Agenda and minutes

An apology for absence was received from Councillor M Riaz.

Members are requested to disclose the existence and nature of any disclosable pecuniary interest and any other interests as required by the Fire Authority’s Code of Conduct.

There were no declarations of interest.

There were no communications.

* To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 1 December 2016

RESOLVED:

That the Minutes of the meeting held on 1 December 2016 be confirmed and signed as a true record.

* To consider a report

DCFO Ranger submitted a report on performance for the third quarter of 2016/17 and an update on the progress and status of the Service Delivery Programme and projects to date.

The Emergency Services Mobile Communications Programme project was rated as amber due to ongoing national delays.  This was a national programme to replace the current Airwave system.  The local project team was led by AC C Ball.

The Replacement Mobilising System was also rated as amber as the progress in implementing the mobile data terminals was ongoing with an expected completion date in May 2017.

GC D Cook advised that the Code of Connection had been submitted to the Home Office and had recently been approved. Essex Fire and Rescue Service had commenced a pilot of the mobile data terminals at four of its stations and this had been well received, with only minor issues identified.

The Retained Duty System Improvement Project was rated as green and significant progress had been made.  It was acknowledged that RDS availability was a long term challenge and that the aim of the project was to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the RDS.  The introduction of an online application process for on-call firefighters would help reduce the length of the recruitment process.

Future improvements planned included the integration of the 4i mobilising system with the Gartan RDS availability module.

In relation to the performance data, Members noted that it was a largely positive report with the majority of performance indicators reaching or exceeding target levels.

DCFO Ranger reported on PI02 (primary fire fatalities).  There had been four fire fatalities during the year to date, which was over the target of fewer than three.  Although the view was expressed that there were circumstances beyond the control of the Fire Service that contributed to fire fatalities, it was recognised that prevention work reduced the risk of loss of life and there had been a continuing downward trend nationally in the number of fire fatalities.

PI04 (deliberate (arson) fires) was reporting as amber for the quarter as the figures were still being impacted by the seasonal spike in quarter 2.  It was anticipated that this would be rectified by year-end.

DCFO Ranger advised that PI06 (number of deliberate building fires) had achieved 50% better than its target.  There was no seasonal trend in this type of arson fire.

It was suggested that arson was an area that would benefit from collaborative working and that this should be referred to the next meeting of the Collaboration Working Group.

The issues affecting the performance of PI11 (the percentage of occasions when our response time for critical fire incidents were met against agreed response standards) had been discussed previously and largely related to RDS availability.  Members were assured that the first fire appliance arrived at the incident within the time period set out in the agreed response standards.  This indicator measured the arrival of the second fire appliance.

PI19 (percentage of FAM and HOAX calls – not attended) was  ...  view the full minutes text for item 16-17/SD/38

* To consider a report

DCFO submitted the proposed Service Delivery Performance Indicators and associated targets for 2017/18 to the Group for approval.  He reported that it was proposed that a number of the targets be based on a 5% reduction to the three-year average.

As discussed under the previous item, it was being proposed that the target for PI26 (the percentage of fire safety audits carried out on high and very high risk premises) be changed from a number to a percentage as the number of premises in those categories fluctuated throughout the year.

This was agreed with the proviso that the full-year numerical figure of audits undertaken on high and very high risk premises be reported to Members at year-end.

RESOLVED:

That the proposed Service Delivery Performance Indicators and Targets and Information Measures for 2017/18 as set out in Appendix A of the submitted report be endorsed.

* To consider a report

The Group received the internal audit in relation to the Data Quality- Incident Recording System.  The audit had been awarded an opinion of reasonable assurance and had identified gaps in the control framework for data quality from the Incident Reporting System.

An action plan had been developed and was currently being progressed for implementation in May 2017.

RESOLVED:

That the associated managements comments and actions which will be added to the Service Delivery Audit and Governance Action Plan Monitoring Report be acknowledged.

* To consider a report

SOC I Evans provided the Group with an update on the outcomes of the pilot to provide assistance to gain entry to premises in case of medical emergency. The pilot had originally been intended for a 6 month trial period.  This period had already been exceeded and a final evaluation by this Service, the Police and Ambulance Service had not yet been undertaken.

The results of the pilot to date indicated that the Service was making a positive improvement to outcomes and providing a valuable service to the community and appeared to be a good use of the Service’s resources.

There had been a number of issues raised, particularly in relation to call handling and the boarding up of premises.

It was noted that on 63 of the 220 incidents, the Fire and Rescue Service was the first emergency service in attendance.  The Service’s role as set out in the memorandum of understanding was to gain access in cases of medical emergencies, although there had been occasions when an initial medical response had been provided whilst Ambulance Service attendance was awaited.

RESOLVED:

That the report be acknowledged.

* To receive a verbal update

There were no exceptions to report.

SOC Evans advised that the operational decision making procedures were being updated in line with national guidance on operational discretion.

* To consider a report

SOC Jeffery introduced the customer satisfaction results for the third quarter of 2016/17 (1 October – 31 December 2016). 99% of respondents across all survey areas were either very or fairly satisfied with the overall service provided.

The Service had received three complaints during the quarter. SOC Jeffrey advised that these had now been resolved. 21 compliments had been received during the same period.

RESOLVED:

That the report and the continuing excellent levels of customer satisfaction be acknowledged.

* To consider a report

GC Cook submitted the update on the review of the Corporate Risk Register in relation to Service Delivery.  There had been no changes to individual risk ratings and updates had been provided for CRR44 (if the Service does not have a reliable accurate system for continuously monitoring and updating the availability and skills of Retained Duty System (RDS) operational personnel and RDS appliances then there could be delays in mobilising the nearest available appliance to emergency incidents.  This could significantly impact upon the effectiveness and mobilising of our emergency response, increase risks to firefighters and the community, reduce our ability to monitor performance, undermine RDS employees confidence in the Service and could result in negative media coverage) and CRR46 (due to a range of factors which deplete the number of staff available to crew fire appliances the cost of using of pre-arranged overtime to cover wholetime crewing has become excessive and crewing arrangements lack resilience).

RESOLVED:

That the review by the Service of the Corporate Risk Register in relation to Service Delivery be approved.

* To consider a report

The Group considered its work programme for 2016/17.

RESOLVED:

That the work programme be received.

* To receive a presentation

Mr I Howarth, Partnership Development Manager, gave a presentation on current and proposed collaboration with other emergency services.  The Service had positive working relationships with both the Police and the Ambulance Service and a number of collaborative workstreams were in progress.

This included the sharing of estate, with Bedfordshire Police having a presence at Ampthill, Bedford and Leighton Buzzard fire stations and Shefford and Luton being considered as tri-service stations with the Police and Ambulance Service.

The Service was also working with the Police in relation to vulnerable people searches, use of unmanned aircraft vehicles and the operational deployment of body worn cameras.

Closer working between the tri-service control rooms had been agreed with daily briefings to share intelligence over the JESIP channel planned.  This would also fulfil the line test requirements.

Mr Howarth reported on future opportunities for collaboration that were currently under consideration.  These included joint training, occupancy of Bury Park Community Centre, active listening training for Fire Control staff, joint working on community safety initiatives with Luton Borough Council and cooperation with the Police on the ‘Herbert Protocol’ to search for missing vulnerable people with dementia.

RESOLVED:

That the presentation be received.