Issue - meetings

Update by Watch Commander/Local Authority Liaison Officer, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service

The Group considered a report from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) highlighting the SFRS Financial Quarter 3 review of local performance across Helensburgh and Lomond for 2020-2021.

Albert Bruce, SFRS, highlighted concerns around an increase in fatalities and a link to those who may be spending more time at home during the pandemic and living isolated lifestyles. Albert noted that it was likely that there would be an increase in Road Traffic Collisions in the next report due to the weather conditions. It was confirmed that the SFRS were engaged in a lot of partnership working in various ways, including assisting colleagues in the Scottish Ambulance Service to gain access to properties; assisting with the provision of food parcels and medication during the lockdown period; and running test centres in fire stations to assist in plugging the gaps in the NHS provision of Covid-19 test kits.

Samantha Somers, Community Planning Officer, asked if there were any plans for fire station test centres in the Helensburgh and Lomond Area. Albert advised that at present there was a walk-in testing facility in Dumbarton and a mobile testing centre in Helensburgh, however further discussions and research were ongoing between SFRS and the Scottish Government in connection with more fire stations being used for this purpose.

Following a query from Councillor Paterson, discussion took place around the ways in which vulnerable people were identified and assisted during the lockdown period. Albert provided details around the ways multi-agency working assisted in identifying people at high risk and the difficulties associated with those who do not wish to engage, noting that there had been an increase in those requiring assistance in the community who were suffering from mental health issues. Further discussion took place around the changes in smoke alarm legislation which had been delayed until 2022 and the ways in which the SFRS were advertising this and would be able to provide assistance to people with this in future. Councillor Paterson advised that he was a member of the Argyll Community Housing Association (ACHA) board and would bring the information discussed to their attention at the next meeting.

John Lewis, Males Tales, requested further information around the demographic of people who had been involved in fatalities. Albert confirmed that the general demographic was males, over 60, who lived alone and had little in the way of family or support and noted that he would provide further information to John around this following the meeting. John offered his assistance in engaging with those suffering from mental health issues when restrictions allowed.

Alasdair MacCuish, Helensburgh Gaelic Group, asked why Cardross had not been included in the report. Albert confirmed that often the report would only include areas with recorded activity and so it could be that there was no activity in Cardross during this period, however he would investigate this and confirm with Alasdair following the meeting.

Decision

The Helensburgh and Lomond Area Community Planning Group considered and noted the contents of the report and information provided.

(Reference: Report by Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, submitted)