Lancashire Combined Fire Authority

Meeting to be held on 16 December 2024

Member Champion Activity Report

Contact for further information – Assistant Chief Fire Officer Jon Charters

Tel: 01772 866802

Executive Summary

This paper provides a report on the work of the Member Champions for the period up to 15 December 2024.

Recommendation(s)

The Authority is requested to note and endorse the report and acknowledge the work of the respective Champions.

Information

The concept of Member Champions was introduced in December 2007 with a review of the roles in 2017. 

The Authority appoints its Member Champions at its Annual Meeting in June, and the current Member Champions are:

· Community Safety – County Councillor Matthew Salter

· Equality, Diversity and Inclusion – Councillor Zamir Khan

· Health and Wellbeing – County Councillor Hasina Khan

· Road Safety – Councillor Fred Jackson

Reports relating to the activity of the Member Champions are provided on a regular basis to the Authority. During this period, all have undertaken their respective role in accordance with the defined terms of reference. Their activity to date is as follows:

Community Safety – County Councillor Matthew Salter

Another successful quarter involving the delivery and raising awareness of prevention activities across the County via the Community Fire Safety (CFS) Teams.

At Central the CFS team have been continuing to work closely with the Hindu and Sikh communities raising awareness of fire safety in relation to the dangers of traditional tea lights and the benefits of switching to battery-operated candles. During the recent Diwali celebrations, the CFS team visited supermarkets across Preston distributing fire safety literature and due to an increase in the number of international students living in university halls of residence. The team undertook targeted outreach to reduce the risk of fire by carrying out Home Fire Safety Checks (HFSCs) at Leighton Hall, Canterbury Hall and Jubilee Court.

During the month of September Muslims around the world commemorate Milad-un-Nabi. Whilst deeply symbolic, observations via Central CFS staff have indicated a recurring trend of accidental dwelling fires during this period, often caused by households displaying lights as part of their celebrations, typically using green LED lights mounted on cardboard with thin wiring and two-pin plugs. In order to address this issue, the team initiated a project with the primary aim to raise awareness of the fire risks associated with decorative lights and promote the use of British Standard lighting equipment.

In Southern Area the CFS team attended the annual Freshers Fayre at Edge Hill University. The team engaged with first year students living on campus, as well as second and third years living off campus, and provided them with fire safety advice specifically tailored to students. To highlight the dangers of drink driving and driving the next day whilst possibly still being under the influence, the crashed car was utilised. This provided an excellent focal point and an opportunity to start difficult conversations.

Following a tumble dryer fire in the basement of a Sheltered Housing Scheme on Buckshaw Village, the Southern Team delivered a fire safety talk and subsequent HFSCs to residents in the 2 schemes affected by the fire. In total 29 HFSCs were delivered to one scheme and 46 to the other.

In Pennine, the team supported the annual initiative Restart a Heart. Every October an alliance of partners (including UK Ambulance Services, universities, and other charitable and public sector community-based organisations and first aid training organisations) come together to increase public awareness of cardiac arrests and the number of people trained in lifesaving CPR and defibrillation. This year the CFS team supported the North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) to equip 320 year 7 pupils, typically aged 11-12, to understand the basic steps of CPR, including chest compressions and how to contact emergency services.

The 2024 Bright Sparx campaign ran from 01 October to 18 November. The campaign is a vital way for the Service and our partner agencies to work together to help people living in Lancashire stay safe, happy and content during the Bonfire Night period. This year more than 15,000 secondary school age young people received important bonfire and firework safety information, in particular schools closest to areas of high levels of anti-social behaviour.

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion – Councillor Zamir Khan MBE

Over the last quarter, representatives from the service have been actively engaging with employees and communities in various ways. 

The service has developed a new Disability Policy detailing the support available for employees who have a disability. In addition, a policy detailing the services new approach to supporting people returning to work following a period of sickness absence has been detailed in its new Modified and Alternative Employment Policy.

Positive action will be recommencing to support the recruitment of a diverse group of firefighters for September 2025. As part of this work a Buddy Scheme is in development which will support the services approach to coaching and mentoring in terms of supporting people in the workplace and those who are interested in joining the service.  The buddies will provide guidance in relation to recruitment and selection and how to get applicant ready. 

To celebrate and share good practice across the Employee Voice Groups, we will be hosting a Leadership Development Event in January 2025.

Further to a change to the law made by the Worker Protection Act (Amendment of Equality Act 2010), which will have effect from 26 October 2024. The Act introduces a new legal duty on employers to take reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment of their workers (the ‘preventative duty’), the Director of People and Development has been visiting station briefing on the new requirements, more communications and training on the Act will be delivered during 2025.

A number of colleagues from across the service are attending the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) Dignity at Work training to help shape the training plan for 2025 in relation to equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI). A leadership development event was delivered in collaboration with Lancashire Police and NWAS in relation to maintaining health and wellbeing.

Health, Wellbeing & Climate Change – County Councillor Hasina Khan

Climate Change and Environment

In September we promoted ‘World Car-Free Day’, which provided a great opportunity to reduce air pollution. Every year on or around 22 September, World Car-Free Day is celebrated around the globe, encouraging motorists to give up their cars for a day. The event highlights the numerous benefits of going car-free, including reduced air pollution and the promotion of walking and cycling in a safer environment.

Car-free days are an opportunity to realise how much pollution affects our lives. The first Car-free day was held in Paris in September 2015 and was found to reduce exhaust emissions by 40%. This awareness event has also provided anecdotal evidence over the years that giving up your car for three weeks can improve health and wellbeing.

This year we introduced an Environmental category to the annual Star Awards. It is an award that recognises the great work and passion that many of our staff have for our environment. The award went to an individual that strives to limit the damage to our planet by adopting and promoting more sustainable practices. The winner is committed to reducing their impact on the environment and persuading others to do the same. Their actions and endeavours to influence others to follow suit, set a shining example for us all. 

Health and Wellbeing

Throughout July to September 2024, the Safety Health and Wellbeing Advisor has co-delivered the final few Responding to Trauma and Emotions (RTE) courses in the pilot programme with the Fire Fighters Charity. The RTE course has been co-developed with the Fire Fighters Charity, to provide support for our colleagues around dealing with attending mental health related incidents as well as identifying and utilising their own strengths and resilience. A full review of the pilot will be completed and findings reported into the Health, Safety, and Environment Advisory Group (HSEAG) meeting in February 2025. 

Wellbeing update sessions have been delivered to all Flexi-Duty Officers (FDO) as part of the Flexi Friday programme and each FDO given a ‘red bag’ with key information about the wellbeing support resources available in service.

The main Wellness Events Calendar item in September was raising awareness of cancer and supporting the Macmillan Coffee Morning, which included a Bake Off competition judged by two colleagues and Cllr Hasina Khan. The coffee morning was held at Headquarters and open to all staff across the service; including entry to the Bake Off, we raised £138.75. Stations were encouraged to host their own coffee morning, even if it was just to sit down and have a ‘brew as a crew’ and check-in with each other.

Bakes by colleagues        The judges: Kevin Dacre, Cllr Hasina Khan, Emma Hardman

Road Safety – Councillor Fred Jackson

The 17 November marked the start of National Road Safety Week. This week is organised by BRAKE, a charity who support families who are bereaved as a result of a road traffic collision. Group Manager Phil Jones and Prevention Support Officer Clare Burscough attended a multi-cultural service at County Hall to mark World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims. This service was attended by members of Lancashire Road Safety Partnership and bereaved families from across Lancashire.

Clare Burscough was interviewed for That's Lancashire TV to highlight the important work Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service (LFRS) do to educate different types of road users and explain LFRSs role in the event of a Road Traffic Collision.

An event took place at Springfields, delivering Wasted Lives to all new apprentices with the inclusion of the crashed car trailer. The resource is a car from a fatal collision in Pennine area where a 23-year-old man lost his life and two people were seriously injured in a collision caused by a driver speeding.

At West Lancs College a Wasted Lives Session was delivered whereby a car was cut up by Red Watch for the Public Service and Motorsport students to witness and better understand what happens in the event of an RTC. The display supported learning from the classroom-based part of the session and engaged learners well.

Two Biker Down sessions were delivered during the week, firstly a large session at Bowker BMW, then a slightly smaller session at Chorley Fire Station for a woman’s motorcycle club. Biker Down very much supported this year’s theme of 'After The Crash,' as 2/3 of the session is Incident Management and First Aid. Attendees of both sessions engaged fully with the input and enjoyed the practical activities of helmet removal and basic life support.

The biggest event of the week was a multi-agency day at Burnley College. The highlight of the day was a road traffic collision demonstration that utilised students from the college. The day started with an assembly style input of Wasted Lives paying particular importance to Lancashire's 'Fatal 5' which explores the five most common causes of fatal collisions. Following this the students watched a video that had been produced by Performing Arts students, then were taken outside to watch the demo. Throughout the afternoon all partners had a stall outside and all students were timetabled to attend.

Business risk

Whilst no formal obligation is placed on the Authority to have Champions, effective utilisation of such roles offers a number of benefits.

Sustainability or Environmental Impact

The Member Champion role provides leadership on environmental issues and assists in engaging Authority members in strategic objectives relating to protecting the environment.

Equality and Diversity Implications

The Member Champion role provides leadership on equality and diversity issues and assists in engaging Authority members in strategic objectives relating to equality and diversity.

Data Protection (GDPR)

Will the proposal(s) involve the processing of personal data?  N

If the answer is yes, please contact a member of the Democratic Services Team to assist with the appropriate exemption clause for confidential consideration under part 2 of the agenda.

HR implications

Some Member and Officer time commitments.

Financial implications

Activities are within budget.

Legal implications

None identified.

Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985

List of background papers

Paper:

Date:

Contact: ACFO Jon Charters

Reason for inclusion in Part 2 if appropriate:  N/A