Agenda item

The report was presented by the Assistant Chief Fire Officer.

It was noted that the formal meetings of the Blue Light Collaboration Board were put on hold during the pandemic to enable resources to be directed into priority areas supporting the NHS. As previously reported, there was an incredible amount of work between the 3 Blue Light Services delivered during this period. Collaborative efforts included:

•        LFRS delivering face fitting of masks to assist North West Ambulance Service and the NHS.

•        LFRS assisting in the establishment of a temporary mortuary.

•        LFRS developing a policy and training for movement of bodies.

•        LFRS coordinating logistics for vast quantities of PPE to be used in healthcare settings.

•        LFRS working with partners to support the operation of mass vaccination sites and then gaining the capability for injecting vaccines.

As services moved from the emergency phase of the pandemic into recovery, there had been an opportunity to reconvene the Blue Light Collaboration Board meetings. There had been two meetings held recently, the first of which was primarily utilised to reflect upon the evaluation report that provided a review of the deliverables and benefits realised from collaboration work prior to the pandemic. This review and associated report were carried out by Shared Service Architecture consultants who were recognised by both the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) and National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) as sector leads. The second meeting was to start considering what items could be included in the next iteration of the work plan.

There was a further meeting planned towards the end of November to evaluate the ideas that had been put forward for the refreshed work plan. Furthermore, a communications item was being developed for each of the services to use to brief respective management teams internally. Following that, a presentation would be delivered to the executive level sponsors in a meeting scheduled for January 2022, where it was proposed the new workplan would be signed off and progressed.

In response to a question raised by County Councillor Shedwick the Assistant Chief Fire Officer advised that emerging areas and opportunities were always considered by the Service (for example, the impact of climate change and the current development of a digital data strategy). He confirmed that he did not expect the new workplan to have the same scale and scope as the initial 31-point plan.

In response to a question from Councillor Williams regarding the current national shortage of computer chips the Assistant Chief Fire Officer advised that there had been some delays as the pandemic had accelerated the purchase of more equipment and although this was identified as a risk register item the shortage had not yet had an impact on the Service.

In response to a question from the Committee Chairman regarding the provision of fire ports (as used in Canada), the Assistant Chief Fire Officer advised that the Authority had 2 boats deemed to be rescue boats which were used on inland water and there were also 6 swift water rescue teams.  He advised that the CRMP detailed work that focussed on flooding and water rescue which aimed to maintain swift water rescue, flood rescue technicians and boat capability at strategic locations to address the growth seen and anticipated risks due to climate change.

RESOLVED: - That the report be noted and endorsed.