Meeting documents

To consider item 13

The Lead Member for Community Protection advised that Members had expressed an interest in what interactions officers of the Authority had with local authority planning services. This report provided an overview of the interaction this year, as all local authorities had published strategies. Officers had also been engaging planning officials face to face to both explain the Authority’s concerns and to understand the longer-term development plans to inform the drafting of the next Public Safety Plan. In particular, Members had expressed an interest in officers making representations around the need for key worker housing.

The Corporate Planning Manager introduced the report, drawing Members attention to the appended letters setting out the Authority’s responses to the statutory six-week public consultations held by Milton Keynes Council and the Buckinghamshire District Councils in relation to the latest versions of their local plans. In addition to addressing specific local matters, the responses also contained representations relating to the general effect of planning decisions on community safety and the Authority’s operations including:

• ensuring provision of adequate infrastructure and access to new housing developments for firefighting and rescue purposes;

• Measures to improve the safety of housing and facilities for vulnerable groups such as the elderly and disabled;

• Measures to improve the safety of key parts of the public estate such as schools;

• Management of flooding risks;

• Provision of affordable housing for emergency services workers.

The Corporate Planning Manager also advised Members that officers were engaged in an ongoing dialogue with the relevant local authorities regarding the potential implications for fire and rescue of major infrastructure projects such as HS2, Heathrow expansion, Cross Rail and the East–West rail and proposed Expressway linking Cambridge, Milton Keynes and Oxford. The outcome of these discussions would inform the development of the next Public Safety Plan covering the period 2020-2025.

Some potential requirements in relation to future fire and rescue service provision had also been provided to Buckinghamshire County Council to inform their dialogue with central government regarding the potential for a ‘growth deal’ covering the period to 2033.

In response to a Member question, the Head of Service Development confirmed that these included outline requirements for provision of new fire and rescue facilities, and indicative costs associated with these, to deal with potential risks arising from the impact of specific projects including HS2, the planned growth of Princes Risborough and the new East-West economic and transport corridor linking Cambridge, Milton Keynes and Oxford.

A Member asked what the Authority’s position on sprinklers was and was advised that it very much depended on the type of building and the risks associated with it as to whether it was beneficial to have a sprinkler system. Nationally, the fire and rescue service had been campaigning very strongly for sprinklers. There had been tremendous success in Wales, where residential accommodation cannot be built unless there were sprinklers. Scotland was moving that way; unfortunately, England was a long way behind. The National Fire Chiefs Council was pushing as hard as it could, but government was a lot more resistant to introducing sprinklers.

A Member wanted clarification on fire crews moving cars if there was no access for a fire appliance and was advised that primarily the fire service does have access if residents take into consideration the needs of the fire and rescue service. If necessary and if there was a life risk, crews would take a particular risk to get their appliances nearer to the incident or they would use the hose from where they were. The service also operates reactively. Where residents contact the service to talk about parking issues in their area, crews would go out and actually have a look. If they see any issues, they can put up signs on lampposts and leaflets on some of the vehicles themselves, just to highlight that they do need to be getting access in case of emergency. As far as moving vehicles was concerned, it would be the very last resort.

A Member asked if the Authority had received responses to its letters and was advised that it had received acknowledgments to all only.

A Member asked if officers could approach Buckinghamshire County Council and Milton Keynes council concerning the Highways England Seminars regarding the East-West Expressway and was advised that they would.

RESOLVED –

That the report be noted.