The Rushmoor Council's Policy and Project Advisory Board meeting on 12 June 2024 focused on the installation of defibrillators and bleed kits across the borough, and the refresh of the Climate Change Action Plan 2020-2030. The Board endorsed recommendations for funding and relocation of defibrillators, and discussed potential updates to the Climate Change Action Plan.

Defibrillators and Bleed Kits

Emma Lamb, Community and Partnerships Service Manager, provided an update on the installation of defibrillators and bleed kits. A survey revealed an additional seven publicly accessible defibrillators, bringing the total to 37 across the borough. North Camp Matters has funding to install two more defibrillators. However, the number of bleed kits remains low, with five in Farnborough and two in Aldershot.

A needs assessment identified six locations with gaps in defibrillator provision: Aldershot Town Centre, Farnborough Town Centre, Aldershot Park (south of the ward), Fernhill (north of the ward), Cove and Southwood (St. Christopher’s Estate), and the Prospect Centre, Cherrywood.

The Board considered and endorsed the following recommendations:

• Assign up to £10,000 from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (SPF) neighbourhood interventions project fund to purchase six public access defibrillators for priority locations.
• Relocate existing defibrillators inside Council buildings to outside walls for public access.
• Encourage community-owned defibrillators to be relocated outside.
• Enhance CPR skills by providing defibrillator awareness training sessions and involving young learners from The Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme in maintenance checks.
• Continue collaboration between the Community Safety Team, Police, and Hampshire and Isle of Wight Licensing Officers Group to identify suitable locations for additional bleed kits.

The Board also discussed the need for wider CPR training, data on defibrillator and bleed kit usage, and ensuring organisations are responsible for community-owned defibrillators and bleed kits.

Climate Change Action Plan 2020-2030

Sophie Rogers, Climate Change Officer, and Emma Lamb facilitated a discussion on refreshing the Climate Change Action Plan 2020-2030. The Overview and Scrutiny Committee had previously suggested:

• Provision of pool cars.
• Provision of pool bikes.
• Single-use plastic-free Council buildings.

Guiding principles for the refresh included actions that reduce the Council’s carbon footprint, are deliverable within three years, and consist of a small number of focused actions.

The Board made several comments:

• Consider a two-pronged Action Plan: one focusing on the Council’s carbon footprint and the other on enabling residents and businesses to reduce the borough’s carbon footprint.
• Improve communications and engagement to promote climate change actions.
• Enforce a single-use plastic ban in all Council-owned facilities, particularly the Princes Hall.
• Identify the impact of each action on the carbon footprint for better outcome assessment.

Officers will consider these suggestions and report back at a future meeting.

Work Plan

The Board noted the current Work Plan. The Cabinet had made amendments to the Council’s response to the Hampshire County Council Future Services Consultation, and the final copy will be shared with Members. The Climate Change Action Plan Refresh will be added to potential items for discussion during 2024/25.