Agenda item

The Acting Deputy Chief Fire Officer presented the report.  The quarterly Blue Light Collaboration (BLC) meetings had largely been placed on hold due to the ongoing support provided by the blue light agencies to Lancashire Resilience Forum (LRF) in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, and the increased internal pressures felt by the three blue light organisations in adapting and responding to the ever-changing and demanding operational landscape. It was noted that there were some exceptions in relation to the progression of some long-term pieces of work (including meeting infrequently in relation to fire investigation and the International Standards Organisation for accreditation alongside the National Fire Chiefs Council and National Police Chiefs Council).

Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service (LFRS) and partners had entered into an amended working relationship where areas which were not previously highlighted through the BLC had continued to gather pace, evolve and be delivered to support the multi-agency response to Covid-19.

Many areas of delivery that had been supported (or would be supported if requested) were closely linked with the tripartite agreement (NFCC, Employers and FBU) which was constantly evolving.

To date, LFRS had been involved in the preparations for, or delivery of, the following:

•      Face fitting for masks to be used by frontline NHS and clinical care staff working with Covid-19 patients;

•      Mass casualty transportation (movement of bodies in support of Coroner functions);

•      Vulnerable person contacts and visits (delivery of essential items);

•      Delivery of PPE and other medical supplies to NHS and care facilities;

•      Lead agency for collating all PPE requirements through the Joint Intelligence and Planning Group.

In terms of support to the LRF, the Acting Deputy Chief Fire Officer chaired the Response and Containment Group and there were a number of officers embedded within the various LRF sub-groups, delivering leadership and co-ordination to these teams. At present there was an Emergency Planning Watch Manager and Station Manger supporting the county?wide response. 

The Acting Deputy Chief Fire Officer advised that there were discussions ongoing currently as to whether any second wave would require the Service to: i) support local authorities to distribute PPE as it had previously (with the Training Centre acting as a distribution centre); ii) retrain staff regarding transportation of the deceased; and, iii) support partners in the provision of the vaccination programme which was expected to start for the most vulnerable in the next few weeks and conclude by spring.  In addition, early conversations were being held whether staff who were first aid trained could be upskilled to deliver vaccinations.

All activity was being collated within the collaboration log which would provide an overview of outcomes delivered and benefits realised, and would form a definitive evidence base for any future HMICFRS inspections. The evidence also informed some aspects of a collaboration review report being delivered by Shared Architect Services, through which it was expected that further beneficial collaboration opportunities could be identified and explored.

In conjunction with partners the joint collaboration officer post was being reviewed, with steps being made towards reinstating the post to support future collaboration work. The intention remained that BLC meetings would be restarted when capacity across the blue light partners permitted, however on a day-to-day basis, dialogue and consistent collaborative working remained ongoing across numerous areas of work. 

County Councillor Pattison asked for clarification of the best contact where a vulnerable person had been identified as needing support.   The Acting Deputy Chief Fire Officer advised that every Local Authority across Lancashire had established community level hubs (which were stood up throughout the whole pandemic and remained currently in place) and these were intensifying their resources through the winter period.  He confirmed that the hubs were the point of contact to support a vulnerable person.  He advised that the Service would react as required to a request to support local authorities and the work they were doing via the community hubs.  Currently there were no specific requests to deliver food or medicines or check on residents. 

The Acting Deputy Chief Fire Officer advised that if Members had any significant concerns regarding residents’ fire safety in the home, the Service continued to provide advice over phone and during the last quarter had made interventions in the home on circa 2,000 occasions where the risk of harm to the individual from fire outweighed the risk to staff of transmission of covid while in the home. He confirmed that these interventions did include onward referrals to local authority hubs teams.

County Councillor Hennessy queried whether there had been in increase in Home Fire Safety Checks with people currently staying in the home.  The Acting Deputy Chief Fire Officer advised that the first lockdown period showed a slight shift in call types with an increase in unwanted fire signals in business premises; the quieter roads showed a decrease in road traffic collisions and as more people worked from home there was a slight increase in domestic fires.  Referral rates had slowed but those who were at the greatest risk were still being referred at similar rates.  The Service continued to undertake door step delivery of equipment ie: replacement smoke alarms for self-installation or as required Prevention colleagues entered premises every day, wearing PPE and keeping socially distanced to place the interventions; thereby reducing the risks from fire and keeping the residents of Lancashire safer.

County Councillor Hennessy queried whether the Service had changed its delivery for those people who had been in hospital and their circumstances had changed.  In response, the Acting Deputy Chief Fire Officer advised that these referrals had continued as there were significant risk factors; the Service still visited people who were referred and provided individual support as required.

In response to a question raised by County Councillor Hennessy regarding how the Service was reaching local communities, the Acting Deputy Chief Fire Officer advised that the winter period (darker nights, shorter days and colder weather) generally created a challenge for the Service and during this time the winter safety campaign would be intensified. 

RESOLVED: - that the Planning Committee noted and endorsed the report.