Archived decisions

Hampshire Fire and Rescue Authority Item

Fire Authority Progress Report

15/03/20054 June 2008

The Fire and Rescue Plan 2008-2011: update on objective 10 - `Relocating

our resources in Portsmouth'

Contact: Mick Crennell 02380 644000 ext 720206 - [email protected]

1

Summary

1.1

In February 2008 the Hampshire Fire and Rescue Authority (HFRA) ratified the Integrated Risk Management Plan (IRMP) proposal for Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service (HFRS) to permanently re-locate its resources within Portsmouth to two strategic locations to the north and south of the city and to establish a Community Contact Point (CCP) within the central Portsmouth area.

1.2

The final determination of location, times of operation and delivery method will be identified through analysis of the highest community risk in the existing Copnor Station Ground.

1.3

This paper considers the concept of the CCP, indicates potential options and the next steps, as well as providing an update in terms of progress to date.

2

RecommendationsError! Bookmark not defined.

2.1

To note the progress being made in relation to the development of the Community Contact Point in support of the Fire and Rescue Services Plan 2008 - 2011, "Objective 10, Relocating our resources in Portsmouth."

2.2

To note the next steps and direction of travel that are necessary so as to ensure that the implementation of the Community Contact Point in Portsmouth is a successful addition to our community risk reduction strategy in the city.

3

Introduction Error! Bookmark not defined.and Background

3.1

A mandate exists (within the Fire and Rescue Service Plan 2008 - 2011) for the permanent relocation of resources from Copnor Fire Station and to establish a CCP in the area of greatest risk within the central Portsmouth area. The Buckland area has been identified as the most appropriate location as a result of findings from emergency call statistical analysis, although it is accepted that this may change over time as community risk adjusts with its associated demographics.

3.2

The vision and ethos of the CCP is to provide a public-facing central hub for community safety delivery and community risk reduction for the city of Portsmouth. The CCP will generate a wide variety of community safety activities and events that will be delivered by dedicated community safety specialists as well as operational crews from Cosham and Southsea Fire Stations. The CCP will be tasked to generate sufficient community safety initiative referrals to effectively employ an appliance and crew into the vicinity of the Copnor and Buckland area for the delivery of community safety priorities. It is considered that risk has both temporal and geographical dimensions and as such the CCP and its associated risk reduction activities will be conducted at identified key times of the day according to need and the risk profile of the area. These resources will be available to provide an operational emergency response whenever necessary. The aim is that the CCP will be in operation by October 2008 so that a natural migration of community safety and risk reduction responsibilities from Copnor Fire Station will coincide with the permanent relocation of operational resources within Portsmouth.

3.3

The terms of reference of the CCP will be to provide:

3.3.1

A mechanism for the generation, co-ordination and delivery of: home fire safety visits; road safety initiatives; youth activities and support, community engagement activities; community partnership liaison; environmental visual audits; business education

3.3.2

A community access point for general community safety advice, community fire safety advice and technical fire safety surgery/advice

3.3.3

A mechanism for the delivery of the Portsmouth Group Plan hence supporting the Fire and Rescue Service Plan 2008 - 2011

3.3.4

A centre for outreach working and recruitment and selection advice

3.3.5

A jointly shared facility for other partners such as City Council community wardens and voluntary groups engaged in community activities. These partners will provide an additional stream of potential referral generation to inform our Community Safety priorities in the area.

3.4

Initial considerations relating to the development of the CCP have centred around three potential locations as well as a mobile solution:

3.4.1

A "Shop Front" facility within the Buckland area.

3.4.2

A suitable Community Centre in the Buckland area.

3.4.3

A suitable school within the Buckland area.

3.4.4

A mobile CCP that can be parked in areas of high risk and/or where an incident with significant impact has taken place.

3.5

These options would naturally become subject to review in the future as the dynamics of risk and population adjust over time with demographic changes.

3.6

It is considered that an enhanced community benefit can be derived from each of the above options in terms of community and full partnership engagement and local place-shaping in order to make community life safer.

3.7

Members should be aware that the Leader of Portsmouth City Council has put forward a suggestion that we develop instead a smaller, one-pump continuously-crewed, fire station on the existing Copnor site. This has been considered, but clearly it would not be in accordance with the Authority's decision to deploy resources, at key times of day, closer to the highest risk areas within the current Copnor Station ground.

4

Contribution to Corporate Aims and Objectives

4.1

The CCP will effectively be the mechanism for the generation and delivery of community-based activities in support of all aspects of community safety and risk reduction. It will serve to play an important integrative part in supporting and delivering the Portsmouth Group Plan (2008/09) which is designed to underpin the Fire and Rescue Service Plan 2008 - 2011.

4.2

The content of the current Copnor Fire Station plan (2008/09) further underpins the wider HFRS planning mechanism and will continue to be successfully delivered by a combination of the outputs and outcomes from the Community Contact Point as well as Cosham and Southsea Fire Stations from October 2008.

4.3

HFRS has some previous experience of utilising community contact facilities such as at Popley Fields and this provides us with a wealth of useful information. The CCP concept is different, and a new innovative and exciting opportunity exists to work creatively in the reduction of risk to our community. We will use our experiences from other initiatives which will further provide useful information to inform similar solutions to embedding community safety delivery outlets into communities across the County.

4.4

The Portsmouth Group will continue to work hard in delivering its ambitious and stretching targets in relation to the Local Area Agreement and will maintain its commitment to delivering 3,600 Home Fire Safety Visits (HFSV) to the people of Portsmouth this year. The CCP is seen as an integral part of generating referrals and co-ordinating HFSV activity within the central Portsmouth area.

4.5

Community safety activity has already been increased within the central Portsmouth area (by utilising our personnel reserve system) in anticipation of the Copnor Fire Station closure. This activity will continue and will enable us to exceed the stated outcomes in terms of HFSVs in Portsmouth to reduce community risk.

4.6

In terms of next steps, by October 2008 we will have conducted suitable and sufficient identification and analysis of the risk within Portsmouth, consulted with all relevant stakeholders to explore the excellent partnership opportunities that exist and secured the necessary resources to provide the CCP.

5

Risk Analysis

5.1

A full risk assessment will be conducted once a location has been established.

6

Resource Implications

6.1

Revenue funding released from the closure of Copnor Fire Station would be utilised for providing the CCP.

6.2

A combination of existing community risk reduction personnel and operational personnel will be utilised to provide the required staffing levels commensurate with the risk.

7

Equality Impact Assessment (EIA)

7.1

An EIA for this project has been conducted for this project and has not identified any problems.

7.2

The CCP will provide the facilities to enable access to all and the promotion of equality and diversity on all levels. Further, it could be utilised as an effective tool for targeting our recognised more difficult to reach minority groups in terms of community safety, technical fire safety, road safety and recruitment and selection.

8

Consultation

8.1

Informal staff consultation has been positive to date in terms of the raw concept and potential locations of the CCP.

8.2

Staff, our partners and representative bodies will be fully consulted during the actual development and implementation phases.

9

Conclusion

9.1

The CCP will provide an integrated central hub for community safety for Portsmouth and provide a public access point for local residents. This will serve to pro-actively assist in the effective delivery of the Fire and Rescue Service Plan 2008 - 2011 in reducing community risk and making life safer for our communities.

Background Information (Section 100D of Local Government Act 1972)

The following documents disclose the facts or matters on which this report, or an important part of it, is based and has been relied upon to a material extent in the preparation of the report:

· HFRA - The Fire and Rescue Service Plan 2008 - 2011

· The Portsmouth Group Plan (2008/09)

· The Copnor Fire Station Plan (2008/09)

Note: The list excludes: (1) published works; and (2) documents that disclose exempt or confidential information defined in the Act.