Agenda item

The Deputy Chief Fire Officer presented a report on the Service's Annual Service Plan for 2017/18.  This year’s Annual Service Plan continued to provide LFRS with the platform to highlight the priority activities that the Service intended to deliver over the upcoming year. To maintain the strong position the Service had upheld over recent years, this year’s plan focused on addressing capability and collaboration, workforce development and operational effectiveness.

The Deputy Chief Fire Officer introduced Group Manager Steve Morgan to explain the Plan in more detail. 

The Annual Service Plan was a core part of the planning framework which set out the activities intended for delivery during the next 12 months.  It was built around the Service’s four corporate priorities as detailed in the Integrated Risk Management Plan which were: -

1.    Preventing fire and other emergencies from happening and Protecting people and property when fires happen;

2.    Responding to fire and other emergencies quickly and competently;

3.    Valuing our people so they can focus on making Lancashire safer;

4.    Delivering value for money in how we use our resources.

The Annual Service Plan sat at the heart of the framework and informed activity that would be led across the Service as well as locally within district plans. Activities that were planned for delivery also informed staff performance appraisal so that all staff understood the plans and were involved in helping to deliver key activities.

As in previous years, detailed under each corporate priority was a series of priority activities.  This year’s plan also provided a brief description of each item to give further clarity and context. This ensured that all staff and the public were informed of the changes and activities the Service aimed to progress and how these items fit within our priorities. This provided the opportunity for the Service to ensure that we continued to provide transparency and visibility of our plans in a clear concise format. The governance arrangements for delivery of the Annual Service Plan would continue to be monitored through the Service's Corporate Programme Board.

Last year’s focus on consolidation gave time and space to reflect and embed the changes that had been made to bring about service improvements and success.  However, as reported at the Lancashire Combined Fire Authority meeting, there was now a much clearer picture of the Government’s Fire Reform programme which involved:

·        Efficiency and collaboration;

·        Transparency and accountability;

·        Workforce reform.

As a result, the action plan this year involved activities to improve in these areas.  Activities to be contained within the plan were considered by Members.

In response to a question raised by CC O’Toole, GM Morgan confirmed that PORIS was the Provision of Risk Information to Staff.  This was an electronic system which improved firefighter and community safety through the provision of site specific information available at incidents via vehicle mobile data terminals.

Following discussion regarding the Evaluation of the Water Tower, the Deputy Chief Fire Officer confirmed that this vehicle, known as the Stinger would be demonstrated to Members at the next Strategy Group meeting.  The vehicle was on trial for a year and it was currently at Blackburn station for a period of 6 months after which it would then be trialled at Burnley.  The Stinger was effectively a standard fire engine but with aerial capability which included a piercing branch which was being used very effectively.

In response to a question raised by CC Shedwick, the Assistant Chief Fire Officer confirmed that there were 4 day crewing stations in: Bacup, Leyland, Ormskirk and Fulwood.  Bacup was currently operating a more flexible staffing model which was being led by staff.  Feedback to date had been very positive to the extent that Leyland had asked if they could become part of the trial.

In response to a question raised by CC Crompton, AM Norman confirmed that the apprenticeship levy did apply to the Service.  Early work had identified the benefits of apprenticeships in Project Management, ICT, administration and other areas however an Apprenticeship Strategy was needed for use in the long term which could include opportunities for apprentice firefighters; a scheme currently being offered by County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service.

It was noted that a draft of the Annual Service Plan was near completion and would be published and circulated to all staff in April. 

RESOLVED: - That the Planning Committee noted and endorsed the report.