Scottish Borders Council

Agenda item

Progress Reports/Updates on Service Matters - Scottish Fire & Rescue Service

Update on Service Matters

Newbridge Training Project (report attached)

Performance Report (copy attached)

LSO Stephen Gourlay

Minutes:

There had been circulated copies of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Services (SFRS) Local Plan Performance Report.  Local Senior Officer (LSO) Gourlay began his report by advising that Ash Denham MSP had recently been appointed Minster for Community Safety.   He further advised that the SFRS Chief Officer would be retiring in March 2019; recruitment to the post was underway and was at the short list stage.  Regarding the SFRS transformation programme, national negotiations were ongoing and it was hoped would allow for the reinstatement of the Out of Hour’s Cardiac Arrest scheme and the expansion of the Falls in the Home project - successfully piloted in the Cheviot area.   As part of the transformation, he had bid for two rural full time Watch Managers posts.  These posts would be based in Duns and Peebles and would cover a cluster of fire stations.   

 

5.2       Newbridge Training Project

            With reference to paragraph 7.10(d) of the minute of the 22 June, there had been circulated a report on the Newbridge Training Project. The report detailed the planned facilities, including road traffic collision, urban search and rescue and petrochemical training areas.    LSO Gourlay advised that the project was scheduled for completion and handover in March 2019.  He extended an invitation to the Board for a tour of the facility, following the partial handover in December.  In response to a question he advised that it would be possible for collaboration with other agencies for joint training, when appropriate.

 

5.3       Group Manager Jaffray then presented the SFRS Local Plan Performance Report for the period 1 April 2018 to 30 June 2018, copies of which had been circulated with the Agenda.  In summary, Group Manager Jaffray explained:-

 

5.4       Reduction of ‘Dwelling Fires’- There had been an increase from 19 to 24 dwelling fires recorded for the same period last year.  All, apart from one were minor.   The causes were smoking, cooking and electrical faults, with two deliberate.

 

5.5       Reduction of ‘All Fire Casualties’ – There had been five casualties all of which had suffered slight smoke inhalation to varying degrees.

 

5.6       Reduction of ‘All Deliberate Fires Excluding Dwellings’ – There were 45 deliberate fires, a reduction of 23 from the same period last year. This trend was well below the rest of Scotland highlighting the importance of prevention activities and the positive work being carried out by local area liaison officers

           

5.7       Reduction of ‘Special Service – RTCs’ – There had been 16 RTCs, five less than last year.  Four occasions required the use of hydraulic rescue equipment. 

 

5.8       Reduction of ‘Special Service Casualties’ – There had been 19 casualties a reduction of four from last year.  Group Manager Jaffray highlighted that four of the incidents were affecting entry for emergency medical response and persons who had fallen in the home. 

           

5.9       Reduction of ‘False Alarm – Equipment Failure’ – There had been 235 false alarm signals (UFAS) 64 were of good intent with 11 of a malicious nature.

 

5.10     In response to a question Group Manager Jaffray advised that with regard to fires in disused properties, there was no trend.   As part of the SFRS thematic action plan they proactively targeted derelict properties and engaged with owners and partners to make such properties secure.  Fires in derelict properties posed a risk, not only to the person starting the fire but to fire officers, as structures in derelict building were often unsafe.   With regard to youth engagement, Group Manager Jaffray explained that youth engagement work such as TD1 and work with Peebles High School had been positive.  Through national forums they were sharing the best practice from these initiatives.  

 

5.11     Group Manager Girrity then went on to advise on Prevention and Protection Activities, a copy of a report from the Quarter 1 April 2018 to 30 June 2018 had been circulated with the agenda.  GM Girrity explained that the report showed that Home Fire Safety Visits were below target.  He explained that the SFRS were now focusing on highest risk households which would ensure that resources were used with greatest effect.  An update on progress would be given at a future Board meeting.   GM Girrity went on to discuss SFRS road safety prevention activities and highlighted the successful road safety event delivered at Hawick Fire Station which it was intended to roll out to other areas.   GM Girrity concluded his report by referring to UFAS.  He explained that this issue did not just affect the Scottish Borders but was UK wide.  All local authorities and the NHS had been advised of the burden UFAS caused to the SFRS.  SBC’s Director of Education was engaging with the SFRS to consider ways to reduce the number of UFAS.   Predominaly, UFAS were due to equipment failure and the SFRS were suggesting a call filtering system which would negate the need for the fire service to initially attend.  The alarm would still be activated in schools and they would be evacuated.   GM Girrity reassured the Board that the fire service would be mobilised following a 999 call or when more than one fire detector had been activated at a premises. In response to questions, GM Girrity advised that they were adopting a staged approach to UFAS, schools being the initial focus.  However, they would be looking at a range of UFAS offenders going forward.   Regarding UFAS in hospitals, LSO Gourlay advised that an initiative introduced by NHS Lothian had been successful in reducing UFAS.  The SFRS would be considering introducing the initiative to NHS Borders, although the number of UFAS was in the minority.

           

            DECISION

            NOTED

            (a)        the report, and

            (b)       an update on the transformation programme would be presented at the next            meeting

 

Supporting documents:

 

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