Agenda item

To present the Annual Report to the JPPC detailing the activities of the West Berkshire Water Safety Partnership.

Jon Winstanley presented the report (Agenda Item 7), which detailed the activities of the West Berkshire Water Safety Partnership in 2021/22.

Jon Winstanley noted that the Partnership had been formed in 2021 after a tragic incident involving the loss of life of a young child in the Kennet and Avon Canal in Newbury. The Partnership included representatives of West Berkshire Council, the Canal and River Trust, as well as the emergency services. Representatives of the office of Laura Farris MP, as well as Newbury Town Council, had additionally attended, and there were plans for neighbouring local authorities, including Bracknell Forest Council, to attend as part of a knowledge sharing exercise.

The Partnership had met regularly over the past year and had formed an action plan that was regularly updated. A Communications Strategy had also been adopted. The Partnership had particularly targeted its efforts on areas where water safety had been highlighted as a risk.

Jon Winstanley responded to Councillor James Cole’s point on Item 1 of the Matters Arising, noting that the Health and Wellbeing Board were happy with the current coverage of defibrillators, but the Water Safety Partnership did suggest putting them in water safety cabinets, of which there were three in West Berkshire.

Councillor James Cole asked who was meant to use the water safety cabinets, noting that they were currently locked. Jon Winstanley responded that a telephone number was available on the cabinet and an individual could call the Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service, who would provide a code to unlock the cabinet. Councillor Cole pointed out an issue should the individual not have a phone with them. This needed to be considered.

Councillor Cole noted that paragraph 4.3 stated that the Partnership had provided advice to Sutton Estates on discouraging swimming at Speen Moors, and asked for clarification on what that entailed. Jon Winstanley responded that the Partnership had provided advice on signs to direct swimmers to appropriate places.

Councillor Cole asked whether ‘water safety risk’ included the risk of drinking it, specifically the risk of drinking polluted water while swimming. Jon Winstanley responded that it was not covered as part of the Water Safety Partnership but the Partnership would encourage people to report water pollution to the Environment Agency who were responsible for managing pollution.

Councillor John Harrison asked whether there was a published number of water safety incidents for Bracknell Forest. Sean Murphy responded that he was not aware of the numbers, but that the Water Safety Partnership had run events within Bracknell Forest in advance of them participating more closely. Sean Murphy stated that he would obtain and share those figures. It was noted that a representative had been identified from Bracknell Forest Council to join the Partnership.

Councillor Harrison noted that there were a number of occasions during lockdown of large groups of teenagers congregating around ponds and lakes, and that there was an issue of buoyancy aids being thrown into the water. Councillor Harrison therefore concurred with the idea of locked cabinets, but agreed that the lack of mobile phone access could be an issue. Sean Murphy responded that the issue could be raised with other agencies working within Berkshire to see if more cabinets could be installed within Bracknell Forest.

RESOLVED that:

·         The content of the report be noted.

·         The Terms of Reference be updated to include Bracknell Forest Council and Officer.