Agenda item

During January this year, HMICFRS released the ‘State of Fire Report’ which was the annual assessment of the effectiveness and efficiency of fire and rescue services in England, based on the 45 inspections carried out between June 2018 and August 2019. The report provided a summary of the performance of the 45 fire and rescue services against the 3 inspection pillars of effectiveness, efficiency and people and provides a comparator for the high levels of performance delivered by Lancashire when considered against peers nationally.  The report highlighted that the sector had many strengths but that ongoing improvement was required.  Whilst it was acknowledged that many of the negative statements within the report existed nationally, it was pleasing that these were not representative of the picture that was reflected within Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service’s (LFRS) first tranche report. 

State of Fire provided strategic recommendations on reforms needed, to ensure that modern fire and rescue services could be provided which were fit for the future.  The report recommended:

1.    By June 2020, the Home Office, in consultation with the fire and rescue sector, should review and with precision determine the roles of: (a) fire and rescue services; and (b) those who work in them.

2.    By June 2020, the Home Office, the Local Government Association, the National Fire Chiefs Council and trade unions should consider whether the current pay negotiation machinery requires fundamental reform. If so, this should include the need for an independent pay review body and the future of the ‘grey book’.

3.    By September 2020, the Home Office should consider the case for legislating to give chief fire officers operational independence. In the meantime, it should issue clear guidance, possibly through an amendment to the Fire and Rescue National Framework for England, on the demarcation between those responsible for governance and operational decision making by the chief fire officer.

4.    By December 2020, the National Fire Chiefs Council, with the Local Government Association, should produce a code of ethics for fire and rescue services. The code should be adopted by every service in England and considered as part of each employee’s progression and annual performance appraisal.

Second inspection confirmed

The dates for the second inspection of LFRS have been confirmed as week commencing 11^th May 2020.  For the second inspection the former Service Liaison Lead (SLL), Dave Dryburgh, hands over to his replacement, Jo Hayden (Seconded Programme and Planning Manager for Nottinghamshire FRS).  It was anticipated that the Service would meet with the new SLL following their formal HMICFRS training in February.

Meantime work was ongoing within Service to meet key dates within the timeline: –

·         Data Return – completed in the last week of January 2020.

·         Preparation of LFRS Self-Assessment against the inspection framework, prior to Discovery Week.

·         Document return – (awaiting the request but previously this constituted 53 service level documents).

·         Discovery week – initial visit by a few members of the inspection team, confirmed as week commencing 20^th April.

·         Inspection week – full inspection team into Service, week commencing 11^th May.

During the previous inspection, the Chief Fire Officer’s strategic brief was delivered prior to inspection week.  This time, it would be delivered to the inspection team on the first morning of inspection week.

It was noted that there was a spring bi-annual data return expected in May which may coincide with the inspection dates.

Learning from other FRS and sharing our best practice

Whilst LFRS had areas of strength, it recognised that further improvements could be derived from best practice of our peers.  Following the release of the reports from the final tranche of inspections and the more recent State of Fire report, the Service had identified a number of opportunities to be explored with our peers.  Accordingly, visits had been made to other FRS, examples being, Merseyside to look at their approach towards Prevention activity, phone conferences with Cambridge and Oxfordshire to look at various areas of strength and a further visit being planned to West Midlands to consider the work undertaken to achieve their ‘outstanding’ in response.

Conversely LFRS had hosted several FRS over the course of the year to share areas of our best practice, including Lincolnshire, Durham and Darlington and a number of FRS whom attended a recent event to share an overview of our Risk Based Inspection Programme for fire protection.

In response to Member comments regarding the importance of considering an environmental impact reduction strategy the Director of People and development confirmed that the Authority’s Carbon Management Plan included a visionary target of 40% by 2020, however the current reduction was 25%.  How this could be improved was currently being considered.  The Chief Fire Officer added that the HMICFRS inspection was looking at operational efficiency which included consideration for the environment.  It was noted that recently the Environmental Agency had compared the Service’s response to a like for like recycling fire and LFRS had resolved it ten times quicker; such examples would be presented during the inspection.

County Councillor Shedwick advised that the last Planning Committee received excellent insight into the amount of data and work needed to prepare for the inspection and it was noted that there was a lot of work needed to prepare for the next one.  Members requested a briefing on progress at the next Authority meeting.

RESOLVED: - That the report be noted.