To consider any apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Councillor Dave Hanratty and Co-opted Member, Anthony Boyle.

To consider declarations of interest in relation to any item on the agenda.

There were no declarations of interest in relation to any item on the agenda.

To consider the minutes of the last meeting held on 10^th April 2025.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the last meeting held on 10^th April 2025 be approved as an accurate record.

To consider the report relating to Pathway to Net Zero – Fleet (CFO/03/2526).

Assistant Chief Fire Officer, Ged Sheridan, drew Members’ attention to the report in the agenda and welcomed Area Manager, Dave Watson to provide a presentation to Members regarding the wider contribution to Net Zero.

Area Manager, Dave Watson explained to Members that as part of the Government’s ‘Reducing emissions from road transport: Road to Zero Strategy’ the plan was to move to a system whereby all tailpipe emissions from vehicles would be removed. It was noted that from 2030, new petrol and diesel cars would no longer be available to purchase in the UK and from 2035, new hybrid vehicles would cease to be sold.

In addition, 2035 would see an end to the sale of new non-zero emission HGVs (Heavy Good Vehicle) weighing 26-tonne and under and from 2040, all new HGVs sold would have to be zero emission. Dave Watson explained that the vast majority of operational fleets came under the 26-tonne threshold and it was only a minor number of appliances such as the aerial appliance that came above that. It was noted that the long-term aim was for the Authority fleet to move to Ultra Low Emission Vehicles in a practical and financially stable way.

Members acknowledged that the Authority had 92 small fleet cars in total which included blue light response vehicles and departmental vehicles. The fleet contained six 48v Mild Hybrid vehicles and 15 self-charging hybrid blue light response vehicles. Dave Watson explained that the Authority had been moving towards all blue light response vehicles used for Senior Officer’s response to incidents to the hybrid system in incremented steps to get the Authority to achieve a zero-emission position in the future. Members were advised that the small car fleet at present had 23% low emission vehicles within it which was a significant milestone.

It was reported that there would be a further seven self-charging blue light response vehicles introduced to the fleet as part of the vehicle capital replacement programme. With the introduction of the seven self-charging vehicles, seven hybrid vehicles would be moved from blue light response and reallocated as station vehicles, replacing current diesel vehicles on stations.

Councillor Mike Sullivan queried why the Authority was changing to hybrids and not full electric vehicles. Dave Watson explained that the infrastructure was not in place yet for the Authority to move to full electric vehicles as there wasn’t sufficient charging points in every location. Members were advised that due to the blue light response, there was a greater chance that an electric vehicle would run out of energy and would not have the opportunity to immediately recharge the battery. He reassured Members that this was part of the long-term plan which was why the new Training and Development Academy was built with charging points. It was also explained that there was an intention to add charging points to Service Headquarters in the future and to buy full electric vehicles at a future point. Dave Watson noted that incremental changes were taking place to not  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

To consider the Annual Health, Safety and Welfare Report 2024/25 (CFO/04/2526).

Councillor Sam Gorst returned at 13:30.

Assistant Chief Fire Officer, Ged Sheridan, introduced the report and advised Members that this item was a standard item that was discussed on an annual basis. He welcomed Health and Safety Station Manager, Kevin Hollis to present the Health, Safety and Welfare Report 2024/25.

Kevin Hollis advised Members that there were four workplace Local Performance Indicators (LPI) performances and these were based on operational staff injuries, including injuries on duty, at incidents, at risk critical training and whilst conducting other routine activities. Members were advised that there were two LPI Monitoring’s which did not have a service plan target or performance rating, however, every injury was monitored. This included non-operational staff injuries on duty and the reporting of near misses. Near misses were reviewed at the Workplace Review Group for quality assurance. Members acknowledged that this was also scrutinised in the Performance Management Group and measured against targets on a monthly basis. 

Members’ attention was drawn to staff accident and injuries. It was noted that the number of operational staff injuries on-duty (LPI WR13) had a reduction for the second year running which was encouraging. Of those 38 staff members who were injured on duty, 24 remained on duty, meaning that the injuries were minor and the reporting culture was positive. It was explained that duty days lost was 234 which was a reduction by 93 on the previous year. Kevin Hollis also noted that operational staff attended nearly 18,000 incidents in the last year.

Kevin Hollis noted that the number of operational staff injuries at risk critical training (LPI WR34) had a slight increase from last year, however, this was still below the predicted annual performance. It was explained that the predicted annual performance was not a static figure and could increase or decrease as workstreams and targets changed. Members also acknowledged that year on year, there had been an increase in training, including more realistic training which was always risk assessed by the Health and Safety Department to ensure safety.

Members were advised that the number of operational staff injuries on duty (LPI WR32) saw a reduction from the previous year and out of the seven injuries, six members of staff remained on duty.

Looking at the reporting of near misses (LPI WR31), Kevin Hollis noted that there was a reduction in comparison to the previous year, however, it was the second highest in four years which showed a trend in the right direction. He explained that the reason why near misses fell under the ‘monitoring’ category was because it was hard to predict how many near misses had taken place. This is why the Service greatly encouraged reporting near misses. Members were made aware that feedback may be given out after a near miss and an investigation may be completed due to the nature of the near miss.

Kevin Hollis advised Members that the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR) was categorised into major and minor. Since  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

To consider the Scrutiny Forward Work Plan 2025-2026 (MO/11/2526).

Monitoring Officer, Ria Groves, presented the report explaining to Members that the purpose of the report was to review the Scrutiny Forward Work Plan (SFWP) for 2025-26. Members’ attention was drawn to the three items that were carried over from the previous SFWP which were Contaminants, Pathway to Net Zero and Enforcement and Prosecution. It was noted that a Scrutiny Workshop took place on 23^rd June 2025 with Members of the Scrutiny Committee to discuss other topics previously mentioned by Members and to propose the new SFWP. Members were advised that the draft SFWP was in Appendix A on page 57 of the agenda.

RESOLVED that:

a)    the proposed Scrutiny Forward Work Plan 2025-26 be reviewed; and

b)    the Scrutiny Forward Work Plan in Appendix A be submitted to the Authority (or another Committee as appropriate) for approval be recommended.

Close

The date of next meeting will be 21^st October 2025.