Agenda item

Performance Report (copy attached)

Update on Service Matters

Presentation on Draft Community Fire and Rescue Plan for the Scottish Borders 2017-2020.   (Copy attached).

LSO Stephen Gourlay

The Chair congratulated Stephen Gourlay on his new LSO role for the Scottish Borders, Mid and East Lothian. He also wished David Farries, the former LSO, all the best with his promotion to Deputy Assistant Chief Officer for the North of Scotland.

           Group Manager Girrity presented the SFRS Performance Report covering the period 1 April to 30 September 2017, copies of which had been circulated with the Agenda.  In summary the report, detailed that during the period the SFRS had responded to 817 incidents, 34 more than the same reporting period last year.  False alarms accounted for 58% of these emergency calls.  

5.2       Priority 1 - Reduction of Dwelling Fires.  There had been 42 dwelling fires recorded compared to 46 for the same period last year, this represented a slight, but positive decrease.  Six of these fires were started deliberately and 22 had originated in the kitchen and involved adults 18-64 years old.    

5.3       Priority 2 - Reduction of All Fire Casualties (Fatal and Non-Fatal).   There had been eight fire related casualties during the reporting period, five less than the same period last year.  There were no Fire Fatalities during the reporting period.

5.4       Priority 3 – Deliberate Fire Setting.  There were 110 incidents in the period; this represented a significant increase in the previous year.  37% of these incidents occurred in the Galashiels and District Ward.   The incident at Balmoral Primary School was discussed, this situation could have been much worse if the Fire and Rescue Service had not intervened as quickly as they had.  A 14 year old male had since been identified and subsequently charged. Initiatives with Safer Communities partners were ongoing to mitigate the risk of reoccurrence; the SFRS were also utilising social media to highlight the dangers of antisocial behaviour. 

5.5       Priority 4 – Road Traffic Collisions.  During the reporting period the SFRS attended 37 Road Traffic Collision, 13 less than the same reporting period last year.  There had been

            242 related casualties and three fatalities.     

5.6       Priority 5 – Special Service Casualties. There had been 45 Special Service casualties this was a 46% decrease in the same period last year.

5.7       Priority 6 – Unwanted Fire Alarm Signals.  There had been 478 false alarm incidents during the reporting period.  Equipment failure accounted for 321 of these incidents with 141 and 16 the figures for good intent and maliciousness respectively.   Fire Safety Enforcement Officers were working with premises to reduce further incidents.   

            In response to a question, the Board were informed that it was predominantly equipment failure within educational establishments which caused false alarm incidents. More resources were being allocated towards reducing such incidents and an audit of all high risk premises was being undertaken.  There had also been a pilot initiative in Jedburgh Primary School which it was hoped would be taken forward to each school. The Board discussed the issue and asked for further clarity to be presented at the next meeting in order that concerns could be raised with the Council’s Education Department.

5.8       Group Manage Girrity concluded his report by highlighting the SFRS’s performance on fire safety audits, home safety visits and spoke about the range of partnership working including youth engagement fire skills programmes and attending the monthly Multi Agency Risk Conference (MARAC).  In addition to MARAC outcomes it was noted that the Community Action Team had facilitated a further 10 referrals from the Domestic Abuse Advocacy Service in partnership with the Safer Housing options worker for the Scottish Borders.

5.9       In discussion, the Board were advised that with regard to fires in derelict buildings, legally, the SFRS covered risk in occupied premises.  However, they continued to engage with the Safer Communities team regarding unoccupied premises.   Regarding the sale of fireworks, the SFRS considered that they should not be sold through retail outlets.  With regard to difficulty in the recruitment of retained firefighters, the new national recruitment system had made a difference, promoting within communities was suggested and that SBC’s Connect publication might be appropriate for a recruitment advertisement.

            DECISION:-

(a)        AGREED to request further information on the causes of unwanted fire alarm signals in educational establishments.

(b)       NOTED that Scottish Borders Connect publication be considered for recruitment of retained firefighters.

NOTE: Councillor Robson declared an interest during the discussion of the above report but did not leave the meeting.

            ADJOURNMENT

            The meeting was adjourned from 11.10 to 11.20.