Agenda item

The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, Communities which informed members of the outcomes from the consultation that Cheshire Fire Service had undertaken last year, the proposals that had been set out in the draft Fire Authority Making Cheshire Safer – Integrated Risk Management Plan 2013-14. The consultation document had been reported to the Safer Policy and Performance Board at their meeting in November 2012.

The Board was advised that the Outcomes for Halton in the now approved Integrated Risk Management Plan 13/14 were as follows:-

·       Widnes - remove the second fire engine and provide additional cover from the new Whole time station at Penketh; and

·       Runcorn - change how the second fire engine was crewed from Whole time to On-call (24/7).

          The Board was further advised that the outcomes of the consultation for the each of the other Cheshire areas were set out in the summary document attached as Appendix 1 to the report.

The following comments arose from the discussion:-

·       Clarity was sought on the cost of the new build at Penketh and when it would be operational.  In response, it was reported that capital funding had been secured and a plot of land had been identified in Penketh for the location of the station.  Consultation was taking place to secure the land and subject to planning permission, it was anticipated that in the near future recruitment for the on call at Penketh would commence and the new build was hoped could be completed by April 2014.  However, it was highlighted that planning applications could result in a delay.  It was also reported that if the plot of land became unviable as an option a temporary accommodation in Penketh could be installed i.e an inflatable garage for the engine.  It was emphasised that the pump at Widnes would not be removed unitl the Penketh site was operational;

·       The Members requested that an update report be presented to the Board on a regular basis regarding all changes within Halton and when the Penketh site was operational the Board review its progress on a six month basis;

·       The Board noted the update on the Runcorn station; that it would remain the same with one fire engine full time; recruitment for 15 on call staff who had to live within five minutes of the station had commenced; there had been 120 expressions of interest of which 28 had been assessed and interviewed and if successful would be appointed and the jobs had been offered to the full time fire fighters of which ten had accepted the position; and

·       It was noted that it could take two years to for an on call crew to be in a position to stand alone.

RESOLVED: That

(1)        the report and comments raised be noted;

(2)        Alex Waller be thanked for his informative verbal presentation;

(3)        the Board be presented with a regular update report on the progress in Halton; and

(4)        when the Penketh site was operational, the Board review the progress on a six monthly basis.