Agenda item

(i)              Report of the Director of Transformation and Partnerships.

(ii)            Presentation by Phil Innis, District Manager, County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service.

The Chair introduced District Manager, Phil Innis, CDDFRS to give an update presentation on Arson and Deliberate Secondary Fires in East Durham (for copy see file of minutes).

The District Manager reminded Members the issue of arson and deliberate secondary fires had been identified as an issue around 12-18 months ago and he had attended working group session in October 2017 with Members of the Committee and Members from the areas with higher rates of arson within the East Durham area.  He reminded the Committee that primary fires generally involved property and secondary fires included the burning of rubbish or refuse.

Councillors were referred to four years of statistics for the County Durham and Darlington area, noting the disproportionately high demand in terms of both deliberate primary and secondary fires in the Easington area.  It was noted that the change over four years in terms of primary fires was now plus 21 percent, a significant improvement over percentages of 127 percent previously.  It was explained that in terms of tackling primary fires, there had been a 21 percent year on year reduction.  The District Manager noted that it was a challenge and that there was an element linked to organised crime groups (OCGs) and local feuds.

Members were referred to the statistics relating to deliberate secondary fires, noting a six percent reduction year on year.  It was explained that the Electoral Division with the most deliberate secondary fires remained Shotton and Haswell, with only a reduction of six fires year on year, from 88 to 82, not a significant reduction.  The District Manager noted that nationally there had been an increase in fire setting.  He added there had been four time-limited projects carried out in: Horden and Peterlee; Shotton Colliery; Wheatley Hill; and Thorney and Wingate.  The District Manager noted that there was a correlation in terms of loose refuse and the number of deliberate secondary fires.

The Committee noted the partners involved in the work included: CDDFRS; DCC; Durham Constabulary; Peterlee Town Council; Shotton Partnership; Groundwork; Bernica Homes, County Durham Housing Group/East Durham Homes; East Durham Area Action Partnership (AAP) and Restorative Approaches.

The District Manager noted that work undertaken had included a multi-agency problem solving (MAPS) approach, with a deliberate fire reduction plan.  He added that the multi-agency approach was much improved and there was a consistent approach in terms of the: rubbish removal process; abandoned vehicle removal scheme; and unsecure property protocol.  It was explained that the “FireStoppers” number had helped and that Firestoppers was a trial with Crimestoppers and Year 2 of the trial had led to the expansion of the trial across the Northumberland and Tyne and Wear fire service areas.

Members were referred to the use of social media in terms of communication, helping people understand what was going on in their area.  The District Manager explained that in relation to youth engagement, there were activities related to “Streetgames” and “SportEd”, one being held in the ASDA car park at Peterlee, with around 70 young people engaged, and the scheme having won the Outstanding Community Contribution award at the national Street Games Awards earlier in June.  He noted that there was work ongoing with the Shotton Partnership to try and roll out similar activities in Shotton Colliery.  The District Manager added that there was an eight-week project involving 10 young people at Peterlee Fire Station, involving Council partners from One-Point and the Team around the Family (TAF).  He explained it looked at issues such as peer pressure, anger management and to help focus on the young people to change their behaviours.

The District Manager explained that the Fire Investigation, Arson Reduction and Young People Team was a multi-disciplined team formed in September 2018, with the young people agenda running through all activities.  He added that the Chief Fire Officer, Stuart Errington, had wrote to strategic leads across partner organisations in July 2018 to ask them to look at issues linked to the high numbers of fires and posed the question “are we getting to the root of the problem”.  It was noted there was a lot of work looking at issues such as abandoned cars, unsecured properties and fly-tipping, with the Council undertaking a lot of work as regards the latter.  The District Manager noted that the Council’s Neighbourhood Protection Manager, Ian Hoult had noted that there had been 7,269 rubbish removals per calendar year by the Council’s Clean and Green Team.

The Chair thanked the District Manager and noted the good work that was being undertaken and the positive impact he had seen within his Electoral Division.  He asked Members of the Committee for their comments and questions.

Councillor B Avery noted the involvement of the Community Action Team (CAT Team) in the Dean Bank area in his Electoral Division had a hugely positive impact, tackling issues of rubbish, vacant properties and asked if there was any way of looking to keep that momentum going once the CAT Team have left an area.  The Chair agreed the work of the CAT Team was brilliant, however, it was resource intensive and it would not be possible to have them work over and over in the same area.  Councillor B Avery asked if the Council’s charge on bulky waste collections had an impact in terms of rubbish and fires.  The District Manager agreed the work of the CAT Team was excellent and they were a valuable resource in tackling difficult issues.  He added it may be possible to look at their model and approach to help inform what work could be undertaken in the longer term and to look for a strategic approach.  He noted that also a more proactive approach, rather than reactive, could impact more.  Councillor B Avery noted that in some cases it can be an issue in terms of land ownership that can affect how quickly an issue can be resolved, noting partners such as Registered Social Landlords (RSLs) and asked what links the Council’s Environmental Services had with those types of partners.

Councillor A Shield noted the number of fires as reported was worrying and asked as regards why the County was number one in terms of primary fires and second or third in terms of secondary fires.  The District Manager noted that the statistic was per 1,000 population and issues that increased the numbers had included the large number of car fires, noting the links to OCGs and with criminals be more forensically aware.  He reiterated that the FireStoppers number was a way people could report fires and information anonymously and with confidence.  Councillor A Shield asked how we would break the cycle, was it tackling OCGs or focusing on young people or some balance.  The District Manager noted he felt if you were able to get to young people engaged early, through activities such as Streetgames then it may be possible to steer them away from OCGs and fire starting.  He added that partners saw this as a priority area, and all would need to focus on a strategic view.  He explained that Area Manager, CDDFRS, Keith Wanley was working with Durham Constabulary on the issue of car fires and it was felt that engaging with young people was an investment.  The Chair noted he felt, especially in his local area, it was very important to engage with young people and the diversions and schemes as described were valuable.  He asked as regards the hardcore element that would not engage, understanding this a difficult question.  The District Manager noted that the support of Overview and Scrutiny was welcome and referral pathways were important and also options such as out of court disposals.  It was noted that many pathways were voluntary and being able to enforce as regards pathways was important.

Councillor A Shield noted that for younger children there was a number of options as regards engagement, for example the “Mini-Police” and Police and Fire Cadets, adding he felt a need to look at the 11-16 age group.

Councillor R Crute noted the figures for Durham and Darlington and asked what could be learned from this.  He noted as regards the type of fires in the east of the county and if a housing issue could selective licensing help and reduce the impact of rubbish fires, working in partnerships with Housing Associations.  The District Manager noted he was the District Manager for Darlington two years ago and explained that in many cases a positive impact upon the number of fires could come from a key arrest, with a marked reduction in fires following such an arrest.  He added that selective licensing was welcomed and may help in the high impact areas, with private landlords and RSLs to work to help.  The District Manager noted that legislation did not help in terms of clearing properties, especially those in private ownership and that the housing stock value in our area meant that there was a number of remote or absent landlords.  Councillor R Crute noted that selective licensing was looking to be for the whole county and that this was moving forward, requiring approval from the Secretary of State.

The Overview and Scrutiny Officer noted the work of the Committee in this regard and for response to be given to the Portfolio Holder and Safe Durham Partnership (SDP) Board and for further update information to be received.

Resolved:

(i)       That the report and presentation be noted.

(ii)      That a response containing views on arson and deliberate secondary fires within the east Durham area be sent to the Cabinet portfolio Holder for Adult and Health Services and the Chair of the Safe Durham Partnership Board.

(iii)     That a progress report on arson and deliberate secondary fires be included within the Committee’s work programme.