STIRLING COUNCIL MINUTES of MEETING of the PUBLIC SAFETY SUB-COMMITTEE held in the WALLACE ROOM, OLD VIEWFORTH, STIRLING on TUESDAY 27 AUGUST 2013 at 11.00 am Present Councillor Martin EARL (Convener) Councillor Neil BENNY Councillor Corrie McCHORD (Substitute) Councillor Margaret BRISLEY Councillor Mike ROBBINS Councillor John HENDRY Councillor Jim THOMSON (Substitute) Councillor Graham LAMBIE In Attendance Jim Cattanach, Divisional Business Liaison Officer, Police Scotland Bruce Clayson, Solicitor, Governance & Resources Liz Duncan, Chief Governance Officer, Governance & Resources Chief Superintendent Davie Flynn, Local Police Commander, Police Scotland Chief Inspector Russell Penman, Area Commander, Police Scotland Gordon Pryde, Group Manager Prevention and Protection, Stirling and Clackmannanshire, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Kenny Rogers, Local Senior Officer, Scottish Fire & Rescue Service Cath Sutherland, Improvement Team Leader, Chief Executive’s Office Jean Houston, Committee Officer, Governance & Resources (Clerk) PU12 APOLOGIES AND SUBSTITUTIONS Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillor Danny Gibson and Councillor Fergus Wood. Councillor Corrie McChord attended as substitute for Councillor Gibson and Councillor Jim Thomson attended as substitute for Councillor Wood. PU13 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST There were no declarations of interest. PU14 URGENT BUSINESS BROUGHT FORWARD BY THE CHAIR There were no items of urgent business. PU15 MINUTES – 14 MAY 2013 The Minutes of the Meeting held on 14 May 2013 were submitted for approval. Decision The Minutes of the Meeting held on 14 May 2013 were approved as an accurate record of the proceedings PU16 ACTION LOGS Members requested an initial presentation by Police on 2014 at the next meeting of the Sub-Committee with subsequent updates as available, and that the presentation and updates on 2014 also be reported to Community Planning & Regeneration Committee. Any other suggested topics for future meetings of the Sub-Committee would be conveyed to Jim Cattanach, Divisional Business Liaison Officer, Police Scotland. Chief Supt. Flynn extended an invitation to all Elected Members, who had not already done so, to visit the Larbert Hub and arrangements would be made for a co-ordinated visit. The Convener pointed out that a report by Council officers giving details of the methodology used in the assessment of the effectiveness of CCTV cameras was outstanding. This would be requested for the next meeting of the Sub-Committee. Decision The Sub-Committee noted the contents of the Action Logs submitted. (Reference: Report by Police Scotland, Forth Valley Division and Scottish Fire & Rescue, Stirling & Clackmannanshire LSO dated 5 August 2013, submitted). PU17 FIRE & RESCUE – CREWING IN STRATHFILLAN - UPDATE Kenny Rogers, Local Senior Officer, presented a report on a bespoke interim procedure that had been developed to maximise the mobilisation of the Tyndrum and Crianlarich crews, while maintaining the ability to ensure the safety of the public and fire crews. Across Scotland, the national policy stated that if a station was showing below 4 personnel available, the appliance was effectively considered to be unavailable for fire calls. Both Tyndrum and Crianlarich stations had low staffing levels at present and could be affected by this policy with both stations not being available for fire calls at the same time. In the past crews had mobilised with lower level of crews and came together with appliances at a call out. However, a bespoke procedure had been introduced now to enable the crews to be pooled on occasions when each was showing below 4 personnel individually, but with sufficient personnel combined, with personnel from both stations responding to one of the stations, depending on the location of the fire call-out. The combined crews would respond with one appliance, rather than mobilising with less than 4 personnel on individual appliances. In the event of a major incident requiring more than one appliance, another station in the surrounding area, depending on the locality of the incident, would send an appliance. The Local Service Officer was content that the level of service in the area would be maintained. It was anticipated that this procedure would only be implemented infrequently, and no such occasion had arisen since the last meeting of the Sub-Committee in May. In the meantime, Scottish Fire & Rescue Service was undertaking a recruitment drive in the Strathfillan area to increase the personnel available at both stations. The interim procedure would be reviewed on an ongoing basis, but formally on 30 September, and this review would be reported to the next meeting of the Sub- Committee in October. Decision The Sub-Committee noted: 1. the contents of the report; and 2. that a further report would be provided to the next meeting of the Sub- Committee detailing the results of the interim procedure review. (Reference: Report by Scottish Fire & Rescue Service, Stirling & Clackmannanshire LSO, dated 19 August 2013, submitted). PU18 FIRE SERVICE STRUCTURE Kenny Rogers, Local Senior Officer, gave a presentation on the structure of Scottish Fire & Rescue Service (SFRS), as a result of the establishment of SFRS on 1 April 2013. This presentation set out the main purpose, strategic aims and national structure of SFRS, and gave greater detail on the Stirling/Clackmannanshire LSO Area Management. The LSO provided details of the priorities for the Stirling area and stated that the SFRS aimed to actively raise its profile in communities by attending meetings, extending the range of literature available to the public, and via community newspapers. In addition, a National Road Safety Strategy for SFRS was being produced. Members requested presentations on ongoing Road Safety initiatives at future meetings. Chief Supt. Flynn advised that Police Scotland were the lead agency on such initiatives and agreed that a presentation would be made. The Local Senior Officer extended an invitation to Members to visit Stirling Fire Station to look at training facilities and meet with crews. Decision The Sub-Committee noted the contents of the presentation. (Reference: Presentation by Scottish Fire & Rescue Service, Stirling & Clackmannanshire LSO) PU19 SCOTTISH FIRE & RESCUE SERVICES STRATEGIC PLAN 2013-2016: WORKING TOGETHER FOR A SAFER SCOTLAND - CONSULTATION The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) had set out its first Strategic Plan for the period 2013-2016 within the wider context of the Scottish Government’s Fire and Rescue Framework for Scotland. The Framework provided the strategic priorities for the service which, in the context of continuous improvement and best value and in addition to areas of operational activity, focussed on partnership working; national risk management; specialist rescue; new arrangements for local scrutiny and engagement; and equality and diversity. The service was consulting widely on the content of the Strategic Plan, seeking views on vision, values and strategic aims. The consultation would last until 31 August and links to the online Summary Plan, full Strategic Plan and consultation form were provided at paragraph 3.16 of the report. The Strategic Plan reflected the primary statutory duty of the service to protect communities through fire prevention but had a strong focus on partnership working in local areas; prevention; and implementing public sector change. Targets had been agreed to reflect the range of activities undertaken by the service. The Improvement Team Leader had co-ordinated comments on the Strategic Plan and Sub-Committee Members agreed these comments should be included in the response to the Consultation. Decision The Sub-Committee:- 1. noted the contents of the Fire and Rescue Service Strategic Plan for 2013–2016; and 2. agreed comments to be included in the Council’s response to the Consultation. (Reference: Report by Chief Executive dated 14 August 2013, submitted). PU20 SCOTTISH FIRE & RESCUE SERVICE: QUARTERLY PERFORMANCE REPORT This performance report provided information on prevention, protection and operational response activities within the Stirling area over the first quarter of 2013/14. Within the Local Fire & Rescue Plan 2013-14 for Stirling, five objectives had been identified for the local Fire and Rescue Service to work towards. These were: 1: Reduction of Accidental Dwelling Fires 2: Reduction of Deliberate Fires 3: Reduction of Fires in Non- Domestic Properties 4: Reduction in False Alarm Calls 5: Reduction in Road Traffic Collisions (RTCs) The report provided an overview of incident activity for each objective, with a comparison against the same period the previous year; the context relating to these incidents; and action taken. It also set out information on preventative activities, community engagement and a home safety visit programme. The Local Service Officer confirmed that future reports could provide more detail, if requested, and measure trend analysis as well as activity. Decision The Sub-Committee noted the contents of the Fire and Rescue Service Quarterly Performance Report. (Reference: Report by Head of Governance & Resources dated 19 August 2013, submitted). PU21 POLICE PERFORMANCE REPORT FOR STIRLING AREA COMMAND APRIL- JUNE 2013 Chief Supt. Flynn presented the report which highlighted matters in the Area Command such as emerging trends and threats and particular successes and difficulties. The Stirling Policing Performance Scrutiny Report contained current information on performance