Agenda and minutes

of the previous meeting held on 11 November 2022 (attached).

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting held on 11 November 2022 be signed as a correct record.

Report of the Director of Service Delivery (CSC/23/1) attached.

The Committee received for information a report of the Director of Service Delivery (CSC/23/1) on performance by the Service during Quarter 3 of the current (2022-23) financial year against those Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) associated with the following two Strategic Priorities as approved by the Authority for 2022-23 (Minute DSFRA/21/36 refers):

Strategic Priority 1: “Our targeted prevention and protection activities will reduce the risks in our communities, improving health, safety and wellbeing and supporting the local economy”; and

Strategic Priority 2: “Our operational resources will provide an effective emergency response to meet the local and national risks identified in our Community Risk Management Plan”.

The performance status of the Service KPIs was based on the following criteria:

The report identified the following in relation to Quarter 3 performance against the 21 KPIs associated with Strategic Priority 1 and the 14 KPIs associated with Strategic Priority 2:

In relation to the two Priority 1 (number of dwelling fire fatalities; rate of hospitalisations in other primary fires per 100,000 population) and one Priority 2 (percentage of operational risk information in date – level 4 tactical plans) KPIs requiring improvement, exception reports were provided giving an analysis of the performance and actions either proposed or in-train to address the issues. It was also noted that:

·         The exception for dwelling fire fatalities stemmed from two fatal fires where, although the emergency response standard had not been met, this would not have had resulted in a different outcome;

·         The exception report for the rate of hospitalisations in other primary fires per 100,000 population was dealing with very low numbers, making the rate subject to significant fluctuations. More meaningful monitoring could be ensured by assessing the rate of injuries within expected ranges, based on historical performance, with exception reports generated only where performance fell outside the upper limit;

·         The exception report on the percentage of operational risk information in date – level 4 tactical plans related to refreshing existing plans rather than the requirement for new plans. Measures were in place to address fully the backlog by early in 2023.

The Committee welcomed the considerable improvements recorded for the number of home fire safety visits completed, the number of fire safety checks completed and the number of fire safety audits completed and asked to have placed on record its thanks and appreciation for the work of staff involved in securing these improvements.

(See also Minute *CSC/22/9 below).

Report of the Director of Service Delivery (CSC/23/2) attached.

The Committee received for information a report of the Director of Service Improvement (CSC/23/2) on a change, to be effective from 1 April 2023, to the Key Performance Indicator for risk-priority pumps.

At present, there were some 56 appliances based at 55 stations designated as risk-priority pumps, based on risk profiling from the former Fire Service Emergency Cover (FSEC) toolkit.

Following implementation of the Service Delivery Operating Model (SDOM), adoption of the new Community Risk Management Plan and utilisation of new risk modelling tools, the number of risk-priority pumps had been reviewed and an optimum number of 34 risk-priority pumps determined which would achieve:

·         Compliance with Home Office minimum business continuity requirements;

·         The highest level of risk mitigation; and

·         The best geographical spread to remain within 15% of the emergency response standards and achieve a mean first attendance of less than 10 minutes for a dwelling fire and 15 minutes for a road traffic collision.

(See also Minute *CSC/22/8 above).

Report of the Deputy Chief Fire Officer (CSC/23/3) attached.

The Committee received for information a report of the Deputy Chief Fire Officer (CSC/23/3) on progress against action plans to address Areas of Improvement within the remit of this Committee and stemming from His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) 2022 inspection report of the Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service (the Service).

Action plans had been developed to address the following two Areas for Improvement:

1.    The Service should evaluate its prevention activity so it understands what works; and

2.    Safeguarding training should be provided to all staff.

The report indicated that progress against each of the action plans was on track to secure completion by the relevant target dates.

Report of the Director of Service Delivery (CSC/23/4) attached.

The Committee received, for information, a report of the Director of Service Delivery (CSC/23/4) on involvement by the Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service (the Service) in the  delivery of national resilience capability (Urban Search and Rescue (USAR); mass decontamination; high-volume pumping; enhanced logistic support; and marauding terrorist attack specialist response teams).

The report identified that training was provided by the hosting fire and rescue service, with an overall Lead Authority (currently, Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service) providing assurance to the government that the capability was fit for purpose to address the risks identified on the national risk register and liaising with the government to ensure that national resilience capabilities were appropriately funded.

The assurance process involved a three-year cycle of:

·         Year 1 – self-assessment;

·         Year 2 – Zonal practice assurance exercise; and

·         Year 3 – national exercise.

supported by a number of local exercises.

To date, this assurance mechanism was proving successful in demonstrating that the Service national resilience capabilities were fit for purpose.

Report of the Director of Service Delivery (CSC/23/5) attached.

The Committee received for information a report of the Director of Service Delivery (CSC/23/5) on activities by the Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service in discharging responsibilities under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.

The Service operated a risk-based inspection programme covering some 170,000 premises in Devon and Somerset, with resources targeted to have the biggest impact on public safety.

Where possible, the Service would assist responsible persons (as defined in the Order) in complying with the legislation to keep people safe. The Service could, however, enforce the provisions of the Order as necessary through legal notices, prohibitions and prosecutions.