Agenda item

The current Member Champions and their areas of responsibility were:

·         Community Safety – County Councillor Andy Blake

·         Equality, Diversity and Inclusion – Councillor Salim Sidat

·         Health and Wellbeing – County Councillor Sohail Asghar

·         Road Safety – County Councillor Jordan Fox.

Reports relating to the activity of the Member Champions were provided on a regular basis to the Authority. This report related to activity for the period up to 26 April 2026.

Member Champions and the ACFO highlighted details within the reports and expressed thanks to the officers who supported them in their roles. 

In response to a question from the chair in relation to the Lancashire Faith Forum and the involvement of methodists, the ACFO explained that the Lancashire Faith Forum involved partner agencies and built trust with faith groups, she would ensure that methodist groups were included. County Councillor L Parker asked for further information relating to the term ‘building trust’, the ACFO explained that this ensured that faith groups had equality of access to services and understanding risks and barriers would allow trust to be built. County Councillor D Howarth asked if trust was also built with non-religious groups, the ACFO confirmed that prevention reviews and the services strategic assessment of risk allowed for vulnerabilities to be identified and the risks associated with those to be understood and used to build trust. Councillor J Hugo remarked that the service was fortunate in that there was generally a large amount of public trust surrounding the fire service which was underpinned by this report and various community events held including car washes and fundraisers.

In response to a question from the chair in relation to exit interviews, the Director of People and Development (DoPD) explained that the service was digitalising the exit interview process and adapting the questions to be more in depth and capture more information, specifically relating to on-call firefighters who had a higher turnover rate. The chair requested that a report on this be taken to Performance Committee.

County Councillor M Clifford declared a non-pecuniary interest as he was a Director at Cuerden Valley Park. He updated members on the Firelight Project which had been developed by Cuerden Valley Park Trust in collaboration with Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service (LFRS), Lancashire Police and the North West Ambulance Service (NWAS). The project aimed to establish a mental health and wellbeing hub within Cuerden Valley Park to support those serving in Blue Light and associated services. The programme delivered a range of experience-led conservation activities through regular weekly sessions in the park. County Councillor M Clifford invited members to a fundraiser at Cuerden Valley Park for the Firelight Project on 20 June 2026.

In response to a question from Councillor D Smith in relation to food waste recycling, the DCFO confirmed that implementation of this was ongoing within the service. County Councillor D Smith added that this saved approximately £100 per tonne of recycled food waste.

County Councillor L Parker commented that he would like to see more information in relation to flooding and climate change. The CFO explained that a report relating to flooding had recently been taken to the Performance Committee and this could be brought to the Strategy Group alongside requested information on wildfires, and drone technology.

The chair remarked that he was pleased to see that the service had been working with young farmers.

Member feedback

County Councillor M Clifford expressed his thanks to Station Manager Mark Evans who had given a talk on the service at his recent annual parish council meeting.

Councillor J Hugo provided feedback relating to a recent Mayor’s Parlour event within Blackpool which a number of firefighters who had been given a commendation for their work at an incident attended. She expressed her gratitude to the officers involved.

Councillor J Hugo had also recently attended a retired members association event at Samlesbury Hall in which a drone demonstration had taken place for which she expressed her thanks to all involved.

The report was proposed by Councillor J Hugo.

Resolved: - That the Authority noted the report and acknowledged the work of the respective Champions.