Agenda item

To consider a report

The Deputy Chief Fire Officer provided an update on progress with the work commissioned as part of the current 2019-23 Community Risk Management Plan (CRMP), to review emergency cover provision and, specifically, the implementation of two pilots/trials in Luton and Central Bedfordshire.

The first related to the deployment of an additional peripatetic appliance. This had been delayed until November 2022. In the interim period, it was being proposed to primary crew one of the existing on-call rural fire appliances, once upgraded with the new hydraulic rescue equipment, which would respond to incidents in the eastern part of Bedfordshire and reduce the need for wholetime appliances in the north of the County to respond to incidents in that area. This would also reduce the number of occasions where neighbouring Fire and Rescue Services, such as Hertfordshire, were called to assist, and the costs associated with this. The analysis had identified that Shefford was the station that would have the greatest impact on improving response times but the appliance would be deployed wherever it would best improve availability.

The second pilot related to the relocation of a fire appliance from Luton Community Fire Station to Luton Ambulance Station for set periods during the day.

Whilst recognising that the relocation of an appliance somewhere between the railway station and the Luton and Dunstable Hospital would improve response times, many Members expressed concern about the specific location chosen, as this area was subject to very heavy traffic and surrounded by narrow roads down which it would be difficult to manoeuvre a fire appliance in heavy traffic conditions.

The Deputy Chief Fire Officer advised that the location had been identified through analysis of the heat map of incidents and modelling of response times. The immediate availability of the site was also a factor. It was anticipated that there would be an improvement in response times to incidents requiring two pumps to be mobilised, when compared to mobilisation from the existing station to Leagrave.

The Chief Fire Officer assured Members that if there was not a demonstrable improvement in response times, the pilot could be stopped at any time. Officers continue to explore other potential sites to undertake further trials to inform future proposals.

The Chair mentioned other pilots that had taken place and queried whether the firefighters involved in trials were advised of the outcome.

The Chief Fire Officer advised that the red route trial had not been successful and would not be pursued as there was no demonstrable impact. The Deputy Chief Fire Officer advised that the Service was still involved in youth diversion courses and that these had been very successful nationally.

In response to a question, the Deputy Chief Fire Officer reported that the costs of the Luton pilot were negligible, relating primarily to the provision of laptops for firefighters so that they could continue to undertake online training and complete administrative tasks whilst at Luton Ambulance Station. They would also identify a fireground around the station so that they could undertake Safe and Well visits and other normal duties. The crews would return to Luton in the evenings so sleeping quarters did not need to be provided. The costs of the additional crewed vehicle in the Shefford area had not yet been confirmed, but were in the region of £100 per hour in staff costs, for 10 hours per day. This would be funded through the on-call underspend.

It was noted that there was no pilot that specifically addressed response times within Bedford Borough but the trial in the eastern area of Central Bedfordshire would indirectly improve appliance availability in the Bedford Borough area.

In response to a further question, the Chief Fire Officer advised that real-time traffic information was not currently used on the fire appliances; however, the Service sought to be a “fast follower” of the technology once it was adopted by other Services. The new mobilising system already included Automatic Vehicle Location so that the Control Room could identify the nearest available appliance to an incident in terms of response time.

RESOLVED:

1.         That the proposal to temporarily relocate one fire appliance from Luton fire station to Luton ambulance station for set periods each day over an initial period of 6 months be supported.

2.         That the primary crewing of one of the Rural Fire Appliances during periods of low on-call availability, once upgraded with the new hydraulic cutting equipment, to reinforce appliance availability over an initial period of 6 months be supported.

3.         That it be agreed that a further report be received in the autumn detailing proposals to temporarily introduce an additional, fire appliance to the fleet, primary crewed at key times, to be deployed on a peripatetic basis as required.

4.         That it be agreed that a further update report be received detailing the impact of these two pilots and trials on appliance response times over the duration of the trials.