Agenda item

The Assistant Chief Fire Officer introduced Area Manager Neil Taylor who was the tactical lead on the Collaboration Board topresent the report.

Members noted that the Blue Light Collaboration Board was programmed to meet quarterly with the report prepared on the information from the last meeting held on 30 September 2022 where the strategic leads had received a presentation on the initial five projects. Progress for the planning of each projects was as follows:

1.    Estates and Co-Location

AM Taylor advised that there currently existed site sharing arrangements with blue light partners.  This project aimed to understand the partnership footprint in terms of what was on offer; space, capacity, what would be required as a minimum, with consideration to health and safety and legal requirements, terms and conditions and regulations.

This project would be considering the following opportunities:

·         Headquarters regeneration;

·         Review of the Lancashire Constabulary (LanCon) Estate arising from Target Operating Model and Estates Roadmap;

·         The environmental shift in fleet to electric vehicles and the Sustainability and Environmental Strategy.

The project was currently in scoping phase and Project Initiation Documents (PID) were in production.

2.    Leadership Development

AM Taylor advised this was not an area that had been specifically considered previously.  This project aimed to map out the current offer by all partners and understand what was already underway and planned to develop a joint Memorandum of Understanding and hold a roundtable discussion between partners and explore mechanisms in relation to how this could practically work (cost, booking on staff, which systems were used, evaluation, familiarisation with terminology).

This project would be considering the following opportunities:

·         ‘Outside In’ programme;

·         ‘Leading the Way’ course days 1,2 and 3;

·         Recruitment and selection training;

·         Continuous professional development days with quality speakers and the Durham University leadership programme.

It may also consider learning from other organisations such as away days for new recruits. 

3.    Command Units

The aim of this project was to establish and deliver additional collaborative uses of the command units in Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service (LFRS) in line with Joint Emergency Service Interoperability Programme principles. The key objectives were to improve operational effectiveness and in line with LFRS’ mission; ‘Making Lancashire Safer’.

4.    Missing Persons (Misper)

This project aimed to improve the existing collaborative approach to identification of the location of missing persons. The existing offer had been evaluated and learning and improvement had been made. The existing training for the ‘Missing from Home Manager Training’ for LanCon staff would continue to be supported by LFRS in terms of assets available.

Initially, two personnel across the Urban Search and Rescue Team and the Drone team to undertake the Missing From Home manager course. Additional crews in LFRS had been identified as specialist teams and would receive a bespoke training programme which was currently being mapped out. These teams would develop an increased knowledge of managing a missing person within the context of potential crime scene management. All LFRS assets would remain available regardless of the additional skills imparted to the specialist teams.

5.    First Responder Scheme

This project was between LFRS and North West Ambulance Service (NWAS). The aim of the project was to train a small initial team of five Community Safety staff volunteersto participate in NWAS First Responder Scheme. They would respond from the workplace to a restricted call set that revolved primarily around defibrillator use and cardiac arrest. Once proof of concept was ascertained, the plan was for the scheme to be broadened.

It was noted that the next meeting of the Strategic group would be 13 February 2023.

Members were aware of the statutory duty to collaborate and noted that this was an area considered as part of His Majesty’s Inspectorate’s inspection of the Service.

In response to a question raised by County Councillor Singleton, AM Taylor advised that it was not possible to provide a capital cost or implementation date for any potential shift to electric vehicles as this project was currently in the scoping phase. 

In response to a question raised by County Councillor Rigby regarding the First Responder Scheme, AM Taylor advised that there was an understanding of the national pressures on health services and locally on North West Ambulance Service.  The collaboration was seen as an opportunity to step forward and add value to Lancashire communities.  Although still in the early stages it was believed that life-saving interventions would be made through the introduction of the scheme.

County Councillor Shedwick commented that the Authority had been more than an equal partner in blue light collaboration for a number of years.  He was interested to see how the ‘estates and co-location’ and ‘command units’ projects developed.  He expressed some concern should searching for a missing person focus resources in one area; where there needed to be a balance of resource availability across Lancashire.  Councillor Hugo supported County Councillor Shedwick’s comment that the Authority was more than an equal partner.  She had recently attended a Fire Essentials training event where it was heart-warming to represent an Authority with a Fire Service that had an outstanding culture.  She confirmed there were people in attendance from His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services who were sharing best practice.  She believed there was a lot that could be shared with other blue light services and took the opportunity to thank staff for all their hard work.

County Councillor O’Toole queried whether there was a formal agreement in place with North West Ambulance Service regarding the First Responder Scheme project.  In response, AM Taylor advised that LFRS had consulted with Trade Union bodies and Fire Safety staff who were supportive of the project.  NWAS was consulting with their Trade Union bodies and confirmation to go ahead was awaited in order for the project to be progressed.

In response to a question from County Councillor Hennessy regarding other collaboration opportunities, AM Taylor advised that the partners continued to look at other areas of work; balanced against existing pressures, with other potential projects in the pipeline which needed further discussion before being presented to Members.

In response to a further question from County Councillor Hennessy, AM Taylor advised that the Blue Light Collaboration Board included one or two people from each blue light service.  He confirmed that all 3 partners had signed a strategic intent document to demonstrate their full commitment to working together collaboratively.

RESOLVED: that the report be noted.