Agenda and minutes

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Contact: Kelly Kellaway, Democratic Services Manager  Email: DemocraticServices@MerseyFire.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

8.

CHAIRS ANNOUNCEMENT

Minutes:

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.

 

1.

Preliminary Matters

The Authority is 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.

 

Minutes:

The Authority considered the identification of any declarations of interest, matters of urgency or items that would require the exclusion of the press and public due to the disclosure of exempt information.

 

Resolved that:

 

a)    The following Members declared an interest in relation to Item 7 on the Agenda, “Approved Exemptions to Contract Standing Orders 2016/17”, due to being trustees of the Fire Support Network.  These were not prejudicial interests. 

 

·         Cllr Rennie

·         Cllr Stapleton

 

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

 

 

2.

Minutes of the Previous Meeting pdf icon PDF 179 KB

The Minutes of the previous meeting of the Budget Authority, held on 23rd February 2017, are submitted for approval as a correct record and for signature by the Chair.

Minutes:

The Minutes of the previous meeting of the Budget Authority, held on 23rd February 2017, were approved as a correct record and signed accordingly by the Chair.

 

3.

Lead Member/ Ambassador Feedback 2016/17 pdf icon PDF 93 KB

To consider Report CFO/029/17 of the Monitoring Officer, concerning feedback on the work undertaken by the appointed Lead Members and Member Ambassadors during 2016/17.

 

A short film around “Blue Light Mental Health” will be shown in support of this report, in relation to the Ambassador for Health & Wellbeing Role.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Members considered report CFO/029/17 of the Monitoring Officer, providing them with feedback on work undertaken by appointed Lead Members and Member Ambassadors during 2016/17.

 

A short film around “Blue Light Mental Health” was shown in support of this report, in relation to the Ambassador for Health & Wellbeing Role. 

 

The Chair praised the excellent work that the Health & Wellbeing Team provide and emphasised to Members the awards won by this group.  He extended his thanks to everyone involved in the Mind Blue Light Programme. 

 

Members were reminded of the Lead Member/Ambassador Roles and updated on the feedback they had provided, along with Appointed Members and Supporting Officers.  Members offered their thanks to all involved. 

 

Members Resolved that:

 

a.    The feedback provided by the Lead Members and Member Ambassadors in relation to their involvement in their respective roles for 2015-16, be noted.


b.    The value of continuing with the current Lead Member and Member Ambassador roles for the coming Municipal Year, be noted.


c.    The continuation of the current Lead Member and Member Ambassador roles, be agreed.

 

 

 

4.

Home Safety Strategy Update 2016/17 pdf icon PDF 85 KB

To consider report CFO/025/17 of the Deputy Chief Fire Officer, informing Members of progress made against the Home Safety Strategy 2015 – 2018 which was approved in November 2015. 

Minutes:

Members considered report CFO/025/17 of the Deputy Chief Fire Officer, informing them of progress made against the Home Safety Strategy 2015 – 2018 which was approved in November 2015.

 

Members were informed how in 2015 the Home Safety Strategy was refreshed following the adoption of a more targeted approach to risk and vulnerability.  They were also provided with an overview of the aims within the strategy and made aware that Advocates have delivered over 8000 High Risk Home Safety Fire Check’s in 2016/17. 

 

A presentation was then given on the Home Safety Strategy updating Members on how Home Fire Safety Checks are directed.  Members were informed of how the numbers of accidental dwelling fires had reduced below 1000 for the first time ever and how resources and campaigns were run, demonstrating how important and successful Home Fire Safety Checks are and the introduction of the Safe and Well visit will be. 

 

Members Resolved that the content of the report be noted.

 

 

5.

SERVICE DELIVERY PLAN END OF YEAR REPORT 2016-17 pdf icon PDF 75 KB

To consider report CFO/022/17 of the Deputy Chief Fire Officer, requesting that Members scrutinise performance against the objectives and the performance targets/outcomes, as set out in the Service Delivery Plan 2016/17, for the period April 2016 to March 2017.

 

A presentation will be delivered in support of this report.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Members considered report CFO/022/17 of the Deputy Chief Fire Officer, noting the performance against the objectives and the performance targets/outcomes as set out in the Service Delivery Plan 2016/17 for the period April 2016 to March 2017.

 

Information was provided to Members regarding the background of the report.  The 2016/17 planning progress began in January 2016 and the process considered organisational risk, legislation, financial constraints and consultation outcomes in order to create the 2016/17 Service Delivery Plan. 

 

The key performance end of year updates shows:

·         there were 22465 emergency calls received by Fire Control during 2016/17, meaning there were 780 more calls than in 2015/16

·         there were 7346 fires attended during 2016/17, which was 177 more incidents than 2015/16

·         there were 2597 primary fires (those attended where there is an insurable loss damaged by fire such as dwellings, businesses and vehicles)  attended between April 2016 to March 2017, which was 21 less than in 2015/16

·         the number of accidental dwelling fires attended was 991 during 2016/17, which is the first time its number has been below 1000, compared to 20 years ago when the Service attended over 3000. 

 

There have been increases on deliberate small anti-social behaviour small fires attended and false alarm good intent calls in 2016/17. 

 

A presentation was then delivered supporting the report. 

 

A discussion then took place around Road Traffic Collisions and why the Service take no action at some incidents. The Chief fire Officer explained that on occasions North West Ambulance Service determine that an extrication is not required.  The Chief Fire Officer then explained that the number of False Alarm Good Intent calls had increased, but stressed that the Service does not  discourage these calls. 

 

Thanks were then given by Members to all staff and praise was given for sickness absence being under target. 

 

Members resolved that the content of the report, be approved. 

 

6.

New Equality And Diversity Policy pdf icon PDF 72 KB

To consider report CFO/024/17 of the Deputy Chief Fire Officer, informing the Authority of the refreshed and updated Equality and Diversity policy. 

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Members considered report CFO/024/17 of the Deputy Chief Fire Officer, informing them of the refreshed and updated Equality and Diversity policy. 

 

The Deputy Chief Fire Officer informed Members that consultation forums had taken place in order to refresh the policy, this included a number of key stakeholders who consulted on its content and focus. 

 

The Chair stated that it was a good policy. 

 

Members resolved that:

 

the new Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (E,D&I) Policy, be approved. 

 

 

 

7.

Approved exemptions to Contract Standing Orders 2016/17 pdf icon PDF 82 KB

To consider report CFO/026/17 of the Monitoring Officer, advising Members of approved exemptions to Contract Standing Orders for the period 2016/17.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Members considered report CFO/026/17 of the Monitoring Officer, and were advised of approved exemptions to Contract Standing Orders for the period 2016/17.

 

A brief introduction of the report was given explaining that the Constitution provides a framework for managing the Authority’s finances and procedures for Contract Standing Orders and how this applies to every Member and Officer of the Authority. 

 

Members were informed there has been a reduction in the number of exemptions required by Workshops achieved by working closely with the Procurement Department.  The Organisational Development Department had a relatively high number of approved exemptions for 2016/17 because a new national framework contract for training has not yet been finalised.  The Procurement Department are currently working with the Organisational Development Department to tender for some training requirements, which will reduce the number of exemption requests in 2017/18. 

 

It was agreed that this was a detailed report. 

 

Members resolved that the contents of the report be noted. 

 

8.

Station Mergers Project - Progress Report pdf icon PDF 88 KB

To consider report CFO/023/17 of the Deputy Chief Fire Officer, providing a progress report to Members on the Station Mergers project up to the end of April 2017.

 

Minutes:

Members considered report CFO/023/17 of the Deputy Chief Fire Officer, providing a progress report to Members on the Station Mergers project up to the end of April 2017.

 

The Deputy Chief Fire Officer updated Members on the progress of various Station Mergers, which will be new Community Fire Stations at Prescot (to replace Huyton and Whiston); Saughall Massie (to replace Upton and West Kirby); and St. Helens (to replace Eccleston and St. Helens). 

 

A question was raised regarding the reduction in the size of the site and building at Saughall Massie .  Members were told that there had been reservations over a reduction, but that response times need to be maintained which is only possible from this site.  The staff involved were then thanked for all the work done on the revised planning application. 

 

The Chair of the Authority supported the Saughall Massie revised planning application. 

 

 

Members resolved that the contents of this report be noted.