made by individual Members in relation to any item of business on the Agenda

b)  there was one item considered to be a matter of urgency and admitted onto the Agenda by the Chair of this Committee as follows:

Item 8. Community Fire Protection 2020 Proposals.
Key information informing this report was only received on 26^th July 2015, the day before publication of this agenda.

c)  no items of business required the exclusion of the press and public during consideration thereof because of the possibility of the disclosure of exempt information.

The Minutes of the Previous Meeting, held on 16^th April 2015, are submitted for approval as a correct record and for signature by the Chair.

The minutes of the previous meeting held on 16^th April 2015 were considered to be a correct record and signed accordingly by the Chair.

To consider report CFO/064/15 of the Deputy Chief Fire Officer concerning the performance of the new Automatic Fire Alarm (AFA) Policy since its introduction in October 2012.

This report is also to be considered by the Performance and Scrutiny Committee on 23^rd July 2015.

Members considered report CFO/064/15 of the Deputy Chief Fire Officer concerning the performance of the new Automatic Fire Alarm (AFA) Policy since its introduction in October 2012.

Members considered the successes following implementation of the Automatic Fire Alarm (AFA) policy in 2012, and also that there were a small number of organisations who significantly contributed to the remaining instances of Unwanted Fire Signals (UwFS). Methods of reducing UwFS were discussed at length including a targeted approach to prolific offenders and the possibility of a cost-recovery charging policy.

Resolved that:

a.    the progress of the new AFA Policy in improving the Services performance in reducing Unwanted Fire Signals, be noted; and

b.    the rationale of the risk assessment that underpins the protocol, be noted; and

c.    the risk assessment that underpins the protocol, be approved; and

d.    the targeted approach to be adopted in relation to prolific offenders, be noted; and

e.    the resolution of the Performance and Scrutiny Committee to undertake a review, to explore the experience of other Fire and Rescue Authorities who have adopted a charging policy in respect of the potential for such to positively influence repeat offenders of UwFS and the financial impact to those Authorities, be noted.

To consider Report CFO/068/15 of the Deputy Chief Fire Officer, concerning scrutiny of performance and detailed analysis relating to the Accidental Dwelling Fire Fatalities that occurred during 2014/15.

Members considered report CFO/068/15 of the Deputy Chief Fire Officer concerning the performance and detailed analysis relating to the Accidental Dwelling Fire Fatalities that occurred during 2014/15.

The committee were informed that there had been an increase in the number of accidental dwelling fire fatalities for 2014/15 on previous years to 10 fatalities. Concerns were raised about the demographics of the victims of these fires, around issues that might contribute such as fuel poverty and what the Fire and Rescue Authority's response should be.

Resolved that:

a)    Performance in relation to deaths in accidental dwelling fires during 2014/15 be noted; and,

b)    The reassurance campaigns run following accidental dwelling fire fatalities be commended, and the staff involved in delivering them be thanked.

To consider Report CFO/069/15 of the Deputy Chief Fire Officer, concerning performance and analysis regarding Accidental Dwelling Fire Fatalities between 2005/06 and 2014/15.

Members considered report CFO/069/15 of the Deputy Chief Fire Officer concerning performance and analysis of Accidental Dwelling Fire Fatalities occurring between 2005/06 and 2014/15.  

The Committee considered that the trend over ten years shows that it is the same demographic of people that are victims of fire as shown in the one year report.

Resolved that:

Performance in relation to deaths in accidental dwelling fires during the period 2005/6 to 2014/15, be noted

To consider Report CFO/067/15 of the Deputy Chief Fire Officer, concerning formalisation of partnership arrangements enacted under the Primary Authority Scheme (PAS) with two retail organisations; A.S.Watson (Superdrug PLC, Savers Health & Beauty, The Perfume Shop), and Ladbrokes Gaming PLC.

Members considered report CFO/067/15 of the Deputy Chief Fire Officer concerning the formalisation of partnership arrangements enacted under the Primary Authority Scheme (PAS) with two retail organisations, A.S.Watson (Superdrug PLC, Savers Health & Beauty, The Perfume Shop), and Ladbrokes Gaming PLC.

The Committee acknowledged that the partnership trialled with the two retail organisations under the PAS has now been formalised and will continue. Members also heard that the Authority was now in a position to seek and investigate new partnerships, primarily with organisations that have head offices in Merseyside.

Members considered the benefits of the PAS and any issues identified during the trial. In particular they considered the impact it has had and is likely to have on staffing arrangements. They also considered that there is potential for disputes on legislating for fireworks to arise in areas where this responsibility normally lies with the Local Authority's Trading Standards office.

Resolved that:

a)    the advantages to MFRA of entering into these partnerships, be noted; and,

b)    the indication from government, that it is a key business objective to extend the existing PAS to include smaller businesses, be noted; and,

c)    the principal of seeking additional partnership agreements with other organisations within the retail sector, be approved.

To consider Report CFO/072/15 of the Deputy Chief Fire Officer concerning the progress of the initiative to fit sprinklers in purpose built blocks of flats, and to seek approval from Members to extend the scope of this scheme to other types of premises in Merseyside that house vulnerable residents.

Members considered report CFO/072/15 of the Deputy Chief Fire Officer concerning the progress of the initiative to fit sprinklers in purpose built blocks of flats, and the intention to extend the scope of this scheme to other types of premises in Merseyside that house vulnerable residents.

Members heard that only one developer has made use of the funding approved in December 2013 for supporting sprinkler initiatives in purpose built flats, therefore the committee considered whether the scope of the project should be widened so that other interested organisations with a remit for housing vulnerable people could take advantage of the funding.

Resolved that:

The broadening of the scope of premises that can be supported by the capital funding programme to include other premises that house vulnerable residents (e.g. persons with limited mobility, dementia or mental health issues) or buildings that pose a particular risk to firefighter safety, be approved.

To consider Report CFO/030/15 of the Deputy Chief Fire Officer, concerning proposals for structural changes to the function of Community Fire Protection arising from the 2020 review.

Members considered report CFO/030/15 of the Deputy Chief Fire Officer concerning proposals for structural changes to the function of Community Fire Protection arising from the 2020 review.

The Committee considered that the review had been conducted in a comprehensive and thorough way and that representative bodies had been consulted with through the process and were supportive of the proposals.

Resolved that:

a)    the methodology of the 2020 review for the function of Community Fire Protection, be noted; and,

b)    the rationale underpinning the proposals for structural change, be noted; and

c)    the changes detailed in the report, be approved.