Agenda item

The Deputy Chief Fire Officer updated Members regarding His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) activity and LFRS planning arrangements.

Round 3 Overview

HMICFRS commenced Round 3 inspections in early 2023, the three pillars; effectiveness, efficiency, and people remained the same as Round 2. Likewise, the 11 diagnostics under each pillar which inspectors made graded judgements against.

On 27 March 2024 the HMICFRS announced that they were postponing Lancashire Fire and Resue Service’s (LFRS) inspection due to the Service Liaison Lead Dominic Mika leaving the HMICFRS. Although LFRS had not yet received confirmation of the new inspection date, it was anticipated that the Service’s inspection would take place in early 2025. Until LFRS’s new Service Liaison Lead was appointed and to assist with engagement prior to the inspection, an Inspecting Officer from HMICFRS, Viv Horton, had been named as LFRS point of contact. LFRS Service Liaison Officer – Area Manager Tom Powell had met with Viv Horton who would be introduced into the Service over the coming months.

The Organisational Assurance Team within the Service Improvement Department continued to track progress against the Service’s previous inspection, monitor national themes and prepare LFRS for it’s Round 3 inspection.

HMICFRS had published 16 Round 3 inspection reports. Due to the general election taking place on 4July, His Majesty’s Chief Inspector Andy Cooke had taken the decision to pause publications during the pre-election period which commenced on 25May 2024. A summary of the gradings for all 16 FRSs inspected so far in Round 3 were included in the report.

In response to questions from Councillor Baker in relation to the service completing a self-assessment and anticipated grading, the Deputy Chief Fire Officer advised that assessments were ongoing with regular visits to stations and departments. The service was optimistic that it would maintain the standard of good in ten areas and outstanding in values and culture. LFRS was innovating and leading in many areas and had made 10 submissions to the Positive Practice Portal (PPP). In addition, AM Tom Powell informed that the feeback from NFCC was that LFRS had provided more PPP uploads than any other Fire and Rescue Service.

County Councillor O’Toole queried whether HMI Michelle Skeer would continue to liaise with the new Chair of the Authority. The Deputy Chief Fire Officer confirmed that HMI Skeer had continued to engage with the Service and was confident that she would consult with the Chair.

State of Fire Report

On 9 May 2024 the annual assessment of Fire and Rescue Services in England was published. HMICFRS Andy Cooke’s 2023 State of Fire and Rescue report outlined their findings and wider impacts on Fire and Rescue Services.

The report covered four key challenges faced by the sector:

•              The fire and rescue sector had made some good progress at a national level, but the Government must press ahead with reforms.

•              Values, culture and the management of misconduct needed to urgently improve.

•              Fire and Rescue Service leaders needed to take a strategic approach to service improvements.

•              HMICFRS needed additional powers to continue to make communities safer; recommending that the Government make it a legal requirement for fire and rescue authorities to publish a response to the HMICFRS reports within 56 days.

The report also identified that during the third round of inspections they had seen grades fall in some services in relation to:

•              Protection

•              Multi-agency incidents

•              Values and culture

•              Getting the right people with the right skills

Positive Practice Masterclass

The Positive Practice Portal provided details about interventions, which had been developed by one or more Fire and Rescue Services to address a particular need, concern or organisational change recognised by the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) or HMICFRS as an innovative or positive practice. These practices were in different functional areas and would include operational and non-operational responses, business practices and good ideas.

On 29 April 2024 the HMICFRS held its first Positive Practice Masterclass for Fire and Rescue Services, which was attended by CFO Justin Johnston and AM Tom Powell. The topic was centred around leadership and culture where the HMI shared positive practices they had identified as well as opportunities to learn from each other.

Misconduct within the Fire and Rescue Service

HMICFRS thematic inspection of the handling of misconduct in Fire and Rescue Services had concluded. They combined detailed evidence with data provided by all English services in the autumn data return; the staff survey conducted in November 2023 via their research partners Crest Advisory; and the survey and interviews that Crest conducted with people that had left Fire and Rescue Services. HMICFRS would identify key findings and produce recommendations to the sector.

The findings were due to be published in June 2024, however, due to the general election publication had been paused.

Values and culture in Fire and Rescue Services

Values and culture in Fire and Rescue Services remained a focus for HMICFRS, LFRS had already been working proactively in terms of promoting its values and engendering an organisational culture where all employees could thrive. LFRS submitted their report on the progress the Service was making regarding the HMICFRS and NFCC recommendations in relation to values and culture in December 2023.

HMICFRS Spring Data Collection

LFRS submitted the Spring data return in June 2023.

In response to a question from the Chair in relation to sharing information from the Positive Practice Masterclass, Area Manager Powell advised that an overview could be brought to the next Planning Committee in November.

County Councillor Shedwick expressed his thanks for the updates provided.

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