Agenda item

Updates from:-

(a)      Chief Supt. Imery (Police); and

(b)      LSO Dickie (Fire & Rescue).

          (i)  Resources based within the Scottish Borders 2010 -14

          (ii)  Futures Projects.  (Copies attached.)

8.1       Police Scotland

Chief Supt Imery provided a verbal update to the Board. She referred to counter terrorism security both internationally and nationally since the last meeting of the Board and referred to events in Paris, Belgium and this week in Australia.   The threat assessment level remained at a severe attack being highly likely.   A meeting of the Scottish Police Authority was being undertaken today (Friday 13^th February 2015) on stop and search activities including the stop and search of children under 12 years of age which was high on the media agenda and that of politicians for obvious reasons.   She explained that there had been no searches of children under 12 years of age in the Scottish Borders.    Stop and Search incidents were recorded and 1,506 had been carried out from which 349 had been positive.   Police Officers did not have legal powers to stop and search for alcohol but alcohol if seen could be confiscated; there was a gap in the legislation which needed to be taken into account concerning young people and alcohol.  In discussing by- laws, Inspector Scott undertook to report on the current position within the Council to a future meeting.  It was perceived that members of the public were not confident in making 101 calls and it was agreed that Members visit the call centre at Bilston Glen to have the grading system and the allocation of calls explained to them.  Chief Supt Imery advised that Police numbers had not changed in the Scottish Borders or in the Division and gave reassurance that there was no intention to change that.  914 Officers were working in her Division.  Support staff and estates had been reduced since the formation of Police Scotland and further savings needed to be made and more co-location and shared services were being explored.   In discussing lay advisors Chief Supt. advised that she would bring back information on lay advisers to a future meeting.  

DECISION

(a)     NOTED the report.

(b)    AGREED that:

(i)      arrangements be made for Members of the Board to visit the  control centre at Bilston Glen;

(ii)     Inspector Scott would provide information to the next meeting of the Board in relation to by-laws in the Scottish Borders; and

(iii)    Chief Supt. Imery would provide information to the next meeting of the Board in relation to lay advisers.

Scottish Fire and Rescue Service

8.2       Resources Based within the Scottish Borders 2010-14

There had been circulated copies of a report by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service updating Members on resources based with the Scottish Borders area.  The report advised that the wholetime establishments at Hawick fire stations remained constant for the period 2010 -14.    Implementation of Resourced Based Crewing (RBC) at Galashiels had meant that from early November 2014 operational staff had reduced from 44 to 28.      Retained Duty System (RDS) establishment had remained constant however, it should be noted that this figure could vary slightly depending on a number of factors including staff turnover and recruitment difficulties. On occasion and where required the Service would over-establish RDS stations.  The Day Shift Duty System (DSDS) based at Duns fire station was discontinued during 2013 with staff being relocated to wholetime watches at Galashiels fire station. Staff at Galashiels acted as a flexible resource and when required were deployed to all Scottish Borders RDS stations in order to maintain fire cover to local communities.   Protection and Prevention staff numbers had increased in the Scottish Borders since Service Reform with 10 officers now responsible for carrying out fire safety engagement and enforcement activities throughout the area. The post of Local Authority Liaison Officer (LALO) was introduced in 2013; this was a Watch Manager who is embedded in the Safer Communities Unit at St Boswells. The amount of Training and Employee Development (TED) staff had also seen an increase in officers from 6 to 10; these officers supported the operational crews in all aspects of training and development with the primary aim of firefighter safety. The number of senior officers had increased with three officers responsible for station command at Duns, Gala and Hawick, a Group Manager oversaw these officers. The Service also introduced a Local Senior Officer as part of the reform process; this was an Area Manager who had strategic responsibility for Midlothian, East Lothian and the Scottish Borders. The provision of fire appliances throughout the Scottish Borders had not been affected by Service reform. This included the introduction of RBC at Galashiels fire station, which maintained the availability of the Incident Support Unit. The introduction of RBC had only changed the way the service staff the appliances based at Galashiels, both appliances were still available for deployment throughout the Scottish Borders 24/7.    In response to questions raised regarding the use of the High Volume Pump (HVP) LSO, Dickie stated that there was always a need to identify a place to pump flood water and this could often be difficult. Without a location to pump this water in reality the flooding would be transferred from one place to another. The HVP was not an immediate response appliance or on the pre-determined attendance for flooding.   It was worth noting that the HVP had never been utilised at a flooding incident in the Scottish Borders.

DECISION

NOTED.

8.3       Future Projects

There had been circulated copies of a briefing report on the Scottish Fire and Rescue Services future projects, which provided an awareness of key projects which the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) was undertaking in the short, medium and long term     Where relevant and appropriate, specific implications for the Scottish Borders area communities, partners and stakeholders had been included in the report.   The report explained that the creation of the SFRS, which replaced eight antecedent Fire and Rescue Services (FRSs), had provided an opportunity for the new service to review its legacy service delivery arrangements, working practices and all aspects of how an efficient emergency service was delivered to the whole of Scotland.   Whilst there were many drivers for change, the Police and Fire and Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 and the Scottish Governments, Fire and Rescue Framework for Scotland 2013 provided a legislative framework around how the SFRS designed and delivered its services.   As part of the ongoing journey that the SFRS was on in bringing together 8 legacy FRSs arrangements, a vast range of transformational and transactional projects and initiatives were currently being designed, developed and implemented which supported the SFRS Strategic Plan 2013-16 and the SFRSs annual Operational Plans.   In addition to delivering projects which supported the current Strategic Plan and the Operational Plan/s, the SFRS was currently looking into the future to develop projects and initiatives which would support future Strategic Plans and Operating Plans.   This ensured the Service was a forward thinking organisation which continued to deliver an efficient and effective emergency service fit for purpose, securing best value and delivering a world class fire and rescue service to all communities, partners and stakeholders across Scotland.   The report went on the cover (a) Senior Management Restructure, (b) Implications for the Scottish Borders Area; (c) Special Equipment/Appliance review, and (d) Implications for the Scottish Borders Area.   Concern was expressed about the implications for the Scottish Borders Area and of the problems of recruiting retained fire officers and was it not possible to recruit full time officers as there was dependence on retained fire officers this caused concern owing to budget restrictions and it was suggested  that consultation should have been carried out first.   LSO Dickie explained the consultation and engagement framework was not ready therefore it was not passed by the Board.   He further advised that the duty system for retained fire officers fluctuated occasionally because of those working away from home during day time but this was monitored to enable other resources to be deployed.   There were no changes to the profiles of retained stations.   An emergency cover review was ongoing at the movement looking at deployment of appliances throughout Scotland.  It was noted that emergency medical response was an excellent way forward with defibrillators in appliances making communities safer.    LSO Dickie advised this was his last meeting in his capacity as Temporary LSO although he realised that some of the information he had provided had been frustrating he thanked the Board for its welcome.   He would however, be attending the next meeting of the  Board to introduce the new Officer  The Chairman thanked LSO Dickie for all his work.   Members were satisfied with the format of the new report. 

DECISION

NOTED.