Agenda item

Report of the Director of Service Delivery (CSC/22/9) attached.

The Committee received for information a report of the Director of Service Delivery (CSC/22/9) on performance by the Service in:

·       Quarter 4 of the previous (2021-22) financial year; and

·       Quarter 1 of the current financial year (2022-23)

against those Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) associated with the following two Strategic Priorities as approved by the Authority for 2021-22 (Minute DSFRA/21/ 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:

In summary, the report identified that Quarter 4 performance (2021-22) against the KPIs was:

There were 2 Priority 1 KPIs needing improvement in this quarter which related to:

·       KPI 1.1.2.1 – the number of dwelling fire fatalities; and

·       KPI 1.1.4.1the number of home fire safety visits completed, which varied from target by 17.1% (14781 completed visits against a the target of 18000). The report identified the main factors behind the ability to deliver the expected level of productivity, together with actions intended to secure performance improvement.

In quarter 1 of 2022-23, the report identified that performance was:

There were 2 KPIs in this quarter needing improvement which related to:

·       KPI 1.1.2.1 – the number of dwelling fire fatalities; and

·       KPI 2.1.4.2. – percentage of operational risk information in date at level 4.

It was noted that there were exception reports for all 4 of the KPIs which had underperformed as included within the report circulated.

In debating the report, the following points were raised:

·       that the fire fatalities in both quarters were due largely to the age and lifestyle choices made by the victims but the Service continued to target resources to individuals most in need via the Home Fire Safety visit programme;

·       There was evidence to support the view that performance on fire fatalities was improving as this was based on a five year average and that the preventative work being undertaken was thus succeeding;

·       despite being below target in quarter 4 of 2021-22, the number of home fire safety visit had improved as a result of efforts made to improve the productivity of the wholetime staff;

·       that, in setting targets for prevention work, it was necessary to balance the quantity of visits undertaken with the quality of outcomes. In general terms, prevention activities were targeted at those groups identified as being most vulnerable;

·       the underperformance in quarter 1 of 2022-23 on the percentage of operational risk information in date at level 4 was due largely to the outcome of the Covid-19 pandemic.  Action had been taken to temporarily increase the number of inspectors in place following a number of retirements to assist in catching up with the visits

The Committee commented that it would be helpful if:

·       the reporting of the statistics could be consistent as there were differences in the statistics set out in the reports between quarter 4 of 2021-22 and quarter 1 of 2022-23 (such as on hospitalisation of casualties); and

·       that a review of the Service’s response times was undertaken to ensure they were fit for purpose.  It was noted that current response times were based on the risk to the community as set out within the Authority’s Community Risk Management Plan (CRMP).  This risk information had been cascaded down in Local Risk Management Plans and the Deputy Chief Fire Officer undertook to present information on this to a future meeting of the Committee.

It was noted that there were separate, in depth reports elsewhere on the agenda for this meeting in respect of Home Fire Safety Visits performance and the Fatal Fire Deaths Review.

NB.  Minutes CSC/22/2b,CSC/22/3, CSC/22/4 and CSC/22/6 also refer.