1.

ATTENDANCE

Cllr Robin McIntosh (RM)

Group Manager Rod Hammerton (RH)

Cllr Keith Chapman (KC)

APOLOGIES:

Area Manager Mark Rayner

Cllr Cartwright

2.

MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING

2.1

Approved

3.

MATTERS ARISING

3.1

None

4.

HOME FIRE SAFETY VISIT UPDATE

4.1

RH briefed the meeting that despite some logistical problems Stage I of the Retained Duty System was well underway. There was recognition that incorporating Beaulieu was not in line with the strategy in that there was a low number of homes on that Station Ground but it was explained it was a valid trial of full coverage over 3 years utilising existing resources.

4.2

RH briefed the meeting on the forthcoming plan to improve the targeting of resources to those who are more vulnerable and at higher risk from fire. It was recognised this might raise concern from those who had considered the provision of HFSVs to be a universal service but it was agreed this was the original impetus of the initiative and should be returned to.

RH explained that this re-focus will also assist with the current problem of excessive waiting times between referral and delivery.

4.3

The fact that the central grant to support the Home Fire Risk Check (HFSV in HFRS) was to be redirected into the Local Area Agreement Grants was discussed. KC and RM raised concerns that the scale of operation and direction should be reviewed in light of this potential reduction in funding. The question was asked "could the current scale of operations be carried on without raising rates?".

4.4

RM and KC raised the issue of what will take place after 2010. It was recognised that there would always be a market (need) for HFSVs as new home owners and families come about. It was recognised that a review of the effectiveness of the RDS roll out would be needed to inform this debate. Decisions needed to be made about issues such as battery replacement and re-inspection programmes.

5

BEST VALUE INDICATORS

5.1

It was agreed that because data on fire deaths and injuries is very small it would be worth carrying out an analysis of the deaths in Hampshire over the last 10 years in an endeavour to find some meaningful information with direct relevance to Hampshire.

6

ROAD SAFETY

6.1

RH described the early shape of HFRS' Road Safety strategy:

Corporate Level -

Set Corporate Aims

Functional Level -

1) Implement programme of large scale education events targeting new drivers as part of the Hampshire Safer Roads Partnership

2) Incorporate Road Safety messages into Key Stage 2 and 3 delivery programme.

3) Produce support resources for Group/local activities

Local Level -

Group Managers assure representation on the local Road Safety Councils to work with partners to identify problems and potential solutions.

7

ANY OTHER BUSINESS

7.1

None

8

DATE OF NEXT MEETING

8.1

It was recognised that the attendance at this meeting had been poor over the last year. It was also recognised this was probably due to Members heavy commitments and busy calendars. Therefore it was agreed that for January 2007's meeting a short list of possible dates would be distributed to all members and a date set that would allow maximum attendance.