Meeting documents

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor John Bell, Lynda Byrne and Lisa Walker.

To confirm the Minutes of the Meeting held on 17^th January 2013.

The Minutes of the Emergency Response Committee held on 17^th January 2013 were approved and signed by the Chairman.

There were no Declarations of Interest received.

There were no items of urgent business submitted.

Report of the County Fire Officer & Chief Executive

Consideration was given to a report of the County Fire Officer and Chief Executive which set out the current status and progress made against the Corporate Plan development goals for which the Emergency Response Directorate had responsibility in Quarter 3 2012/13.

It was reported that Councillors David Acton and John O’Brien had been nominated as Member Champions for Development Goal 20 - To provide new training facilities to improve real fire training for Firefighters and to also sit on the Management Board of this project.

In relation to Development Goal 10 – ‘Introduce appliances more suited to dealing with smaller incidents’ it was reported that Members would have the opportunity to view a ‘Small Incident Unit’ at the rise of the meeting.

Recommended: That:

1.  The content of the report and comments, be noted.

2.  Councillors David Acton and John O’Brien be appointed as Member Champions for Development Goal 20 - To provide new training facilities to improve real fire training for Firefighters.

Report of the County Fire Officer & Chief Executive

Consideration was given to a report of the County Fire Officer and Chief Executive which introduced and provided an overview on ‘Mobile Data Terminals (MDT) including the benefits and capability on fire appliances.

Clare Platt, GMFRS NW Fire Control (Transition) Project Manager and Graham Settle, Systems Manager were in attendance and gave a presentation on the existing capabilities the MDTs bring and explained how changes being made to GMFRS’ MDT’s would enable Control to send turnout messages directly to fire appliances when they were away from the Station which would enable crews to communicate via data instead of voice.  Members were advised of other benefits that would be realised by enhancements to the MDT, including the provision of chemical hazard information (through Chemdata), risk information about motor vehicles and the provision of an automatic vehicle location system (AVLS).  In addition, Members were shown a demonstration on how a fire call would be sent to an MDT and how crews and Control would communicate using data directly to and from an MDT.

The Chairman took the opportunity to thank Officers for the informative presentation and Member raised a number of questions and comments on the information which they had received which were answered accordingly.

Recommended: That the content of the report, presentation and comments raised, be noted.

Report of the County Fire Officer & Chief Executive

Consideration was given to a report of the County Fire Officer and Chief Executive which detailed the current Statutory Functions and arrangements in place to satisfy the Health and Safety Permission Regimes and provided an overview of the implications for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Authority (GMFRA) and Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) of the following Health and Safety (HSE) permission Regimes:

-  Control of Major Accident Hazards Regulations 2005 (COMAH);

-  Pipeline Safety Regulations 1996 (PSR); and

-  Radiation Preparedness and Public Information Regulations 2001 (REPPIR).

Members were advised that the Chairman of the Authority and Director of Emergency Response were meeting with the Principal Inspector from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) at the rise of ER Committee to discuss GMFRS legal responsibilities for complying with the COMAH off-site emergency plans and the DER proposed that this item be scheduled for consideration by Emergency Response Committee on an annual basis.

Recommended:

1.  That the content of the report and comments raised, be noted.

2.  That a report be submitted to Emergency Response Committee on an annual basis.

Report of the Director of Emergency Response

The Director of Emergency Response reported that a visit to Manchester International Airport (MIA) had now been arranged on Friday, 12^th July 2013 at 10.00am till approx. 1.00pm. The visit had been arranged following a discussion at the last meeting (Minute 21 refers) to allow all Members of the Authority to view the training facilities at the Airport that we share with Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service and MIA and, if possible,  would include a tour of the new Air Traffic Control Tower.  Members from Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service had also been invited to attend the visit.

Further details would be available nearer the time and Members were requested to note the date in their diary and confirm their attendance with the Democratic Services Manager.

Recommended:  That the report be noted.