Agenda item

To consider a report

The Chief Fire Officer introduced the final draft of the 2023-27 Community Risk Management Plan (CRMP) prior to being prepared for publication.

It was noted that the CRMP had gone through an extensive consultation process and had been well-received by the public and partner organisations.

A decision had been made to retain the four-year life of the CRMP, which corresponded with the election cycle, rather than extend it to 5 years.

The CRMP itself began with a forward from the Chair and the Chief Fire Officer and then went on to explain about the Authority and the Service, the values and behaviours and the adopted approach to risk management.

Six strategic commitments were set out in the CRMP, with the first three focused on the delivery of core services and the latter three focused on enabling the delivery of those services.

The actions for 2023/24 were set out at Appendix 1 to the report and included:

·         making better use of digital technology to improve engagement and build a better risk profile of the local community so that prevention services can be targeted to the most vulnerable;

·         taking delivery of a new Road Safety Vehicle, funded through the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, to raise awareness of the dangers of poor driving;

·         improving emergency response performance;

·         continuing to invest in recruitment, development and retention of staff;

·         updating the Service’s range of specialist capabilities to ensure that it is line with the changing risk landscape;

·         hosting Bedfordshire Local Resilience Forum from April 2023;

·         incorporating learning from the London Fire Brigade Cultural Review report, to ensure that staff are provided with a working environment in which they feel safe and supported;

·         establishing a Productivity and Efficiency Board to ensure that a balanced budget is prepared over the life of the CRMP; and

·         improving the availability of on-call fire appliances.

In response to a question on the Road Safety Vehicle, the Deputy Chief Fire Officer reported that this was a virtual reality multi-seated van.

In response to a question about the gender and race pay gaps, the Assistant Chief Fire Officer advised that the gender pay gap was reported on an annual basis as required by statute. She agreed that there was more that the Service could do to monitor the pay gaps based on race.

The Chief Fire Officer added that improving data capture was one of his key Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) priorities. A Head of Culture post was being created to replace the Head of Human Resources and consideration was being given as to how EDI advice could be provided throughout the organisation, including the reinstatement of a staff EDI Forum.

Members noted the intention to establish a Community Forum, which could also assist with EDI issues.

In relation to assets and ensuring links with the constituent authorities’ Local Plans, the Chief Fire Officer made reference to forthcoming workshops of the Bedfordshire Chief Executives Forum where data-sharing and estates would be discussed. The Service also worked with Planning Departments to ensure it had full access to the Community Infrastructure Levy funding.

As this was the last item on the agenda, the Chair thanked all Members and Officers for their hard work and support over the year.

The Chief Fire Officer added his thanks to Members and wished those standing in the forthcoming elections good luck.

RESOLVED:

That the final draft of the Authority’s next 4-year Community Risk Management Plan (CRMP) covering the period 2023-27 be approved.