Agenda item

The report highlighted action taken in respect of corporate risk since the last Audit Committee meeting.  The latest review of the corporate risk register had not identified any new risks which warranted inclusion on the corporate risk register.

An updated corporate risk register was considered by Members with changes summarised in the report.  The Director of Corporate Services highlighted the following key areas: -

Risk no. 2 – premises risk information

A key priority through 2020/21 was the maintenance via an agreed position developed with the Fire Brigades Union of a review programme of site-specific risk information plans associated with build environmental risks.  Agreement was reached that this aspect of Service delivery remained a core function and should be safeguarded during the Covid-19 pandemic, given the potential that risk sites may very well have reviewed their own operating procedures and policies in light of the impact of the national crisis.  The Response and Emergency Planning Department was undertaking assurance of Level 4 PORIS sites and had subsequently developed a series of best practice templates along with a series of proposals to introduce such plans across the organisation.

Risk no. 12 – Ineffective health and safety in the workplace

A further independent audit of Health and Safety and Environmental Management Systems was carried out as part of our ISO 45001 and ISO 14001 certification process. Non-conformances and opportunities for improvement were collated together into the SHE Audit Improvement Action Plan and monitored to conclusion through the Health, Safety and Environment Advisory Group.  The audit did not identify any non-conformance issues or any opportunities for improvement.

Risk no. 14 – Delayed mobilisation, impacting on service delivery

New road speed algorithms had been deployed at North West Fire Control which ensured a more accurate travel time was factored into mobilisation decisions.  The system was also being updated to reflect historic turn-in times.  Both of these changes should enhance mobilisation and ensure that the appropriate appliance was deployed to incidents.  

Risk no. 21 – Risk of rapid external fire spread in high rise premises resulting in a major incident

National policy reform was underway, involving revised Building Regulations, amendments to the Fire Safety Order in 2012 (giving Fire and Rescue Services enforcement powers for cladding and flat front doors) and the new Building Safety Bill in 2022 (making Fire and Rescue Services a joint regulator with the Health and Safety Executive and Building Controls). 

Lancashire Fire & Rescue Service Inspectors were undertaking the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government commissioned ‘Building Risk Review’ of all 75 High Rise residential premises in Lancashire to identify if any hazards exist beyond the use of ACM cladding. Such hazards include other unsatisfactory cladding systems, combustible balconies, and compartmentation breaches etc. Where issues were identified, interim measures were put in place, including an enhanced operational response.  All High-Rise owners and managers had been written to, signposting the Government Cladding Remediation Fund.

It was noted that additional funding had been supplied to all Fire and Rescue Authorities to enhance protection arrangements and provide additional equipment.  The Service had received approximately £300k of protection transformation funding to review our fire safety protection arrangements to ensure they were fit for the future.  Therefore, the Planning Committee had approved a Protection Transformation Team be established which included responsibility to oversee the Building Risk Review (BRR).  Revised governance for Fire Protection would be introduced to drive reform with introduction of dedicated Area Manager and Group Managers for Prevention and Protection. A comprehensive programme was in place to fill all roles and upskill the Protection Workforce to meet the complex demands of the FSO and FSB.  Future Risk Based Inspection Programmes would be informed by the findings of the BRR. Inspectors would work with building owners, managers, and residents, to secure appropriate risk mitigation resorting to enforcement only when justified and necessary to do so.  In addition, approximately £150k had been received from specific Grenfell related funding which had been used to buy equipment that assisted the evacuation of people from high rise buildings.

RESOLVED: That the Committee noted the actions taken and endorsed the revised corporate risk register.