Agenda item

The Deputy Chief Fire Officer presented the report.  He introduced Group Manager Emma Price from the Planning, Performance and Assurance team and advised that the team had been working hard towards achieving the changes identified from the Emergency Cover Review (ECR).

 

Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service (LFRS) was required to review emergency response arrangements periodically to ensure that provision remained effective and consummate with its dynamic risk profile. This process was a robust assessment of historic data and emergent risk and was delivered in the format of an Emergency Cover Review (ECR).

 

The changes identified in the ECR 2022 reflected the most effective and efficient use of resources for the whole of Lancashire. The Authority agreed all the proposed changes on 19 December 2022 which would result in LFRS:

 

• Maintaining all 39 fire stations and 58 fire appliances;
• Maintaining its outstanding response standards;
• Creating an increase in overall firefighter jobs by eight.

 

An ECR implementation plan was developed with five key workstreams, with updates on the workstreams detailed as follows:

 

1.    Introduce more resilient and flexible crewing arrangements

 

The Service had hoped to introduce more flexible crewing arrangements if agreement could be reached with trade unions. However, the proposed flexible wholetime duty system was not agreed by the trade union. The Service subsequently proposed a trial of flexible rota management and leave arrangements; however, an agreement could not be reached. Therefore, changes of duty systems at some stations would still take place but with the re-introduction of the 2-2-4 wholetime duty system as opposed to flexible wholetime.

 

Engagement sessions had taken place with all the members of staff affected. Implementation of the changes to crewing arrangements were led by people’s preferences in terms of the duty system they wished to work, subject to the skill requirements and the demands of the Service.  Members of staff permanently employed on Day Crewing Plus (DCP) stations were offered a role at an alternative DCP station, or a position at their current station depending on their preference with some members of staff securing promotion opportunities. The Service continued to work with members of staff who were currently temporary on the DCP system to identify a suitable posting.  A training needs analysis had been completed and training was being commissioned and delivered to meet the needs of staff.

 

Property alterations at Morecambe, Fleetwood and Skelmersdale were currently being planned to accommodate an increase in staff at those stations.

 

It was anticipated that the go live date for implementation of the change of duty systems, or establishment numbers, would be 1 March 2024. Changes for each station (with the exception of Penwortham) would take place at the same time as follows:

 

·      Morecambe, Fleetwood and Skelmersdale (changing from DCP to 2-2-4 Wholetime) increasing establishment numbers from 14 to 24;

·      St Annes (changing from DCP to Flexible Day Crewing) reducing establishment numbers from 14 to 13;

·      Hyndburn, South Shore and Lancaster (remaining 2-2-4 Wholetime) reducing establishment numbers from 28 to 24;

·      Darwen, Rawtenstall, Nelson and Bispham (remaining DCP) reducing establishment numbers from 14 to 13;

·      Fulwood, Bacup, Ormskirk and Leyland (remaining Flexible Day Crewing) reducing from 14 to 13;

·      Penwortham will remain as DCP whilst the Preston area review is carried out, the establishment number will reduce from 14 to 13 in line with other DCP stations.

 

In response to Member questions the Deputy Chief Fire Officer advised that one of the main areas in the ECR had been the need to reduce the number of stations on the DCP system.  The above changes were across each station and would result in an overall increase of 8 firefighter roles.  He confirmed that the Service had worked hard liaising with Union representatives and with individuals who would be changing stations or roles.   The proposed flexible rostering system could have affected circa 100 staff however agreement could not be reached with the FBU.

 

Changes to St Annes had provided opportunities for a number of on call firefighters to pick up wholetime roles and there had not been the need for anyone to move their home into the area.  Changes on single pump stations (such as Hyndburn, South Shore and Lancaster) had meant a slight difference in establishment numbers with crews that currently had seven dropping to six to support a balanced budget.

 

CC Hennessy requested information regarding firefighter promotion opportunities.  The Deputy Chief Fire Officer advised that the Service ran annual promotional boards for aspiring crew and watch managers.  Current DCP stations had one watch manager B and three crew managers which when the stations returned to wholetime, would become four watch manager A roles.  He agreed to bring a breakdown to the next meeting.

 

In response to further questions from CC Hennessy, the Deputy Chief Fire officer provided reassurance that skill requirements across all stations had been analysed.  He confirmed that training was delivered in-house at the training centre with some specialist training (such as swift water rescues) being out sourced. 

 

2.    Optimise emergency cover through dynamic cover software

 

The dynamic cover software was now in use in LFRS, both within the Command Support Room at Service Headquarters and through the mobile devices of all Flexi Duty Officers. The software had been used successfully during a number of large-scale incidents and periods of high incident activity, to move resources according to the risk.  The next phase of this project was to embed the software and its use at North West Fire Control (NWFC). A standalone facility would be made available on the Lancashire pod at NWFC so that Control Room Operators could start to use the software.

 

In response to a question raised by CC Hennessy, the Deputy Chief Fire Officer advised that currently spate flooding or large fires were managed by the LFRS command support room, crewed by group and station managers who used the dynamic software to assist North West Fire Control to move appliances across the county to spread fire cover based on current risk, availability and demand.  He added that flexi duty officers were based across the county and worked a rota system to cover at night and during the weekends.

 

In response to a comment from CC Shedwick the Deputy Chief Fire Officer advised that of the Fire and Rescue Services within NWFC, LFRS was currently the only Service that used the dynamic cover software.

 

In response to Cllr Hugo who had received a query regarding why one of the appliances from Blackpool had been moved to Burnley to provide cover, the Deputy Chief Fire Officer advised that he was not aware of that occurrence but could look into it.  The software was designed to provide efficient and effective cover across the fifty?eight fire appliances, of which thirty?two were crewed by on call staff.  It was therefore possible on occasion that one of the four appliances at Blackpool would be relocated elsewhere to provide efficient and effective cover.  Members were aware that on call availability had been an issue for the fire sector for a number of years and that the Service was investigating ways to improve this.  The Deputy Chief Fire Officer added that the use of the dynamic cover software provided for an effective deployment of resources.

 

3.    Strengthen our response to climate change emergencies

 

Investing in Four Fire Appliances with Off-Road Capabilities

The Service was currently finalising the last stage of evaluation for the first large fire appliance with off-road capabilities and a contract award was expected by the end of November 2023. It was anticipated that this appliance would be delivered to LFRS within the next 12 months. The smaller fire appliance would be explored once the contract for the large fire appliance had been awarded. The procurement of this vehicle was anticipated to be quicker and was also expected to be in Service within the next 12 months. The Deputy Chief Fire Officer confirmed that these vehicles were not in addition to the current fleet but would be replacing standard fire appliances.  Both vehicles would then be evaluated prior to the purchase of two further vehicles (one large and one small).

 

Introduce Flood Water Incident Managers and Flood Water Tactical Advisors

Eight flexi duty officers had been trained as Flood Water Incident Managers. These officers would be informed of any incidents within the water or large area flooding, and they would either attend the incident or provide advice remotely depending on the nature of the incident.  Two Flood Water Tactical Advisors were yet to be trained as this was a nationally run accredited course and LFRS was awaiting availability.

 

CC Shedwick commented that he was pleased to see more swift water training and asked whether liaison was made with local mountain rescue teams and flood forums (such as the Wyre flood forum which was very active in his area).  The Deputy Chief Fire Officer advised that multi-agency responses were provided and the Service would always respond even though there was not a statutory duty under the Fire Services Act nor funding received from government.

 

4.    Strengthen firefighting and rescue capabilities in high-rise and commercial buildings

 

Introduce a 45m Aerial Ladder Platform (ALP)

The Service’s largest ever ALP was currently in build and was on track for delivery January 2024. There would then be a period of familiarisation and training for operational crews prior to the appliance going on the run at Preston.

 

Invest in two Additional Water Towers

The project was currently on target with the new appliances due for delivery by the end of March 2024. Similar to the new ALP, there would be a period of familiarisation and training prior to the appliances going on the run, which were anticipated to be located at St Annes and Lancaster.

 

5.    Broaden on-call firefighting capabilities to strengthen operational response

 

Aerial Ladder Platform (ALP) Driving

On Call staff at Hyndburn were now trained to drive the ALP to incidents and they had already successfully utilised this skill on a number of occasions. On Call staff at Morecambe were currently undertaking driver training which would be completed by the end of November 2023.

 

Command Support Unit (CSU)

The CSU went live on 1 November 2023 and was crewed by On Call staff from Bolton-le-Sands and Carnforth. The CSU attended its first incident on 7 November 2023 at the large commercial building fire in Longridge.

 

In response to a query raised by CC Rigby, the Deputy Chief Fire Officer advised that in addition to the small CSU mentioned two large CSUs were currently in build for replacement at Fulwood and Blackburn.

 

On Call and Specials Review

The On Call review was progressing and had identified a number of additional options to strengthen operational response. These items alongside the implementation of the Specials Review, would see On Call staff being developed to support a number of specialist appliances in the future. The Service was currently exploring options around potentially training the On Call staff at Lancaster in the swift water rescue specialist skill.

 

The Authority Chairman commented that over the last decade, in a rapidly changing world, investment had been made in equipment and software and he was pleased that there was much better co?operation with neighbouring authorities to provide cross-border support at incidents.  He advised that it was not for Members to get involved in operational matters as that was for the Service who had excellent Officers.

 

The Authority Chairman also commented that the reduction in highway services provided by local authorities (ie: the lack of litter picking or removal of grass?cuttings) resulted in blocked drains which added to difficulties the multi-agencies faced during flooding incidents.  He therefore asked Members to take this issue back to their local authorities.

 

Resolved: that the report be noted and endorsed.