Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies.

RESOLVED:

That Councillor Franks be elected as Vice-Chair of the Policy and Challenge Group for 2018-19.

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 (see note below).

3.1       There were no declarations of interest.

4.1       There were no communications.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 15 March 2018.

RESOLVED:

That the Minutes of the meeting held on 15 March 2018 be confirmed and signed as a true record.

To consider Terms of Reference

6.1       The Group received its current Terms of Reference for review.  No changes were recommended.

To consider a report

7.1       DCFO Hopkinson submitted the Quarter 4 and year-end project and performance report. He advised that a new project to replace the fleet management system had been added to the Service Delivery Programme Report. There may be opportunities to merge this with the asset tracking report and this was currently being considered.

7.2       The majority of projects were on track to deliver their outcomes within the targeted timescale with the exception of two projects.

7.3       The co-responding project which was reporting as red as the national trials had been suspended as part on the ongoing national pay and conditions negotiations.

7.4       The Emergency Services Mobile Communications Programme was reporting as amber due to changes in the national programme, which was currently being reviewed.

7.5       In relation to the co-location of the Ambulance Service at Dunstable Community Fire Station, SOC I Evans advised that the Ambulance Service had decided to locate their vehicles elsewhere and this opportunity for collaborative working was no longer being pursued.

7.6       In response to a question, SOC I Evans provided the background relating to the replacement mobilising system and the reasons why a procurement process had commenced for a new system. The primary reason was that Essex Fire and Rescue Service had decided to procure a new system that would be compliant with the new Emergency Services Network (ESN) with Essex Police, Kent Fire and Rescue Service and Kent Police. Therefore there was no option to extend the partnership agreement beyond the contractual end date of late 2019/early 2020. There was also a significant cost associated with upgrading the current system to ensure that it was ESN compliant and minor glitches relating to the data capture functionality with the system creating “ghost data”.

7.7       Members were assured that the data reporting glitches did not affect the mobilisation of appliances and resources and that the current system was more robust, effective and resilient than the Service’s previous mobilising system.

7.8       Members requested an update on the RMS project, including some background information, focusing on the option that had been selected as the way forward and the scope of the work to be undertaken in partnership with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk Fire and Rescue Services.

7.9       DCFO Hopkinson presented the performance information for Quarter 4 and year-end. The target for Pi01 (the rate and number of primary fires) had been exceeded by 7%. This was largely attributable to increases in dwelling and road vehicle fires and reflected a national increase in these types of fires. The Service was actively working with partners to identify targeted action that could be introduced to combat this increase.

7.10     Pi02 (the rate and number of primary fire fatalities) had missed its target as there had been four fire fatalities during the year. One incident related to a late call of fire, two had been non-accidental and the final incident the individual had passed away days after the actual fire. The findings of the Coroner’s inquests were awaited.

7.11     Pi03 (the rate and number  ...  view the full minutes text for item 18-19/SD/7

To consider a report

8.1       DCFO Hopkinson reported that all actions had been completed.

RESOLVED:

That progress made against current action plans be acknowledged.

To consider a report

9.1       SOC G Jeffery presented the year-end results of customer satisfaction surveys conducted from 1 April 2017-31 March 2018. During this period, the Service had achieved a 99% customer satisfaction rate. 94% of the respondents had been very satisfied.

9.2       1,506 surveys had been completed during 2017/18, an increase from the 1,186 surveys completed in 2016/17. This was over a 50% rate of return.

9.3       49 compliments and 8 complaints had been received in 2017/18. Complaints had reduced from 14 during 2016/17. The majority of complaints had been resolved at Stage 1 of the complaints process. Only one remained outstanding.

9.4       DCFO Hopkinson confirmed that the Service sought continuous improvement. The incidents relating to the responses stating that the Service arrived slower than expected would be investigated to determine if the response was over the Service’s agreed response times.

RESOLVED:

That the high levels of customer satisfaction achieved throughout the year be acknowledged and the changes in the method of gathering data trialled during 2016/17 that have now been implemented for 2017/18 following the change from Home Fire Safety Checks to Safe and Well visits be noted.

To receive a verbal update

10.1     There were no exceptions to report.

To consider a report

11.1     SOC G Jeffrey presented the review of the Corporate Risk Register.

11.2     The risk rating of CRR046 (Due to the range of factors which deplete the number of staff available to crew fire appliances there is a risk of incurring excessive cost if pre-arranged overtime is relied upon to maintain crewing and crewing arrangements will lack resilience) had been reduced following a review of the risk, risk control and action plan. Both the inherent risk and the inherent likelihood had reduced. The overall risk rating had been reduced from 12 to 4.

11.3     CRR046 had also been updated as the Service was satisfied that the policy and procedure changes had enabled greater control and monitoring of crewing levels to reduce the burden of over-time expenditure.

RESOLVED:

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

To consider a report

12.1     The Group received its work programme and noted that two additional items had been added to the agenda for its next meeting on 19 September 2018 earlier in the meeting.

12.2     DCFO Hopkinson provided an update on the HMICFRS Inspection Process. The “discovery” week had recently taken place and initial feedback that staff had positively engaged with the inspectors. The Key Lines of Enquiry were being developed and the strategic briefing to the HMICFRS by the CFO and Senior Management Team had been arranged for 18 July 2018.

12.3     The onsite inspection was planned to take place during the week commencing 30 July 2018. DCFO suggested that the report would take 3-4 months to prepare but that a hot debrief would be presented back to the CFO and FRA Chair at the end of the onsite week.

12.4     The Chair reminded the Group of forthcoming Station Open Days that were taking place during the summer.

RESOLVED:

That the Work Programme be received.