Prior to the commencement of the meeting the Chair confirmed to all present that the proceedings of the meeting would not be filmed.

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:

·         Agenda item 5 – PROVISSION OF SCIENTIFIC SUPPORT SERVICES, contains EXEMPT information by virtue of Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972

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)    Councillor Allen declared a personal interest in Agenda Item 4 as a Member of Knowsley Council.

No further declarations of interest were made by individual Members in relation to any item of business on the Agenda

b)  no additional items of business to be considered as matters of urgency were determined by the Chair; and

c)  the following items of business required the exclusion of the press and public during consideration thereof, due to the possible disclosure of exempt information:

·         Agenda Item 5 “Provision of Scientific Support Services” contains EXEMPT information by virtue of Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.

The Minutes of the Previous Meeting, held on 5^th September 2017, are submitted for approval as a correct record and for signature by the committee chair.

The Minutes of the previous meeting of the Community Safety & Protection Committee held on 5^th September 2017, were approved as a correct record and signed accordingly by the Chair. 

To consider Report CFO/008/18 of the Deputy Chief Fire Officer, concerning scrutiny of performance against Service objectives and the performance targets/outcomes as set out in the Service Delivery Plan 2017/18 for the period July to November 2017.

Members considered report CFO/008/18 of the Deputy Chief Fire Officer requesting that the performance against the Service objectives and the performance targets/outcomes as set out in the Service Delivery Plan 2017/18 for the period July to November 2017, be noted. 

Members were updated on the progress against the objectives contained within the report. Benchmark indicators showed performance this year continues to be good against accidental dwelling fires, with us having recorded a total of 602, which is 70 less incidents in November 2017/18 than in November 2016/17. Last year was the first time ever we recorded less than 1000 accidental dwelling fires.  During the period we had recorded one accidental fire death.  To date this year the figure stands at 2 deaths in accidental dwelling fires, which is the lowest recorded.  The number of injuries reported was 63, which is 11 under target.

The number of Home Fire Safety Checks undertaken over the period by operational crews was 28295, against a target of 27301.  The overall number of Home Fire Safety Checks undertaken, which includes prevention staff was 35670, against a target of 33967. 

Members were informed that there was concern over the number of deliberate fires in occupied properties with a total of 137 recorded over the period. Out of 31 incidents that were recorded in October 2017, 12 of these involved the use of fireworks.

Members resolved that:

the KPI 2017-18 July to November Update; and Service Delivery Plan 2017-18 July to November, be approved for publication on the Service website.

To consider Report CFO/010/18 of the Deputy Chief Fire Officer, concerning the sale of Huyton Fire Station to Knowsley Borough Council (KBC).

Members considered report CFO/010/18 of the Deputy Chief Fire Officer requesting that members approve the sale of Huyton Fire Station to Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council (KMBC).

Members were reminded of the background appertaining to the merger of Huyton and Whiston Fire Stations at a new Station in Prescot.  The new Prescot Station went live on 22^nd January 2018.

The Huyton Fire Station is adjacent to the North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) Station, on the corner of Lathom Road. This site was identified within the Knowsley Huyton Village Masterplan, as an important gateway development opportunity. The junction between Lathom Road and Archway Road was highlighted as a key gateway to the village.

An independent valuation of the site was jointly commissioned by the Authority, NWAS and KMBC and completed in September 2017 by Keppie Massie.

Members were informed of the market values of both the freehold interest of the fire station site on an individual basis subject to its current/commercial use of £215,000, along with a market value of £335,000 for redevelopment of the fire station as part of a combined development site.

KMBC have agreed to secure the fire station site at the redevelopment market value of £335,000 independent of the NWAS site on an unconditional basis.  The Authority has assumed a capital receipt of £250,000 from the sale.

Members resolved that:

the sale of Huyton fire station for a value of £335,000 to Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council, be approved.

To consider Report CFO/009/18 of the Director of Legal, Procurement & Democratic Services, concerning the award of contract for Scientific Support Services, which are required to support the delivery of National Resilience (NR) Detection, Identification and Monitoring (DIM) skills acquisition training.

This report contains EXEMPT information by virtue of Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.

These Minutes contain EXEMPT information by virtue of Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.