Agenda item

Report of the Director of Service Improvement (CSCPC/20/4) attached.

The Committee received for information a report of the Director of Service Improvement (CSCPC/20/4) that provided a high level overview of the progress made in respect of the Safer Together Programme.

The key achievements and progress made thus far on the four key workstreams included:

·        Service Delivery Operating Model

-        Pay for Availability (P4A) had been implemented with effect from 1 October 2020 with the first group of six stations moving over to the new system.  It was anticipated that a second group of stations would move across to P4A form 1 January 2021;

-        Risk Dependent Availability -  a schedule for rollout was being considered;

-        Roving appliances – a three phase approach to this had been introduced and the Service was interviewing for positions currently with rollout aimed to be 1 January 2021;

-        Removal/replacement of P2 appliances and L4P rollout was progressing well with the new 4x4 Ford Rangers (L4Ps) in place at 8 stations with a further 3 vehicles expected shortly;

-        Budleigh Salterton station sale had been completed now;

-        Topsham relocation was progressing well and building works had been commenced;

·        Fleet Replacement:

-        The new chassis for Medium Rescue Pumps (MRPs) had been ordered with delivery anticipated for Spring 2021;

-        The Service was now in receipt of all of the All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) which would be rolled out between November 2020 and January 2021;

-        Phase 1 of the Asset Management project was progressing with an upgrade of the functionality on fleet management systems being implemented currently;

·        Data and Digital:

-        The Management of Risk Information (MORI) project was progressing again now.  The first of the applications to be completed would be the MORI protection app which enabled increased capability for case management in business safety activity;

-        Digital transformation of data architecture also continued;

·        People Development:

-        A Watch Manager log book was being developed currently which would be followed for a version for each rank.  Work to explore apprenticeships for leadership and management at all levels within the organisation was also being progressed.

The Chair reiterated thanks on behalf of the Committee at this point to all of the staff in the organisation who were going above and beyond the call of duty.  The pandemic was ongoing but the Service was working through these difficult times.

The question was raised as to how long it might be before the Service had sufficient and reliable data upon which to measure any improvements to On Call availability.  The Director of Service Delivery advised that the Audit & Performance Review Committee had been tasked with setting up a Working Group to look at the new Emergency Response performance measures in future but he acknowledged that the availability of P1 fire appliances was key to this although with rostering of On Call staff under P4A, this may have a negative impact.

Reference was also made to the position on Aggregate Crewing.  The Director of Service Delivery advised that this was progressing but the Service wished to move to Asset Based Responding ultimately and was working towards implementation of an upgrade of the mobilisation system to achieve this in conjunction with the supplier.