Agenda item

The Deputy Chief Fire Officer (DCFO) presented a report on the Service's Annual Service Plan (ASP) 2026/27.

The ASP continued to provide Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service (LFRS) with the platform to highlight the priority activities and projects the Service intended to deliver over the coming year; leading improvements and innovation in the sector with some of the best firefighting equipment in the country and a highly skilled and motivated workforce.

The ASP was built around the Service’s 5 corporate priorities as detailed in the Community Risk Management Plan (CRMP). As in previous years, detailed under each corporate priority was a series of priority activities and projects with a brief description of each item to give further clarity and context, these were: -

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

• Service headquarters and leadership and development centre masterplan
• Upgrade fire station facilities
• Invest in firefighter safety
• Create more efficient people processes
• Improve how the service assesses the impact of its decisions

2. Preventing fire and other emergencies from happening;

• Review how prevention services were delivered

3. Protecting people and property when fires happen;

• Adapt services to support new safety measures and increase efficiency

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

• Focus on availability, preparedness, and operational competence
• Strengthen on-call fire engine availability
• Review specialist appliances
• Invest in fleet and equipment

Members noted a proposed amendment under the review specialist appliance section on page 46 of the agenda pack, to broaden the review from aerial appliances and water rescue resources to all specialist assets.

• Lead drone modernisation in fire and rescue

The DCFO explained that the services Drone Manager was also the Drone Lead for the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC). As the national fire and rescue service lead for drones, the Service had received a grant and was a partner in a project to ensure emergency services were included in future changes to UK airspace. Modernisation included using drones to take aerial imagery from the incident ground prior to arrival of fire engines, the ‘drone in a box’ concept which negated the need for a human operator, and heavy lifting drones. The services participation would keep it at the forefront of innovation, development, and operations.

5. Delivering value for money in how we use our resources;

• Increase operational competence to strengthen resilience
• Drive efficiencies through digital innovation
• Maximise productivity and efficiency

In response to a question from Councillor J Hugo in relation to collaboration with other services in relation to specialist assets, the DCFO explained that national arrangements were in place under the NFCC but each service must assess its risk and have sufficient provisions to meet this risk. He explained that services supported each other, with Lancashire a lead for things like fire dogs, providing support to other services with recharge arrangements in place. Additionally, services reviewed training arrangements and collaborated to ensure all training resources were available to all services, citing an example of high rise training with Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service. The service also worked with the Environment Agency to provide resources to stop pollution at incidents. The Assistant Chief Fire Officer (ACFO) added that various services would be visiting Lancashire following the services outstanding HMICFRS report, where the service would share best practice. She explained that the service was always looking to improve and researched best practice across the country before making decisions, recently this had included for the procurement of 4x4 type fire engines. Lancashire’s Chief Fire Officer was the national lead for wildfires and was developing the introduction of wildfire assets across the country. AM Powell added that there were a number of internal groups in relation to equipment and regional procurement that contributed to collaboration and efficiency within the region.

County Councillor U Arif remarked that the drone technology was very impressive and the service was getting ahead of the curve. The ACFO added that the use of drones and the services’ robot reduced the risk to firefighters and fire dogs by allowing access to areas whilst crews maintained a safe distance from the incident.

The report was moved by Councillor J Hugo and seconded by County Councillor U Arif.

Resolved: That the Planning Committee noted and endorsed the Annual Service Plan for publication.