Agenda item

Report attached.

The Deputy Chief Fire Officer explained that since the concept of the Integrated Risk Management Plan (IRMP) in 2004 there had been other requirements that had been placed on Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service (LFRS) which had resulted in the move to an annual planning cycle.  The IRMP was now a more strategic planning document which connected other necessary documents that required updating more frequently.  He advised that there was nothing in the draft IRMP 2017-2022 now presented which significantly changed the risk profile and therefore it was proposed to go out for a 6-week consultation, in line with the Authority’s Consultation Strategy.  The IRMP would be offered in an electronic format with links to key documents for more detail. 

The Deputy Chief Fire Officer then introduced Group Manager, Jon Charters to present the IRMP document.

The draft IRMP 2017 - 2022 was considered by Members.  The IRMP provided details of what LFRS intended to do over the forthcoming five year period to identify and assess the full range of fire and rescue related risks within Lancashire.  The IRMP processes provided the opportunity to demonstrate how we intend to fulfil our responsibilities in a clear, cohesive way, to both our communities and other interested parties.  In writing an IRMP each Fire Authority must pay due regard to the National Framework guidance issued by central government. 

Maintaining a clear and current understanding of the risks that affect Lancashire’s communities underpins everything we do – driving both our governance and planning arrangements.

In preparing the IRMP for this period the widespread staff consultation approach on content which had been undertaken previously, had not been adopted as this IRMP was not linked to an Emergency Cover Review and there were no specific items for consultation.  The approach to this IRMP had been through the engagement of a working group who had shared their views, ideas and suggestions and thereby helped to inform and shape this key document.

The IRMP 2017-2022:

·        Highlighted Lancashire’s risks;

·        Explained how LFRS would manage and reduce fire and rescue related risk in Lancashire;

·        Set out our priorities and values;

·        Set out our ambitions against each priority and stated how we aim to deliver these;

·        Illustrated how we will measure and assure performance.

Members noted key changes which had been made to the new plan:

·        The document covered a 5-year period; this extended period took account of the fact that the IRMP was an overarching and enabling document that was under-pinned by various other strategic Service publications; examples being the Strategic Assessment of Risk (SAOR), Annual Service Plan and Annual Progress Report. These would be hyperlinked from the IRMP with amended and updated versions made available each year thus aiming to evolve the IRMP into a real-time, working document.

·        Strategic risks previously included were now referenced within the SAOR.  This new publication provided a thorough assessment of fire and rescue related risk and would be refreshed annually, thus providing an improved picture of risk for the IRMP.

·        Given the simultaneous expiry of the Community Safety Strategy (2014-17), the opportunity had been taken to encapsulate this strategic direction for the Service into the IRMP document (within section 5). This placed the inter-locking components of Start Safe, Live Safe, Age Safe and Road Safe at the core of our approach to reducing risk and improving public safety. 

·        The articulation of our values through STRIVE was enhanced with definitions of our values, provided to support our staff in developing a working environment in which everyone could feel engaged, valued and respected.

·        The IRMP did not incorporate the Emergency Cover Review.  This would be conducted and consulted upon separately during 2017/18.

In response to a question raised by CC O’Toole regarding whether the IRMP could include additional work around the inspection of premises, the Deputy Chief Fire Officer advised that the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 significantly changed the role of the Fire Service with certificates no longer being issued by the Service and each individual company responsible for their own fire safety.  He confirmed that the recent prevention and protection review had established Business Safety Advisors who would be proactively providing fire safety education to local businesses and schools.

In response to a question raised by CC Parkinson regarding any involvement with the development of a Lancashire Combined Authority, the Deputy Chief Fire Officer confirmed that the Chief Fire Officer was engaged with this development and therefore best placed to react accordingly.

Members welcomed the opportunity proposed by the Deputy Chief Fire Officer to attend an informal training event which would include firefighter safety and innovations.

RESOLVED:-  That the Planning Committee: -

1.    Approve the draft Integrated Risk Management Plan 2017-2022 and consent to proceed to public consultation on 28 November 2016 for a period of 6 weeks;

2.    Agree that following consultation, outcomes are to be presented to the Planning Committee meeting on 30 January 2017 for scrutiny;

3.      Agree that a final version of the IRMP be presented to the Combined Fire Authority meeting on 20 February 2017 for final approval and publication thereafter.