Agenda item

The Deputy Chief Fire Officer advised that the report updated on progress of the Blue Light Collaboration Board.  The current Membership was himself as Chair together with the Director of Response for North West Ambulance Service and the Deputy Chief Constable.

The Deputy Chief Fire Officer updated Members on progress regarding the initial 5 collaboration projects as follows: -

1.    Missing Persons

Members of the Authority and Service sent their thoughts to family and friends of Nicola Bulley who was currently missing.  The Deputy Chief Fire Officer reassured Members that the Service had provided overhead and underwater search drones, search dogs, firefighters and boat teams to support the multi?agency response assisting Police colleagues in the search.

Following a review of mobilisation data, it was identified that the opportunities to provide Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service (LFRS) support to these incidents had reduced. Therefore, the main project objective was to improve the existing collaborative approach to the identification of the location of missing persons. Learning had been identified from the original process and improvements had been made. LFRS support for the ‘Missing from Home’ Manager training for Lancashire Constabulary staff would be continued in terms of LFRS assets available. Furthermore, Lancashire Constabulary had provided training to control staff to raise awareness.

The initial plan included a small number of LFRS personnel from the Urban Search and Rescue team and Drone team to undertake the ‘Missing from Home’ Manager course. This would develop knowledge and understanding regarding aspects of planning and undertaking a search. Additional LFRS crews 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 missing person incidents within the context of potential crime scene management. All LFRS assets would remain available regardless of the additional skills imparted to the specialist teams.

2.    Estates and Co-location

This was a longer-term work stream with interdependencies as there were several internal projects within Lancashire Constabulary to review current building stock. This included Lancashire Constabulary headquarters, and various police stations.    Property leads from all three agencies were in contact with each other and plans were being developed to organise a monthly catch-up meeting. This would ensure that each Blue Light Service was sighted to internal findings and provided with awareness in terms of future opportunities.  The Deputy Chief Fire Officer advised that, should it be decided to relocate Preston Station or build in situ this would be done through the Collaboration Board to provide opportunities for collaboration.

3.    First Responder

A phased approached was agreed in terms of volunteers signing up to the scheme. Phase 1 was being rolled out to non-operational LFRS staff, such as Community Fire Safety. Subsequently, phase 2 would consider the roll out to operational staff.

Progress on phase 1 had resulted in the success of one non-operational member of LFRS responding to category 1 incidents.  The Deputy Chief Fire Officer advised that the LFRS First Responder volunteer had recently responded to a cardiac arrest which resulted in the person’s life being saved. The North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) reporting system had been modified to include LFRS staff, so it was possible to analyse data and monitor mobilisations. There were 4 additional volunteers identified who would undertake training shortly. Once the 5 initial volunteers had been operating for 3 months, the data would be analysed, and regular welfare checks would be completed. The findings would be used to inform plans for phase 2.

In terms of technology, an NWAS application was used to mobilise First Responders and there was an option for them to accept or decline the request forwarded to them.  This data would also be used to report on the overall number of calls and responses received.

Further discussion would take place with Lancashire Constabulary to review if there were any suitable non-operational roles that could be added as First Responders.  It was noted that operational staff did attend cardiac arrests alongside NWAS and that collaboration to this effect was already taking place.

In response to a question from County Councillor O’Toole the Deputy Chief Fire Officer confirmed that North West Ambulance Service did support the Collaboration Board.  He advised that there were challenges in establishing the scheme which had now started locally with non-operational staff volunteers.  The greater challenge was how front-line crews could respond without compromising the availability of fire engines.  It was noted that there had been a national pilot trialled in the past but this had paused and work was ongoing at national level to work through this with the Trade Unions.

4.    Leadership Development

Initial scoping had been completed, in terms of what each organisation currently delivered for leadership development. The project was being delivered in two phases. Phase 1 covered some short-term objectives, seeking to maximise existing courses and events, and provide opportunities for staff from all three organisations to utilise places on these courses. An example of this was the ‘Inside Out’ programme, which was offered by Lancashire Constabulary. A benefit would be improved efficiency, through utilisation of unfilled places. Additionally, it would provide a platform for discussing ideas and sharing learning, as many of the leadership challenges were cross cutting in all three organisations.

Phase 2 would scope opportunities to collaborate on specific elements of supervisory and middle manager leadership programmes. This would lead to some efficiencies, as well as a platform to share ideas.

5.    Command Units

The aim of this project was to establish and deliver additional collaborative uses of the command units in 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’.

County Councillor Shedwick commented on the high level of collaboration provided by the Service including road safety.  Councillor Jackson supported County Councillor Shedwick’s comment and added that staff should be commended on their work in this area given the injuries and fatalities witnessed at some of the incidents they attended.  He added that, although it was difficult to prove, he genuinely believed that the delivery of road safety education had saved lives. 

Resolved: That the Planning Committee noted and endorsed the update.