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.

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)  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 5^th February 2019, 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 February 2019, were approved as a correct record and signed accordingly by the Chair. 

To consider Report CFO/015/19 of the Assistant Chief Fire Officer, concerning funding obtained within Community Risk Management (CRM) Departments during 2018.

Members considered Report CFO/015/19 of the  Chief Fire Officer, concerning funding obtained within Community Risk Management (CRM) Departments during 2018.

Members were provided with an overview of the report, which highlighted the amount of funding that has been secured over the last year to provide community safety initiatives across Merseyside, the effectiveness of secured funding for CRM activities; and the impact of funding on community based activities.

In terms of the outcomes from community risk management activities, Members were informed that ASB fires for 2018/19 are showing a 3% reduction on the previous year, despite the spell of warm weather during the summer of 2018.

With regards to deliberate vehicle fires, Members were advised that there had been a reduction of 22% from 2017/18; and in terms of deliberate dwelling fires, there has been a 33% reduction over the same period.

Members were also informed that as a result of partnership working and funding, there has also been a significant reduction of 12% in the number of persons killed or seriously injured in road traffic collisions.

The range of community risk management activities that are able to be undertaken to promote safer, stronger communities, as a result of the funding, were also highlighted to Members.

Questions were raised by Members regarding the funding obtained; and how we can be sure that the funding is producing outcomes, rather than the outcomes simply being a result of collaborative working.

Members were advised that a similar question was raised by the HMICFRS; and that in terms of the number of persons killed or seriously injured in RTC’s, some of the reduction will be down to other factors. However, officers have focused in on the specifics of what the funding has been provided for, which has predominantly been around working with new/ young drivers. Focusing in on the reduction amongst that group, enables the impact of the educational input, provided by the funding, to be demonstrated and evidenced. However, it was acknowledged that proper evaluation does need to be undertaken.

Members commended officers for securing the funding; and for all their work that has contributed to the significant incident reductions reported.

Members Resolved that:

a)    The £737,500 of funding secured over the past financial year to provide community safety initiatives across Merseyside, which includes £19,000 from MFRA; and net secured funding of £718,500, be noted.

b)    The effectiveness of securing funding for Community Risk Management activities, be noted.

c)    The impact of funding on community based activities, be noted.

To consider Report CFO/014/19 of the Assistant Chief Fire Officer, concerning the use of Community Fire Stations as Safe Havens; and recorded activations submitted through the Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service (MFRS) intranet portal.

Members considered Report CFO/014/19 of the Chief Fire Officer, concerning the use of Community Fire Stations as Safe Havens; and recorded activations submitted via the Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service (MFRS) intranet portal.

Members were provided with an overview of the report, and were informed that MFRA were the first Fire Service outside of London to introduce the concept of Safe Havens. They were advised that the concept was initially introduced across Liverpool District Community Fire Stations; and was then expanded to all stations across Merseyside.

A breakdown of the number of Safe Haven actuations by Station, was then highlighted to Members.

Members were advised that the Safe Haven model is a very positive approach, which endorses the role of MFRS in safeguarding, particularly given that vulnerability is often linked to safeguarding issues.

Members commented that the number of Safe Haven activations, demonstrates how much the community value and trust the Fire and Rescue Service.

Members Resolved that:

a)    The content of the report, be noted.

b)    Given the national, local and regional priorities in respect of Organised Crime Groups (OCG) and the prevalence of knife and gun crime, it be noted that MFRA staff will review processes and raise awareness regarding Safe Havens across MFRA Community Fire Stations.

c)    As the majority of Safe Haven activations are triggered by individuals with one or more vulnerabilities that place them at a heightened risk of threat or harm, it be noted that the overarching responsibility will be placed under the management of the Strategic Safeguarding Manager, Community Risk Management.

To consider Report CFO/013/19 of the Chief Fire Officer, concerning the installation of Community Public Access Defibrillators (CPADs), at a cost of £15,000.00, which is inclusive of purchasing 26 defibrillator cabinets and hardwire connection to defibrillator cabinets. CPAD’s will be sited as near to the running call boxes as is practical and will be provided with protruding signage.

Members considered Report CFO/013/19 of the Chief Fire Officer, concerning the installation of Community Public Access Defibrillators (CPADs), at a cost of £15,000, which is inclusive of purchasing 26 defibrillator cabinets and hardwire connection to defibrillator.

Members were provided with an overview of the report, which highlighted that the defibrillators are normally housed inside the Community Fire Stations, but the proposals are to move the defibrillators to the outside of the stations for use by the public. Members were informed that the code for the key pads will be available via Fire Control, for use in the community. They were also informed that the defibrillators are very easy to use, as they provide prompts and guidance to users; and will only shock people who are in cardiac arrest.

Members were advised that the CPAD’s would be sited as near to the running call boxes as is practical; and will be provided with protruding signage.

It was clarified to Members that the costs are for the installation of the defibrillators to the outside of the buildings, not for the purchase of the defibrillators. Members were advised that there is already a defibrillator located on each Community Fire Station, but they are currently located inside the Station and are therefore not available for use by the community.

Members were also advised of the intention for firefighters to work with the local community, to provide some training on how to use the defibrillators competently.

Comments were made by Members regarding practical training previously provided to Authority Members on the use of defibrillators. Members felt that this training was particularly useful for Authority Members, given their community representative role; and expressed the wish for further training to be provided to Authority Members. They also suggested that training on the use of defibrillators could be provided to each of the Councils within Merseyside.

With regards to the delivery of training to the District Councils, Members were advised that this may be something that NWAS would wish to provide, given that they are currently doing a great deal of work around educating communities.

Further comments were made by Members regarding all of the reports on this agenda, which clearly demonstrate some of the fantastic work undertaken by MFRS; and how we are providing excellent value for money.

Members also requested that their thanks be recorded to everyone who has helped to secure resources for MFRA; and has enabled those resources to be utilised effectively for the benefit of the communities of Merseyside.

Members Resolved that:

a)    The purchase and fitting of CPAD’s to all Community Fire Stations, be noted.

b)    The findings of the feasibility report and risk assessments carried out by Health & Safety, as appended to the report, be noted.

c)    The Chief Fire Officer be requested to look into the provision of defibrillator training; and report back to Members.