Agenda item

(a)   Update report detailing ongoing work and initiatives in the Cheviot Area.

(b)   Update on ‘Living Safely in the Home Project’.

FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICE UPDATE

8.       Mr Andrew Girrity, Station Manager explained that the purpose of the report circulated was to inform the Cheviot Area Forum on Scottish Fire and Rescue Service activity since the last meeting on 1 June 2016.  The report detailed that during the period of the report there had been 2 House Fires (1 x cooking related and 1 x electrical), Fire – Open 10, occurrence of Special Services 10 and 11 unwanted Fire Alarm Signals.  In relation to partnership working, The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS), Community Action Team (CAT) within the Scottish Borders core work centred on the on-going delivery of the SFRS Home Fire Safety Visit (HFSV) policy.  The team continued to expand its partnership working with the Key agencies including Police Scotland, Health, Social Care and Housing in order to focus on members of local communities at High Risk from fire and achieve outcomes in helping to reduce overall numbers of accidental dwelling fires. 

8.1     Fire preventionand protection activity over recent years had been key to reducing the number of fires, casualties and losses in Scotland thus minimising the economic and social impact of fire on communities.  The seasonal community safety calendar provided the catalyst for a number of initiatives and schemes throughout the calendar year.

8.2     Activity which was ongoing within the Cheviot Ward area included Scottish Fire and Rescue Service staffs in all local stations providing Home Fire Safety Visits all year round.  The visits provided the householder with a home visit, focussing on identifying and reducing the risks of fire in the home. Smoke detectors with a 10-year battery life were provided as part of this free service; Firesharp was an initiative for Primary 6 pupils, providing face-to-face education within local Primary schools on matters of fire risk and prevention; The SFRS Safeguarding Policy and Procedure for Protection of Children and Adults at Risk of Harm was implemented to link into adult and child protection. The introduction of the policy had created closer ties with Social Services within Scottish Borders and ensured those people and families that fire crews identify as at risk were brought to the attention of Social Services and had resulted in joint visits to homes to reduce risk to those occupiers.  A strong partnership was being developed with the local Domestic Abuse Advocacy Service and involvement in MARAC (Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conference).  The Local Authority Liaison Officer (LALO) and Scottish Borders Station Manager for Prevention and Protection were fully involved in all local MARAC processes, attending the monthly conferences and all steering group meetings. 

8.3       Road Safety Community Action Team (CAT) had delivered road safety awareness to secondary schools throughout the Scottish Borders with the support of the local whole time personnel from Galashiels and Hawick.  Fire Safety Audits provided a targeted examination of business premises and their relevant documents to ascertain how the premises were being managed regarding fire safety.  The enforcement officer also engaged with members of staff to confirm their level of fire safety awareness;  Unwanted Fire Signals were being addressed by phased intervention actions which identified premises which were producing ‘false alarms’, provided guidance on how to reduce a reoccurrence.  Crews were actively involved in the Summer Thematic Action Plan which were underway and focussed on Grass and Wildland fires, Rubbish and refuse fires and Outdoor fire safety.  Work continued with all partners in the Scottish Borders Council Safer Communities Team, as well as local partnerships, to promote preventative work.   The LALO was in post within Scottish Borders Council HQ in order to improve partnership working, with a particular focus on the elderly and more vulnerable members of society. The primary aims of the partnership activity were to help ensure the safety and welfare of vulnerable persons throughout the community, and to seek to reduce the overall numbers of accidental dwelling fires, fire casualties and fire fatalities in homes.  Fire stations in Kelso and Jedburgh were at full establishment.  In response to a question about fires at Hendersyde Horse Trials, Kelso and a Barn at Proctors Smithy, Kelso, Mr Girrity advised that he had not been briefed about the incidents and would forward the information to Councillors.          

DECISION

NOTED the report.

LIVING SAFELY IN THE HOME PROJECT

9.0     With reference to paragraph 6 of the Minute of 1 June 2016, Mr Girrity reported that  Living Safely in the Home was part of the Scottish Borders Community Planning Partnership Reducing Inequalities Strategy.  The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) and the Scottish Borders Safer Communities Team would lead jointly on the ‘Keeping People Safe’ theme.  Within this theme, it had been identified that older people were more likely to suffer an accident in the home resulting in an A&E admission to Hospital.  Recent figures indicated that 64% of emergency admissions for adults in the Scottish Borders were because of falls in the home. Further analysis showed that over 75% of these falls involved persons over 75 years of age. With an ageing population, this trend will only continue without increased prevention activities.  This pilot initiative was proving very successful and a number of direct referrals had been made in respect of elderly people and small aids provided since the launch in June 2016.

DECISION

NOTED the Update.