Issue - meetings

Cabinet Member: Safer & Stronger Communities

Forward Plan Ref: 2010/143

Contact: Dave Etheridge, Chief Fire Officer Tel: (01865) 855205/Colin Thomas, Acting Deputy Chief Fire Officer Tel: (01865) 855206

Report by Chief Fire Officer (CA11).

This report proposes the projects to be included within the Fire Authority’s Integrated Risk Management (IRMP) Action Plan for the fiscal year 2011-12.  The proposals summarise those areas where the Service’s Senior Leadership Team (SLT) believe service improvements should be made.  To meet the requirements of the IRMP process each proposal is supported by evidence to validate their inclusion and justify their contribution to improved community engagement and community/fire-fighter safety.  Each proposal recognises the prevailing economic constraints.

The proposals for the 2011-12 Action Plan are as follows:

Project 1:

•               Permanent removal of the second appliance from Faringdon from the Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service (OFRS) fleet.
  

Project 2:

•               Implementation of the specialist appliance review of 2010/11.  (Continuation of 2010/11 IRMP project 2).

Project 3:

•               To review and enhance appropriate safeguarding measures throughout OFRS.

Project 4:

•               To design and implement a protection and prevention strategy enabling targeted activities to those most at risk.

Project 5:

•               To enhance the role of Retained Station Support Officers within their communities.     

Project 6:

•               Review the current provision of fire appliances to ensure operational resilience and value for money.  (Continuation of 2010/11 IRMP project 2).

These proposals were approved by the Cabinet Member and commented on by Safer and Stronger Communities Scrutiny Committee. They will be adopted in the final version of the IRMP Action Plan 2011-12, dependent upon the outcome of the consultation and Cabinet approval.  Each project will be subject to close monitoring, reviewed every quarter and reported to the Cabinet Member responsible for the Fire & Rescue Service.

The Cabinet  is RECOMMENDED to  approve the proposed projects to be included in the IRMP Action Plan 2011-12.

Cabinet considered a report (CA11) that proposed the projects to be included within the Fire Authority’s Integrated Risk Management (IRMP) Action Plan for the fiscal year 2011-12. The proposals summarised those areas where the Service’s Senior Leadership Team (SLT) believe service improvements should be made. To meet the requirements of the IRMP process each proposal was supported by evidence to validate their inclusion and justify their contribution to improved community engagement and community/fire-fighter safety. Each proposal recognised the prevailing economic constraints.

Colin Thomas, Deputy Chief Fire Officer responding to a query about the recruitment and retention of retained fire fighters indicated that although the total numbers were slightly reducing the quality of cover was targeted to times of need. This led to reducing levels of non-availability and increasing availability.

RESOLVED:             to  approve the proposed projects to be included in the IRMP Action Plan 2011-12.