Return to Agenda

Division(s): N/A

ITEM EX12

EXECUTIVE – 16 MARCH 2004

FIRE RISK MANAGEMENT PLANNING IN OXFORDSHIRE

Report by Director for Community Safety & Chief Fire Officer

Introduction

  1. On 28 October 2003 the Executive approved a Draft Integrated Risk Management Plan (IRMP) and Annual Action Plan 2004–05 for consultation. The Fire & Rescue Service has undertaken an extensive consultation exercise designed to inform both the community and its employees of the strategy and invite comment on the proposals. This report summarizes the outcome of the consultation and seek authority for finalisation of the Management Plan and Action Plan by 31 March in accordance with ODPM guidance.

  2. The Community Safety Scrutiny Committee members set up a small task group to consider the draft IRMP. Arrangements have been made for the group to discuss the draft in the light of the consultation responses and any comments on their part will be reported at the meeting.

    3. Background

  3. The IRMP provides the strategic direction for the County’s Fire & Rescue provision for the medium to long-term. IRMP is the process through which the Fire Authority will ensure that resources are effectively allocated to reduce and control the risk from fire and other emergencies and contribute to securing a safer community. In accordance with guidance provided by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM), the Fire & Rescue Service produced a draft IRMP on behalf of the Fire Authority.

  4. The draft IRMP establishes the relevant risks within the County, evaluates the current arrangements for mitigating those risks, identifies opportunities for service improvements and proposes ‘options’ to realise those opportunities. The IRMP process will provide robust evidence to support any proposed Service improvements and ensure that policies and standards are developed to monitor and manage performance. Fire & Rescue Service provision must respond to local needs and meet the expectations of the community and it is essential that all sections of the community have the opportunity to influence the strategy.

    5. Consultation

  5. The consultation was undertaken over a thirteen-week period and concluded on 29 February 2004. The consultation process involved the publication and distribution of over 400 copies of an Executive Summary document to a wide range of community stakeholders. Full versions of the draft IRMP, the Action Plan and Executive Summary were available in Libraries and other public buildings and on the County Councils website, incorporating an on-line response facility. The process was formally launched in the local media (print and radio) and feedback invited on either a response form or letter via a ‘Freepost’ mailbox, by email to a specific ‘mailbox’ or by telephone to the IRMP Team.

  6. The consultation process generated 29 responses via email and 43 by either fax or freepost. No comments were received via the on-line response option. Of the 72 responses, 26 made observations or recommendations for inclusion or amendment. Of these most, whilst valuable, were not relevant to the IRMP process. However, a number of offers and suggestions for developing partnership working have been followed up by the appropriate Officers and will be emphasised in the final draft.

  7. Improved fire-fighter safety is identified as a key objective of the IRMP and consequently consideration of internal stakeholders’ views was seen as critical to an effective consultation process. Employee representatives were provided with a full briefing from the IRMP Team and been involved throughout the development of the draft IRMP. The Fire Brigade’s Union was invited to make specific comment on both the strategy and the action plan. They were generally supportive of the Fire Authority’s approach but expressed concern over the potential resource implications, as yet unspecified, of a number of identified opportunities. As specific project plans are generated for these options the resource requirements will be quantified and the Fire Brigades Union will be consulted. They further expressed specific concerns in respect of the appropriateness of including Option Appraisals 2 and 5 in the Action Plan. These concerns are noted but it is believed that such concerns can be satisfactorily resolved as the details of the options are developed.

  8. Two stakeholder forums were held at Fire & Rescue Service Headquarters. These events attracted 55 representatives from organisations identified as key stakeholders. Additionally, members of the IRMP Team attended a number of existing forums, such as the Fire Liaison Panel and Oxford University liaison meeting, to provide information and receive feedback on the proposals. The forums are considered to have been a successful consultation exercise, based on the contribution to the events and subsequent responses from attendees. It should be noted, however, that a number of ‘key’ stakeholders (including Thames Valley Police and Oxfordshire Ambulance NHS Trust) were not represented.

  9. Members of a regional support team from the ODPM have provided guidance and advice throughout the development of the IRMP. Their observations and recommendations, offered as part of the consultation process, relate largely to the ‘presentation’ of the IRMP and will be incorporated in the final draft. Their observations in respect of the process are acknowledged and accepted and will be incorporated in the project plan for Option Appraisal 1.

  10. As a result of the consultation exercise, the draft IRMP will be modified to incorporate the recommendations of the ODPM Support Team. This will provide increased data (graphically represented) to support the narrative. The feedback from key stakeholders, including the Environment Agency, Oxford Brookes University and community groups representing the older person and those with disability, will also be incorporated to emphasise the existing reference to partnership working and social inclusion. These aspects will enhance the final version of the IRMP but will not materially alter either the strategic direction or the proposed actions for year one (2004 – 2005) as previously commended to the Executive.

    11. RECOMMENDATION

  11. The Executive is RECOMMENDED to:

          1. note the feedback from the consultation exercise and consider any comments that may be put forward on behalf of the Community Safety Scrutiny Committee;

          2. confirm the Integrated Risk Management Plan and Annual Action Plan 2004 – 2005 as presented to the Executive on 28 October 2003, subject to minor amendments in consequence of the response to consultation and to any changes arising from Community Safety Scrutiny comments;

          3. authorise the Director for Community Safety & Chief Fire Officer, in consultation with the Executive Member for Community Safety, to agree the final Risk Management Plan and Annual Action Plan for publication and distribution.

 

JOHN PARRY
Director for Community Safety & Chief Fire Officer

Background Papers: Nil

Contact Officer: Alan Hoar, Major Projects Manager Tel: (01865) 258503

March 2004

Return to TOP