Meeting documents

To consider Item 14

The Head of Service Delivery introduced the report and advised Members that the Service has had an Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) capability since 2006. This was one of a number of national capabilities developed and delivered in 2006-2007, and subsequently reviewed in 2014, when a Concept of Operations (ConOps) was introduced which set a bench mark for USAR team requirements and performance measures. The major change to the USAR capability provision was that each USAR team must have its own search dog capability.

The Head of Service Delivery advised Members that the current capability was delivered through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service, which was due to end on 1 February 2019. The Service was funded for this capability through a Section 31 grant for approximately £900k. The Service should be looking to have its own dog as if it doesn’t commit to this capability, it may leave itself vulnerable to any subsequent Government review. This proposal was to invest to secure the future of the unit.

Group Commander Gary Taylor advised that for those Members not familiar with the Urban Search and Rescue Team, they were operational firefighters based here in Aylesbury, who crew the fire appliances but have a dual role as USAR technicians.

A Member asked if one dog was enough and was advised that as part of the ConOps the 20 Government funded USAR teams from across the UK were grouped into four zones, each comprising of five teams. Buckinghamshire had been placed in Zone 2 with Norfolk, Essex, West Midlands and Leicestershire. Each team would have a dog and would liaise with each other to provide cover when required.

A Member asked how often the Authority had used the Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service dog and was advised that it had been used most recently at a house explosion in Oxfordshire in February 2017 and the Didcot Power Station incident in February 2016.

A Member asked if the Authority paid Hampshire for the use of the dog and was advised that the Authority pay approximately £6k per year as part of the MOU.

A Member asked if the dog was not going to be used that often, what other benefit would it give to the Service and was advised that consistent with the principles of the duty to collaborate, capability could be developed to allow for multi-agency work with Police Search Teams to search for high risk missing persons such as dementia sufferers, vulnerable adults and children.

RESOLVED –

1.            that the move to an In-Service USAR canine capability be implemented to become effective no later than 1 February 2019.

2.            that the current MOU be terminated once the In-Service USAR capability is effective.

3.            that an internal recruitment process for a suitable dog handler be undertaken.

4.            that a suitable dog be procured.

5.            that a suitable converted vehicle be procured.

6.            that the Capital funding of £36,500 to procure the canine, vehicle, kennels and equipment as set out in the report be approved.