Agenda item

The Assistant Chief Fire Officer presented the report which provided an overview of the Covid Thematic report outcomes and detail of the publications that were due from Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS), along with an update on the second round of inspections which would commence in 2021.

Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) had completed the Thematic Inspection of Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service (LFRS) in September 2020. On 22 January, the thematic report (attached as appendix 1) had been released alongside a covering national report which summarised the findings across the sector. This was the first of three reports expected from HMICFRS in the first quarter of 2021.

LFRS had received a positive inspection from HMICFRS.  The inspection, which occurred during late September 2020, had involved a data return and self-assessment survey followed by digital interviews with key staff members.  The HMICFRS Service Liaison Lead (SLL) had met, via Microsoft Teams, with the Chief Fire Officer and Chairman of the Combined Fire Authority, Director of People and Development, Director of Corporate Services, Group Manager (GM) Prevention and Protection, GM Response and Emergency Planning, GM Training and Operational Review, and Head of Safety, Health and Environment.

The inspection had been light touch and had looked at how LFRS had delivered its functions safely and how it had worked for the greater good of the community alongside partners.  The report noted how prevention and protection work had continued, albeit in a modified capacity and how LFRS had worked with its partners in the Local Resilience Forum (LRF) providing structure, support and logistics.  LFRS had successfully engaged with unions such as the Fire Brigade Union and Unison and had been able to put in place effective plans in line with requests from partners in the LRF, many of which had come under the tripartite agreement.  These activities had included antigen testing, face fitting, assisting vulnerable people and packing/repacking food.  This had differed from the HMICFRS National report which had highlighted areas of difficulty in reaching these agreements in some other Fire and Rescue Services.  The Service had also been praised for wellbeing support to staff which had been supported by all levels of management and our ability to communicate with staff at all levels using a variety of innovative methods.

LFRS had been graded ‘outstanding’ in the round 1 inspections for culture and values.  This further positive result arising from the Thematic Inspection would contribute to our grading under the round 2 inspection.

The second report to be produced would be the HMICFRS findings of the phase 1 Inquiry into Grenfell Tower.  This was expected on 10 February 2021 and would focus on the recommendations made in the Inquiry and may provide opportunities for learning within LFRS.  The third would be the annual State of Fire and Rescue report; now due in March 2021 and expected to focus upon improvement since the round 1 inspection, as well as encompassing the recently published Thematic Inspection outcomes.

The Audit Assurance team would take into consideration the findings of the national report and would establish a position from which the Service can assess the performance of LFRS ahead of the round two inspection.

As per the previous round of inspections, there would be three tranches in Round 2 with the first starting January 2021.  The second tranche (within which sits LFRS) would run from September 2021 until February 2022, and the third and final tranche would run from March 2022 to September 2022.  Based on latest information available, it was reasonable to expect that the LFRS report would be published in summer 2022 and tranche three reports in winter 2022, followed by the third State of Fire and Rescue Report in 2023.

The LFRS document and self-assessment request would occur around May/June 2021.  This was in addition to six-monthly data requests each May and October.  The Audit Assurance Team had previously conducted a gap analysis of the Service using the lines of enquiry that the inspection team would use in the round 2 inspection.  Given that improvements had been delivered collaboratively and innovations had been delivered in response to the changed operating environment, work had commenced to refresh the internal assessment to ensure the Service would be best positioned to provide the most robust evidence base to the inspectors.

County Councillor O’Toole welcomed the extremely positive report and congratulated the whole team for having ensured that once again LFRS had been the best Fire and Rescue Service in the country.  The Service had done consistently well and this would not have been possible without the work and cooperation of all staff.

County Councillor Pattison added her thanks for the Service’s outstanding work.  In response to a question from County Councillor Pattison, the Assistant Chief Fire Officer (ACFO) confirmed that accommodation for vulnerable staff had been offered by some privately owned small establishments as well as some national hotel chains and the Universities.  The ACFO advised that these offers had been taken up in small numbers for short periods of time and that the safe systems of work in place had meant that staff had not felt the need to shield for long periods and had shown confidence in the secure working arrangements and latterly the testing arrangements.

County Councillor Hennessy thanked everyone involved in the HMICFRS interview process.

The Assistant Chief Fire Officer (ACFO) thanked Members for their supportive comments and confirmed that the Service was really clear on both the areas they would be looking to improve and what the Service would be delivering.  The ACFO confirmed that an update would be provided to the next meeting including progress against the Grenfell Action Plan.

RESOLVED: - that the Planning Committee noted the report.