Archived decisions

1

Summary

1.1

The Community Contact Point (CCP) in Portsmouth has been in operation for six months and has successfully provided a central hub for community risk reduction in Portsmouth. The dedicated team of community safety specialists have provided an excellent facility for the public and have assisted in improving public safety. Visitor numbers have been within anticipated limits but have not been at a level considered necessary to satisfy community needs and impact sufficiently on difficult to reach groups.

1.2

As was planned, this facility now needs to become mobile to derive the maximum benefit within the community and drive down community risk further.

1.3

This report reflects the outcomes of a Performance Improvement Network (PIN) model evaluation of the CCP after six months of operation, provides conclusions and information of next steps.

2

Recommendations

2.1

That the Performance Review and Scrutiny Committee note the content of this evaluation report and the next steps for the project.

3

Introduction and background

3.1

In October 2008, a Community Contact Point (CCP) was established in Kingston Road, Portsmouth. This was co-ordinated with the relocation of our resources within Portsmouth in line with the corporate objective identified within the `Fire and Rescue Service Plan 2008/11'.

3.2

The CCP comprises two key elements:

1. A public-facing central hub for community safety and community risk reduction for the city of Portsmouth. Opened on 26^th November 2008. Open Monday to Saturday 9am to 5pm.

2. An operational response resorting point. Opened 1st October 2008 and operates from 2pm to 9pm daily.

3.3

The aim of the CCP is to generate a wide variety of community safety activities and events to reduce community risk within the central Portsmouth area. To deliver these activities a dedicated community safety team is based from the CCP. This team includes, a CCP Manager, Community Link Officer (CLO), Youth Support Officer (YSO), Community Fire Reduction Warden (CFRW). In addition to this, operational personnel and a protection officer are detached to the CCP on a daily basis.

3.4

As an operational resorting point, a fire engine is located within the central Portsmouth area seven days a week between 2pm and 9pm. This resource delivers risk reduction activities and is available to provide an operational emergency response whenever necessary.

3.5

This facility has been in operation for six months and an evaluation has been conducted utilising the Performance Improvement Network model to evaluate the outcomes of the project and make recommendations to the project team for future improvement.

4

Evaluation Conclusions

4.1

Reducing risk within central Portsmouth

The risk within central Portsmouth measured by the number of emergency incidents attended has not significantly changed during the 6 months. This is to be expected, many of the community safety initiatives will take time to show positive outcomes.

4.2

Providing a community access point for general and specialist community safety advice from members of the community and local businesses

Although the public are visiting the CCP, they are not doing so in large numbers. However, more people have visited the CCP than would have been expected to contact local fire stations. The fact that it is a static CCP means that we do not have the opportunity to go to them. Personnel are required to remain in the CCP to ensure it is open if the public wants to visit. A mobile CCP would mean that it could move to the areas of greatest risk (and therefore need) where the public are, and actively seek engagement with them. Other fire and rescue services have successfully implemented mobile CCP's such as Cheshire, Lancashire and Royal Berkshire.

4.3

Generation, co-ordination and delivery of community safety initiatives

A range of initiatives were being carried out in central Portsmouth prior to the CCP being established. The number of activities has not significantly increased as a result of the CCP, but the delivery has certainly improved due to co-location of the core staff. Significant numbers of targeted home safety visits have been conducted within central Portsmouth.

4.4

A jointly shared facility for other partners and voluntary groups engaged in community activities

There has been some use by partners and other community groups, and this is improving with time. Community wardens, Police Community Support Officers and the local Police utilise the CCP as a drop-in centre.

4.5

A centre for outreach working and recruitment and selection advice

Only six people have visited the CCP to enquire about recruitment and selection for the Fire Service.

4.6

Operational response resorting point

Our attendance times are marginally quicker during the period we have an appliance within central Portsmouth. However outside this period we are still well within our target for attendance and we currently have an average for meeting 8/80 on 87% of occasions.

· HFRS have attended 291 emergency calls within central Portsmouth.

· 134 (46%) calls were between 2pm and 9pm. The average attendance time in this period was 5.68 minutes.

· 157 (54%) calls were between 9pm and 2pm. The average attendance time in this period was 6.25 minutes (mainly from Southsea Fire Station).

4.7

By having an appliance in central Portsmouth each day, affects and limits the delivery of community safety initiatives in other areas of the city as well as impacting on watch-based training.

4.8

The provision of greater flexibility when the appliance operates in conjunction with a mobile CCP would enhance community safety in Portsmouth as a whole, and enable the station to target specific areas as identified by risk profiling. Additionally watch-based training opportunities would enhance team working and assist in improving fire-fighter core competencies.

5

Contribution to corporate aims and objectives

5.1

The CCP was developed directly to assist in the delivery of the corporate objective to `Relocate Our Resources within Portsmouth' within the Fire and Rescue Service Plan 2008/11.

6

Risk Analysis

6.1

No risks have been identified during the evaluation of the CCP.

7

Resource Implications

7.1

Human Resources

None

7.2

Physical Resources

None

7.3

Information and Communications Technology Resources

None

7.4

Financial Implications

None

8

Equality Impact Assessment

8.1

A full People Impact Assessment was conducted during the development of the CCP. No negative impacts were identified.

8.2

The proposals within this report are considered compatible with the provisions of the European Convention on Human Rights, the Human Rights Act 1998, and the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000.

9

Consultation

9.1

Full formal internal and external consultation was undertaken during the development of the corporate objectives for the Fire and Rescue Service Plan 2008/11.

10

Conclusion

10.1

The CCP has largely achieved its' intended outcomes of providing a central hub for community risk reduction within the area of greatest operational activity within Portsmouth. When measuring emergency call numbers and operational activity it is too early to say whether community risk has been reduced as a result of the implementation of the CCP.

10.2

We are achieving an 8 minute attendance time on 87% of occasions in the central Portsmouth area. People from the community are visiting the CCP but not in great numbers. It is considered that we would have more success if we go to the people rather than wait for the public to come to us. Therefore, the next phase of the project will roll out from November 09 whereby a mobile unit with a dedicated team of community safety specialists would enable us to be both re-active as community risk changes and pro-active in terms of utilising risk intelligence to reduce community risk and increase public safety.

11

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

11.1

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:

The Fire and Rescue Service Plan 2008/11

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