Agenda item

The Deputy Chief Fire Officer presented a report on the Service's Strategic Assessment of Risk for 2023/24.

Risk in Lancashire would always remain dynamic: it changed over time, differed by area and demographic, and needed different interventions to reduce the likelihood of the risk occurring or to lessen its consequences. These risks were identified in the Strategic Assessment of Risk (SAoR) which was refreshed annually and was also informed by the Lancashire Resilience Forum Community Risk Register. Through its risk management framework, the Service continually assessed changing risk and prioritised its response framework.

The Strategic Assessment of Risk reflected the knowledge and experience of a variety of specialist departments and utilised Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service (LFRS) Incident Recording System (IRS) data to derive a data driven methodology that highlighted the incident types that posed the greatest risk to the county of Lancashire and the individuals who lived and worked within it. The SAoR drove both Service and district level response to risk and enabled LFRS to tailor the Service’s prevention, protection and response activities to the identified risks.

This year’s document built on previous iterations as LFRS sought to continually improve its risk management processes. Revisions had been made to the Service’s local Risk Assessment, resulting in some movement in the ranking of its highest risk incident types. The Service had also sought to identify more clearly how it responded to the strategic risks identified, e.g., the Service’s response to the emerging threat of climate change and advances in technology.

The Deputy Chief Fire Officer explained to Members that the report was split into the demographics of Lancashire, the high-level summary of emerging risks, and the individual risk assessment process for each of the incident categories. The Risk Methodology was used to help NFCC develop a product for national Community Risk Management Plans. He drew Members attention to Page 47 Built Environment and the emergence of composite fencing where lessons taken from local incidents had been shared with NFCC to inform national learning. The report also detailed risks relating to: Emerging Technology (including electric vehicles and energy storage systems), and Hydrogen as an alternative fuel; and Climate Change (wildfires, flooding, and health). It was noted that the health section would be moved to follow the demographics section. Pages 53 – 55 of the agenda pack presented data analysis that fed into the risk methodology used and how the Service resourced to risk. From page 57 – 59 the report covered local and national risks that informed the National Risk Register (NRR), with regional identified risks delivered through the Lancashire Resilience Forum (LRF) of which the Deputy Chief Fire Officer was temporary Chair. Page 62 of the report onwards detailed the risk assessment methodology used and the risk associated against the 32 incident types calculated against likelihood and consequence. Members noted that in the trend column of the table on Page 66, the arrows were pointing in the wrong direction which could be amended in the final version of the report.

In response to a comment from County Councillor Hennessy regarding the risk of volcanic eruption on page 60 of the agenda pack, the deputy Chief Fire Officer explained that the risks identified were national risks to the UK.

Councillor Baker queried problems with hydrogen as an alternative fuel as the issues with using lithium-ion batteries had recently emerged. The Assistant Chief Fire Officer responded that the information received from the NFCC lead officer, was that the government energy preference was lithium-ion electric vehicle technology with the need for investment in infrastructure to support it. Whilst globally, many bus operators were shifting towards hydrogen-fuel cell technology, there were potential hazards and LFRS would monitor local and national developments in this regard.

Members queried and discussed the level of risk connected to Lithium-Ion batteries. The Assistant Chief Fire Officer advised that there were inherent risks associated with Lithium-Ion batteries, through the lifecycle but particularly at disposal. Members were informed that Lithium-Ion batteries which were damaged through careless disposal or Road Traffic Collisions (RTCs) could cause fires. A large amount of work had taken place nationally and locally to educate the public about the safe disposal of the batteries and the linkage between inappropriate disposal and subsequent waste fires. Regarding the issue of vehicle fires which involved Lithium-Ion batteries, the Service ensured operational crews that dealt with those incidents had the correct equipment, training, PPE, and procedures to manage them. Ongoing national research would further inform the mitigation of vehicle fires through a range of methods, including the adaptation of operational procedures and equipment.

County Councillor Singleton commented that the process of waste collection was due to change in the near future and asked if LFRS were involved the Lancashire Waste Partnership. The Assistant Chief Fire Officer stated that the Service could be indirectly linked though prevention and community safety work, however, the subject would be raised specifically with the Prevention Team.

In response to a question from County Councillor Yates concerning the Service’s input into a planning application for a Hydrogen Plant in Salmesbury, the Deputy Chief Fire Office confirmed that LFRS was a statutory partner for planning, and Fire Protection Teams would be involved with any substantive application. Although he was unable to comment on the Service’s involvement with that particular application, he could check for that information.

County Councillor Rigby thanked officers for a fabulous report.

Resolved: That the Planning Committee noted and endorsed the Strategic Assessment of Risk for publication.