Agenda and minutes

Members and officers must declare any pecuniary or personalinterest in any business on the agenda. They should also make declarations at any stage such an interest becomes apparent during the meeting. Consideration should be given to leaving the meeting if the nature of the interest warrants it. 

If in doubt please contact Democratic Services before the meeting.

63.1 No interests were declared.

The Committee is asked to note that the minutes of the meeting held on 14 January 2019 are in preparation and will be submitted to the next meeting for approval.

64.1 Resolved –The Committee noted that the minutes of the meeting held on 14 January 2019 were in preparation and would be submitted to the next meeting for approval.

Report by Executive Director Communities and Public Protection and Director of Public Protection.

The report advises of a review of possible arrangements for the future provision of a control centre for calls and mobilisation and recommends that an agreement should be made with Surrey Fire and Rescue Service to deliver a joint mobilisation system and control centre.

The Committee is asked to consider the recommendations in light of the suggested focus for scrutiny in the covering report.

65.1 The Committee considered a report by Executive Director Communities and Public Protection and Director of Public Protection (copy appended to signed minutes). 

65.2 Gavin Watts, Director of Operations and Chief Fire Officer, Neil Stocker, Director of Public Protection and Deputy Chief Fire Officer and Jon Lacey, Area Manager for Risk and Improvements introduced the report which detailed the new proposals for West Sussex’s future Fire Service Mobilising arrangements.

65.3 The Cabinet Member for Safer, Stronger Communities thanked the Committee for scrutinising the proposals and added that although the County Council valued its current relationship with East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service (ESFRS), other options for broader collaboration had been explored in order to future-proof effective operations. The mobilisation system that Surrey Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) currently had in place was fully deployed, had been tried and tested and proven to deliver.

65.4 Nicola Bulbeck, Executive Director Communities and Public Protection, added that entering into partnership with SFRS was considered a positive step and was a good opportunity to deliver a safe and sound mobilising system to ensure public safety. The IT system currently in use by SFRS was efficient, secure and resilient and the wider IT strategy planned for West Sussex Fire and Rescue (WSFRS) would allow for savings to be made whilst opening up future collaboration opportunities and better service deliveries.

65.5 Mr Stocker added that in 2018, options for WSFRS future mobilisation had been explored, starting from an initial twenty options and then narrowed down to five for further investigation. It had been important to find a system that was proven and compliant with new government technology and would ensure provision of best value for money for residents.

65.6 After exploration with other neighbouring authorities, SFRS was found to have provided a clear collaborative opportunity. Its state of the art technology, utilisation of CCTV footage and highways cameras would ensure further partnership working with other local authorities. One of the findings from the recent inspection of WSFRS by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) noted that the ability to have up-to date data for both public and officer safety was an area of concern.

65.7 The Committee made comments including those that follow.  It:

·         Welcomed the positive report but questioned how strong the relationship with SFRS currently was in terms of close partnership working and whether the proposals had affected the relationship with East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service (ESFRS). Mr Stocker advised that WSFRS had worked with SFRS on cross-border operations for some time so the relationship was already strong. Mr Watts added that cross-border collaborations already occurred on a number of issues with both SFRS and ESFRS, so the relationships weren’t just based on mobilisation. Combining fleet functions or joint investigations were some of the other areas of current partnership working. The Cabinet Member for Safer, Stronger Communities added that the County Council had a strong relationship with both and wouldn’t want to jeopardise that.

·         Queried the future of the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 65.

Extract fromthe ForwardPlan dated 18 January 2019.

Anextract fromanyForwardPlan publishedbetween the date of despatchof the agenda and the date of the meetingwill be tabled at the meeting. Only relevant items added on 18 January 2019 are included as the previous meetings of the Committee considered other items.

The Committee is asked to consider whetheritwishes to enquireinto any of the forthcoming decisions withinits portfolio.

66.1 The Committee considered the Forward Plan dated 18 January 2019 (copy appended to signed minutes).

66.2 Resolved – That the Forward Plan be noted.

The next meeting of the Committee will be held on Wednesday, 13 March 2019 at 10.30 am at County Hall, Chichester.  Probable agenda items include:

·         Highways and Transport Improvement Schemes

·         Updated Guidance on Parking in New Developments

·         Community Hubs

·         Fire and Rescue Service People Culture Strategy

Any member wishing to place an item on the agenda for the meeting must notify the Director of Law and Assurance by 1 March 2019.

The Committee noted that its next scheduled meeting will take place on 13 March 2019 at 10.30am at County Hall, Chichester.