Agenda item

Presentation by the RNLI

To receive a presentation from the RNLI.

Decision:

(a) That the presentation be received;

(b) That a letter be sent to Mr. Richard Polden, thanking him for his contributon; and

Minutes:

The Chairman introduced Mr. Richard Polden who was the Volunteer Press Officer for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI).

Mr. Polden detailed the history of the RNLI and provided information on some of the incidents that the volunteers from Flint Lifeboat Station had been involved with. The RNLI was a registered charity and had 237 lifeboat stations in the United Kingdom with 32 lifeboat stations and 41 lifeboats in Wales. There were 4600 volunteer crew in the UK, both men and women, and the Flint lifeboat station that opened in 1966 currently had a crew of 10 men and two women and covered an area from Chester to Talacre including three major launch points. A total of 40 people were involved with the RNLI in Flint which included the crew and fundraisers. Mr. Polden explained that it cost £1300 per annum to train each volunteer crew member and the RNLI had a college in Poole, Dorset which trained the lifeboat volunteers. The college also provided training to volunteers from abroad for a fee and this provided revenue for the RNLI. The number of people who drowned each year totalled 1.2 million worldwide with 150 drowning near the coast of the UK. The RNLI had an education programme which it was hoped would reduce the numbers of people who drowned. The causes of drowning included rip currents, cold water shock, trips & slips, alcohol and fatigue.

Mr. Polden detailed the incidents that the RNLI had responded to throughout the UK which totalled 9000 per year for lifeboats and 16000 for lifeguards. The work of the RNLI was not just about rescuing people and Mr. Polden spoke of the recent rescue of a dolphin in the River Dee. He also explained that there were inland lifeboat stations and hovercrafts and national and international flood rescue teams.

Councillor Ian Dunbar thanked Mr. Polden for the presentation and commented on the plaque which had been unveiled in Rhyl about the lifeboat men who had lost their lives in 1853. He queried whether it was expected that there would be an impact on the lifeboat station because of the proposed closures of the Coastguard stations. Mr. Polden said that it was difficult to answer but said that if Liverpool and Holyhead coastguard stations closed, it could have an impact on Flint and Rhyl lifeboat stations. He reminded Members of the importance of local knowledge and said that if this was lost it could cause a problem.

In response to a question from Councillor Ron Hampson about how much training the volunteer crew undertook, Mr. Polden said that Flint station carried out their training on a Sunday but there may also be times when they needed to attend the college at Poole for more detailed training. He explained that any funding collected in Flint would go towards the Flint lifeboat station but that any monies raised above what was required would be put in the central ‘pot’.

Councillor Paul Shotton asked if there was an opportunity for youngsters not in education, employment or training (NEET) to take an interest in the charity. Mr. Polden explained that a significant recruitment campaign had been carried out in the area and had attracted a few volunteers. He added that the purpose of the college was primarily to train lifeboat volunteer crew but added that it was used for other types of nautical training too. Councillor Chris Dolphin praised the work of the RNLI and Mr. Polden who he said was one of Flintshire’s champions. Mr. Polden spoke of the RNLI volunteers at Flint lifeboat station, who were all under 30, and also commented on other volunteer sectors. He added that from the time a call was received, the crew could be on the way to a rescue within two to three minutes. He suggested that the Committee could visit the lifeboat station if they required and following a discussion, Members agreed to take up the invitation.

The Chairman paid tribute to the Connah’s Quay and Shotton branches of the lifeboat volunteers for their fundraising efforts. He also thanked Mr. Polden for his attendance at the meeting.

RESOLVED:

(a) That the presentation be received;

(b) That a letter be sent to Mr. Richard Polden, thanking him for his contribution; and