Agenda and minutes

Venue: Rennes Room, Civic Centre, Paris Street, Exeter

Contact: Howard Bassett, Democratic Services Officer (Committees)  01392 265107 or email  howard.bassett@exeter.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

26.

Apologies

Minutes:

These were received from Councillors Ackland, Atkinson, Pierce, Whitton and Williams.

 

 

27.

Minutes of the Meeting held on 20 June 2019 pdf icon PDF 63 KB

Minutes:

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 20 June 2019 be taken as read, approved and signed by the Chair as correct.

 

 

28.

Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service - Safer Together Public Consultation Member Discussion pdf icon PDF 74 KB

Please review the public information about the Service Delivery Operating Model proposals https://www.dsfire.gov.uk/SaferTogether as you will need this background information to contribute to this discussion which will result in a formal written response from the Exeter Strategic Board to Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service on their proposals”.

 

Information about the Service Delivery Operating Model proposals can be found at https://www.dsfire.gov.uk/SaferTogether

 

Minutes:

The Chair explained the consultation and the importance of responding as part of the Member roles on the Exeter Strategic Board. He confirmed that officials from both the Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Authority (DSFRA) and the Fire Brigade Union had been invited to attend the meeting but, there had been no representatives to attend. The consultation ended on 22September 2019, and the obligation was on the Exeter Strategic Board Members to determine their own conclusion and provide a response to the consultation.

 

County Councillor Hannaford explained that this would be the only opportunity for formal response to be provided from Exeter City Council and that Devon County Council had not made a formal response. He confirmed that both he and County Councillor Prowse would abstain from voting at this meeting, regarding the decision to respond, to avoid any form of predetermination.

 

Members commented on the way information had been presented from the Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Authority, notably, that not all the work undertaken, including flood response and dispatches as third responder, had been included in the information presented. Members discussed the issue of the Topsham station being designated as a low impact station, despite the service area it covered. It was felt that a further consultation process was necessary with more information provided. It was noted that the statistical information for the Topsham station, was inaccurate, and that a sign was placed at the station site, detailing the actual information, which had been left out of the consultation information. Members further commented on the lack of consideration for the proposed housing developments in the Exeter area in the consultation and that there was no mention of the issues relating to the pay and conditions of fire station staff.

 

It was considered that the information provided needed to be accurate and a true reflection of the situation, with alternative solutions provided. Additional information including information on callouts for life threatening injuries caused by incidents such as car accidents and data on injury’s, job losses and impacts from toxins and smoke released into the air, should also be included in the consultation information.  In its current form, Members could not support the consultation and agreed to write to the Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Authority. Based on the comments made by Members, the Chair moved that a written be made on behalf of the Exeter Strategic Board.

 

Members voted unanimously, in support of the proposal, with the exception of County Councillors Hannaford and Prowse, who abstained from voting, to write to the Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Authority (DSFRA) consultation. A copy of the letter is appended to the minutes.

 

RESOLVED that the Exeter Strategic Board calls upon Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Authority (DSFRA) members to reject in full the options proposed.

 

 

 

29.

Feedback from Member Representation on Multi Agency Groups pdf icon PDF 72 KB

 

(a)  Community Safety Partnership – Executive Group

 

Minutes of the meeting held on 3 July 2019.

 

Minutes:

Community Safety Partnership – Executive Group

 

The Board noted the minutes of the meeting held on 3 July 2019.

 

The Chair would request feedback from the Community Safety Partnership and requested discussion topics be submitted to him ahead of the next meeting.

 

 

30.

Dates of Future Meetings

Thursday 30 January 2020

Thursday 18 June 2020

Thursday 17 September 2020

 

 

Minutes:

The following dates of future Board meetings were noted, all commencing at 5.30pm in the Civic Centre.

 

Thursday 14 November 2019

Thursday 30 January 2020

Thursday 18 June 2020

Thursday 17 September 2020