Agenda item

The Deputy Chief Fire Officer (DCFO) advised that the report updated on progress of the ongoing workstreams that were being progressed under the Blue Light Collaboration Board. The workstreams were being managed effectively through both the Strategic and Tactical Boards and were contributing towards improving outcomes, providing better value for money, reducing demand, and reducing inequalities within communities.

Leadership Development

Partners had scoped collaboration opportunities for leadership development. Each Service agreed to host a leadership development event for senior leaders from all three organisations. Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service (LFRS) hosted the first event in October, which focussed on ‘Leadership and well-being’ and explored cross-coaching. The event was a success with over 60 people attending from across all three services and the partners would meet again in November to develop cross-coaching opportunities.

The Services were planning the next session which would be hosted by North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) in early February 2025, where the focus for the event would be on ‘Media’.

The final session would be hosted by Lancashire Police in Spring 2025. The group were considering an interesting area around ‘Generational Differences’ with a view to potentially exploring this as the final topic.

Estates and Co-location

This was a long-term workstream which could deliver significant efficiencies and effectiveness where co-location sites were identified.

In October the project objectives were reviewed and affirmed, aligned to the Strategic Board objectives. The Estates and Co-location workstream focused on four key areas: Sharing knowledge and information, estates and asset integration, resilience and shared opportunities in support functions, and financial opportunities.

Blue Light partners were reviewing property asset management strategies to identify potential areas for co-ordinating future development plans over the next 5-10 years and discussions were continuing in relation to future opportunities. All current locations for each organisation had been mapped, with the focus now on understanding of longer-term plans for each service. The LFRS ‘Preston Area Review’ continued to be discussed and considered with Blue light partners regarding collaboration opportunities.

Community First Responder

This workstream involved LFRS staff volunteering as Community First Responders (CFR) to support NWAS. LFRS staff volunteers undertook an initial CFR training programme at LFRS Training Centre. Once qualified, they could shadow existing CFR practitioners to develop their clinical abilities and build confidence in their newly acquired skills.

The Service had 13 LFRS staff volunteers responding to life threatening emergencies in Lancashire from the workplace and administering life-saving interventions in the initial vital minutes before NWAS colleagues arrive. Since the workstream commenced in 2023, LFRS had responded to more than 180 CFR incidents including unresponsive/ collapsed, not breathing, cardiac arrests, seizures, strokes, and choking. This had resulted in many successful outcomes.

The Service was scoping ‘phase 3’ of the workstream which would involve on call staff volunteers becoming CFRs within more remote parts of the county, where NWAS resources and response times could be more challenging. This would further improve outcomes for medical emergencies within those communities.

In response to a question from County Councillor J Singleton in relation to the potential for the authority to be combined by the Police and Crime Commissioner, the DCFO advised that this was a political issue and he was unable to comment, he acknowledged that there were a number of Police, Fire and Crime Commissioners (PFCC’s) nationally. County Councillor N Hennessy added that a motion was going to Lancashire County Councils (LCCs) next full council meeting in December and she had asked the Fire Minister’s view at the recent HMICFRS Chairs and Chiefs event and was reassured that nothing was on the agenda in relation to PFCCs taking over Fire Authorities.

In response to a question from County Councillor S Clarke in relation to charging other services for drone use, the DCFO confirmed that there was a memorandum of understanding signed by all blue light partners and recharges were sought where appropriate.

County Councillor N Hennessy requested an update on the blue light leadership development session. Group Manager (GM) Emma Price and the Head of Safety, Health and Environment (SHE) Martin Fish attended and remarked that they found the session to be very engaging, a good opportunity to build relationships and allowed them to understand what other services have in place in terms of wellbeing.

Resolved: That the Planning Committee noted the report.