PAPER C
FIRE AND PUBLIC SAFETY SELECT COMMITTEE – 13 OCTOBER 2003
FIRE AUTHORITY INTEGRATED RISK MANAGEMENT PLAN –
CONSULTATION
REPORT OF THE CHIEF FIRE OFFICER
REASON FOR SELECT COMMITTEE CONSIDERATION
The government has
required each Fire Authority to produce an Integrated Risk Management Plan and
associated Improvement Programme. The
Council’s proposed Fire Authority Integrated Risk Management Plan is attached as
Appendix A and the Improvement Programme is attached as Appendix B.
The FAIRMaP consultation phase commenced 1 October 2003. Feedback on the attached Strategy and
Improvement Programme is required from all sections of the community.
ACTION REQUIRED BY
THE SELECT COMMITTEE
To consider the FAIRMaP as part of the
consultation process and feedback any comments to the Chief Fire Officer.
BACKGROUND
For many years now it has been recognised by Central
Government, Fire Authorities, Fire Service personnel and the wider fire
community that prevention is better than cure and that the Fire and Rescue
Service should refocus from intervention to prevention. However, the Standards of Fire Cover first put
in place over 50 years ago hindered that change of emphasis.
The
Government has now decided that if the Fire and Rescue Service is to save more
lives and prevent injuries then they must be allowed to make this change. Accordingly the Office of the Deputy Prime
Minister (ODPM) has instructed every Fire Authority to compile an Integrated
Risk Management Plan, that is a strategic document setting out the underlying
fire policy for its area and an Improvement Programme that details the year on
year improvements that will be made to improve Fire and Rescue Service
delivery.
The ODPM
has also announced that the existing Standards of Fire Cover will be withdrawn
so freeing Fire Authorities to make the most appropriate provision for Fire and
Rescue Services for their area and not have to comply with national standards
that do not fully take into account local circumstances and priorities.
Sections 3, 4 and
6 of the Fire Authority Integrated Risk Management Plan (FAIRMaP) (Appendix A)
give more detail on the Background, Purpose and Methodologies behind the
FAIRMaP process.
RELEVANT PLANS, POLICIES, STRATEGIES AND
PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
The FAIRMaP has been compiled in accordance with
National Government policy and has drawn heavily on advice contained in Fire Service
Circulars and that given directly by the Fire Service Inspectorate.
The Council’s
Corporate Plan has the strategic objective of:
“Creating safe and
crime free communities.” and to achieve this the Council aims to:
“Support the
continued provision of a locally controlled, managed and delivered Fire and
Rescue Service.”
The FAIRMaP, with its emphasis on prevention and
improved public safety, links directly to the Council’s delivery of the
strategic objectives referred to above.
CONSULTATION PROCESS
The Fire and Public Safety Select Committee
considered the FAIRMaP consultation process at their meeting on 9 June
2003.
All members of Fire and Rescue staff have had the
opportunity to attend a session conducted by the Chief Fire Officer on FAIRMaP
and further consultation meetings are scheduled throughout October and
November. Likewise, the Fire Brigades’
Union and other relevant Trades Unions have been informed about the FAIRMaP
process and will be consulted as part of the overall consultation strategy.
The Consultation process started on 1 October
2003 and copies of the Plan and Improvement Programme have been sent to all
stakeholders. Copies are available for
members of the public via libraries, customer service centres, fire stations and
the web site. A publicity campaign has
been carried out and leaflets will be distributed via the County Press on 10
October 2003.
The Directors’ Group have considered the FAIRMaP
and Improvement Programme and support the overarching policy of a move to a
preventative strategy.
FINANCIAL, LEGAL, CRIME AND DISORDER
IMPLICATIONS
Sub section 5.1 of the FAIRMaP (Appendix A)
refers to the general financial implications.
The detailed budget implications of the FAIRMaP
and Improvement Programme will be considered as part of the normal budget
planning process. Given the emphasis on
the FAIRMaP and it being the foundation that the service will in future be
built upon the whole of the Fire and Rescue Service budget is arguably directly
linked to the FAIRMaP.
Section 1. (1)(a) of the Fire Service Act 1947
places a duty upon every Fire Authority to “make provision for fire-fighting
purposes and in particular secure – the services for their area of such a fire
brigade and such equipment as may be necessary to meet efficiently all normal
requirements”.
The FAIRMap sets out how the Council
will fulfil that duty.
It is anticipated that later this year a new Fire
Service Bill will be tabled before Parliament based upon the White Paper “Our Fire
and Rescue Service”. This Bill is
almost certain to place an explicit duty on Fire Authorities to produce an
Integrated Risk Management Plan.
The Council also has a statutory duty to
undertake Best Value reviews of its services.
The continual cycle of review and consultation contained within FAIRMaP
Improvement Programme will address this duty in respect of the Fire and Rescue
Service.
APPENDICES ATTACHED
Appendix
A – Fire Authority’s Integrated Risk Management, Strategic Plan – Consultation
Draft
Appendix B – Fire
Authority’s Integrated Risk Management Plan, Improvement Plan – Consultation
Draft
All background papers are listed in Section 12 of
the FAIRMaP (Appendix A).
Contact Point : Richard Hards, Chief Fire Officer, ' 823199, e-mail [email protected]
RICHARD HARDS
Chief Fire Officer