Agenda and minutes

Committee 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.

12.1     None.

The Committee is asked to agree the minutes of the meeting held on 12 June 2023 (cream paper).

13.1     Resolved – that the Committee agrees the minutes of the meeting held on 12 June 2023 and that they be signed by the Chairman.

The Committee is asked to note the responses to recommendations made at previous meetings of the Committee.

14.1     Resolved – that the Committee notes the responses.

Report by the Chief Fire Officer.

The report provides a context to the Performance and Assurance Framework for the purpose of future scrutiny of the Executive’s approach to performance.

15.1     The Committee considered a report by the Chief Fire Officer (copy appended to the signed minutes).

15.2     Summary of responses to members’ questions and comments: -

·         ‘Very High Risk’ and ‘High Risk’ Safe & Well visits are defined by customer vulnerability criteria established by a questionnaire conducted by the Service’s prevention team, the more dependencies a person has, the more they could be at risk from fire

·         Fire fighters who fail the fitness test are helped back to the standard required by physical training instructors and the use of gym equipment at fire stations

·         CM17 ‘Average time between Joint Fire Control Room receiving the emergency call and the station being notified’ target may be reviewed and may change as a result

·         The outcomes of relevant conferences, such as the recent staff conferences held by the Fire & Rescue Service (FRS) will be included in the annual statement of assurance, where appropriate

·         Fire fighters who have witnessed traumatic events or incidents receive psychological support from trained FRS staff, occupational health and the employee assistance programme. The Service monitors offers of help to pick up on staff that decline

·         There is a national working group looking into the safety of Battery Energy Storage Systems. The FRS is not a statutory planning consultee, but acts proactively with planning authorities to highlight risks and make sure it has the appropriate plans to deal with any incidents that could arise from problems with these storage systems

·         There was a query as to the diversity of the latest intake of new fire fighters Action: The Chief Fire Officer to report back to the Committee

·         The FRS expects 100% of adequate crewing on all immediate response frontline fire engines. Problems can occur when last minute changes due to sickness or other absence lead to the reported figure showing less than 100% when in fact all these short term absences are covered at the station but on occasion do not get recorded on the system.      

·         The CM10 target ‘percentage of Fire Safety Order regulated buildings having received an audit’ is higher than the national average and concentrates on those buildings most at risk

15.3     Resolved – that the Committee: -

                     i.        Asks the Fire & Rescue Service to consider whether a breakdown of the figures contained in Core Measure 17 could be provided to the public

                    ii.        Supports information from key events, such as the Proud to Serve conference, being part of the Statement of Assurance

                   iii.        Requests that a diversity breakdown be provided on the recently appointed wholetime firefighters

A report by the Chief Executive and Director of Finance and Support Services setting out the corporate performance, finance, workforce, risk and capital programme positions as at the end of June 2023.

The Committee is asked to examine the data and supporting commentary for the Performance and Resources report and make any recommendations for action to the Cabinet Member for Community Support, Fire and Rescue.

16.1     The Committee considered a report by the Chief Fire Officer (copy appended to the signed minutes).

16.2     Summary of responses to members’ questions and comments: -

·           The Community Risk Management Plan covers flood defences to protect infrastructure susceptible to flooding and the Service also holds regular team meetings that discuss weather related risks

16.3     Resolved – that the Committee: -

                     i.        Officially thanks Wilmot Dixon for its significant contribution to the Horsham Fire Station and Training Centre and for completing the project early

                    ii.        Asks the Fire & Rescue Service to continue to consider weather related risks in relation to its work

Extract from the Forward Plan dated 1 September 2023 – attached.

An extract from any Forward Plan relevant to the Committee’s portfolio published between the date of despatch of the agenda and the date of the meeting will be tabled at the meeting.

The Committee is asked to consider whether it wishes to enquire into any of the forthcoming decisions within its portfolio.

17.1     Resolved – that the Committee notes the Forward Plan of Key Decisions.

The Committee to review its draft work programme taking into consideration the checklist at Appendix A.

18.1     The Committee considered its draft Work Programme and made the following suggestions: -

·         To consider use of equipment/apparatus as part of the member session scheduled for February 2024

·         For the Chairman of the Committee to consult with the Chief Fire Officer on available budgets and work relating to flooding by the Fire and Rescue Service

·         For the retained firefighters item scheduled for the November 2023 meeting to consider work from a national perspective

18.2     Resolved – that the Committee agrees its draft Work Programme.

The next meeting of the Committee will be held on 30 November at 14.15 am at County Hall, Chichester.  Probable agenda items include:

·         Fire and Rescue Service Strategic Performance Report

·         Quarterly Performance and Resources Report

·         Recruitment of Retained Duty Staff

Any member wishing to place an item on the agenda for the meeting must notify the Director of Law and Assurance by 15 November 2023.

19.1     The next meeting of the Committee will take place on 30 November 2023 at 2.15pm.