Prior to the start of the meeting, information regarding general housekeeping was provided by the Chair to all in attendance.

The Chair confirmed to all present that the proceedings of the meeting would be filmed and requested that any members of the public present who objected to being filmed, make themselves known.

No members of the public voiced any objection therefore the meeting was declared open and recording commenced.

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 6, “Part 2 EXEMPT minutes” 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)  no 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 item of business required the exclusion of the press and public during consideration thereof, due to the possible disclosure of exempt information:

·         Agenda Item 6 “Part 2 EXEMPT minutes” 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 4^th September 2018, 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 4^th September 2018, were approved as a correct record and signed accordingly by the Chair. 

To consider Report CFO/006/19 of the Monitoring Officer, concerning membership of the reconstituted Fire & Police Collaboration Committee; and provisional schedule of meeting dates.

Members considered report number CFO/0006/19 of the Monitoring Officer, concerning the approval for the membership of the reconstituted Fire & Police Collaboration Committee (F&PCC); and  the provisional schedule of meeting dates.

Members were informed that the Policing and Crime Act 2017 requires both the Police and Fire and Rescue Authorities to keep opportunities for collaboration under review in the interests of efficiency and effectiveness. 

MFRA established the F&PCC on 14^th July 2015, however on the 27^th July 2017 the Police and Crime Commissioner for Merseyside (PCC) became a full Member of MFRA, so the F&PCC came to an end.  The PCC requested to leave the Authority, also requesting that the F& PCC be reconstituted and on 18^th October 2018, this request was approved. 

The proposed Membership of the Committee would be as follows:

·         Cllr Les Byrom, Chair of MFRA and Chair of the F&PCC

·         Cllr Sharon Sullivan, Vice Chair of MFRA

·         Cllr Lynne Thompson, Opposition Member of MFRA

·         Jane Kennedy, Police & Crime Commissioner for Merseyside

·         Emily Spurrell, Deputy Police & Crime Commissioner for Merseyside

The provisional dates for the Committee are:

·         21^st February 2019

·         2^nd July 2019

·         24^th September 2019

·         21^st January 2020

Members asked what the quorum for this Committee would be and it was confirmed that it would be 3 Members consisting of the Chair or Vice Chair of MFRA and PCC or Deputy PCC for Merseyside.  It was also added that this Committee is not a decision making Committee and they would report anything of importance back to MFRA. 

Members resolved that:

a)    the membership of the reconstituted Fire & Police Collaboration Committee, be approved.

b)    the schedule of provisional meeting dates for the Committee, be noted.

To consider Report CFO/003/19 of the Chief Fire Officer, concerning the scrutiny of performance against the objectives and performance targets/ outcomes as set out in the Service Delivery Plan 2018/19, for the period August to November 2018.

A presentation will be delivered in support of this report.

Members considered report number CFO/003/19 of the Chief Fire Officer, concerning performance against the objectives and the performance targets/outcomes as set out in the Service Delivery Plan 2018/19 for the period August to November 2018.

Members were informed that while this report is for the period August to November the data used is cumulative from April to November 2018. 

A presentation was delivered to Members by Jackie Sutton - IRMP Officer, in support of the report, which highlighted the following:-

·         There are 54 functional plan action points for 2018/19:- 2 are on hold and 4 have been completed.  Many of these actions rolled over from 17/18 and will continue through 18/19 as they are ongoing projects. Information was provided on the detail of these

·         There was extremely hot weather in June and July which had a massive impact on some incident types, although the performance has generally been under target since August and even during the bonfire period. 

·         There were 148 less primary fires this year, than by 30^th November 2017.

·         The attendance standard has been achieved on 92.8% of occasions. 

·         Carbon output has not gone up. 

·         In 17/18 the shifts lost to sickness was 4.41% and this year it is 2.93%, which is under the 4% target. 

·         Accidental dwelling fires were under target which is consistent with last year’s performance, however they did show a peak during June. 

·         Up to 30^th November 2018 there had been 2 fatalities in accidental dwelling fires, however sadly in January 2019 there were a further 2, an 87 year old male and an 85 year old female.  We will continue to target those considered most at risk for home safety interventions such as Safe and Well. 

·         Of the 58 injuries in accidental dwelling fires 13 were recorded as serious, meaning the majority were minor such as checks for slight smoke inhalation. 

·         Deliberate fires in non-domestic premises have fallen this year.  A large proportion of these incidents were in prisons and the number of them has gone up not down. 

·         The number of deliberate vehicle fires has been an ongoing problem, but so far this year numbers have fallen with 105 less incidents than in 2017. 

·         The total number of incidents attended along with the number of fires attended are within 10% of target. 

·         False alarms are closely monitored.  Aside from hospitals the majority are sheltered accommodation and are recorded as faults, but we are working closely with them to manage their systems, as we don’t want to discourage calls. 

·         There have been 76 less Anti-Social Behaviour fires this year than at November 2017.  9 incident were violence at work related and these were recorded on OSHENS which allows our partner organisations to target areas of risk. 

·         There were 4092 more emergency calls received by November than last year.  In July there were 6076.  This has now fallen below target most months and within 10% of target during November with 2191 calls. 

·         4297 total secondary incidents were attended, which is 326 more  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

To consider Report CFO/008/19 of the Assistant Chief Fire Officer, concerning the outcomes of the Arson Reduction Strategy, following significant progress on arson convictions.

Members considered report number CFO/008/19 of the Assistant Chief Fire Officer, concerning the outcomes of the Arson Reduction Strategy, following significant progress on arson convictions.

Members were advised that our Incident Investigation Team (IIT) have been effective in securing convictions over individuals. 

Members had previously received a presentation regarding the work IIT do.  The presentation gave Members an insight into the effort that is put into investigations, such as the Echo Arena Car Park fire which was a large profile case. 

The HMI inspectorate praised the IIT and were impressed with the 20 convictions made over a 12 month period.  15 of these convictions had entered early guilty pleas. 

Members were informed that the recent success of Operation Milna demonstrated the effectiveness of partnership working between MFRA and Merseyside Police.  Over 100 bin fires were attended in the Wavertree area and as a result of increased police patrols and MFRA assurance visits, the perpetrator was identified and charged with a number of acts of arson.  The perpetrator was sentenced to a 15 year custodial sentence in November 2018. 

MFRA will continue to support and improve the skills of our staff.  The IIT receive a significant amount of training and due to the qualifications, skills and experience, they are classed as an ‘expert witness’ in a court.  

IIT officers are being trained with the capability that meets the Code of Practice for Fire Scene Investigators and the expertise set by the International Standards Organisation. 

Members commended IIT and the fantastic work they do to secure so many guilty pleas.  It was asked by Members that we encourage fire prevention by publicising our convictions to deter arson. 

Members resolved that:

a.    the effectiveness of fire scene investigations when working in partnership with Merseyside Police in securing arson convictions, be noted;

b.    the efficiencies gained by the public purse due to our partnership working in Arson reduction and the quality of evidence presented in the Authority’s fire scene investigation reports, be noted;

c.    the effectiveness of the Arson Reduction Strategy in increasing the safety of communities in Merseyside by preventing deliberate fire setting, be noted; and

d.    the Corporate Communications department will broadcast the consequences of actions and penalties that can be received for arson, to help prevent it, be approved. 

The Part 2 - Exempt Minutes of the Previous Meeting, held on 4^th September 2018, are submitted for approval as a correct record and for signature by the committee chair.

The Exempt Minutes of the previous meeting of the Community Safety & Protection Committee held on 4^th September 2018, were approved as a correct record and signed accordingly by the Chair.