Agenda item

(i) Update on Service and Operation Matters

(ii) Performance Report. (Copy attached.)

(iii) Local Plan Performance Report. (Copy attached.)

(iv) Prevention & Protection Activities, Quarter 1. (Copy attached.)

LSO Hilary Sangster

3.1         There had been circulated copies of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service performance report 1 April 2022 to 30 June 2022. Area Commander Hilary Sangster was joined by Group Commander Keith Langley, and Group Commander David Girrity.  The Strategic Plan was proceeding for approval, and would initiate the local fire plan. 

3.2         Group Commander Keith Langley presented the report and provided context to the key figures contained within.  Mr Langley explained that the region was served by 13 on call stations and two whole time stations.  The majority of the regions firefighters within the Borders worked within the on call duty system, who worked to protect their local and surrounding communities.  A local recruitment team had been created, and had focused efforts on areas which were most in need.  Recruitment and retention of on call firefighters remained a huge challenge, but was being managed in an effective manner on a local basis. 

3.3         Group Commander Keith Langley presented the report and provided context to the key figures contained within. SFRS had responded to 413 incidents in the Scottish Borders during the reporting period. This included 18 accidental dwelling fires, 49 accidental fires and 82 special service incidents. This was an increase of 48 incidents compared to the same period last year although it had to be borne in mind the pandemic and lockdowns had affected reporting figures. False alarms accounted for 56% emergency calls. The change to UFAS response, planned for April 2023, was expected to drive down the number of false alarm that crews attended and create time and opportunity for more training and community safety initiatives.  SFRS measured how well its priorities were met using 6 key indicators: all deliberate primary fires; all fire casualties; all deliberate fires excluding dwellings; special service: road traffic collisions; special service casualties - all; and false alarms. The report indicated that all deliberate primary fires and road traffic collisions were rated as red on the Red, Amber, Green rating scale.  Fire casualties and special service casualties were rated as green.  False alarms had been rated as yellow. Group Commander Langley highlighted that whilst those statistics appeared to be negative, the overall situation when compared to nationwide statistics ranged from good to average.  Regarding dwelling fires, which had increased to 18 compared to 15 to the same period last year, work was ongoing to educate the public regarding fire safety within the home.  Cooking appliances had accounted for 7 of the dwelling fires.  11 of the 18 premises had a working fire alarm, and a single point of detection alarm was offered to those who did not have one.  Scottish Fire and Rescue Service had attended 14 Road Traffic Collisions (RTC) in the reporting period, which was up from 7 in the corresponding reporting period in the previous year.  The volume of traffic had increased compared to the corresponding period in the previous year as a result of lessened restrictions resulting from Covid-19.   Regarding unwanted fire alarms, Group Commander Langley explained that there had been 121 fire calls classified as UFAs during the reporting period.  44 of the calls were due to false alarms with good intent, 47 were malicious calls and 17 were caused by human behaviour.   Work was ongoing with the TD1 Youth Hub in Galashiels to ensure that the water safety was highlighted to young people in the area. SFRS worked as a preventative organisation, and it was hoped that the prevention team would be effective in ensuring that people were aware of the dangers presented by water.

3.4         The Chair thanked SFRS for their full and detailed report, highlighted that their work had been flexible and stressed that everyone in the region had a role to play in ensuring safety.  Members highlighted the excellent work that SFRS undertook following traumatic incidents, and Area Commander Sangster highlighted that support mechanisms were in place to ensure that teams which responded to incidents were fully supported, with mental health strategies and training place.  Ms Smail highlighted that SFRS did an excellent job working with people of all ages in the area. 

DECISION

AGREED to note the Report.