ITEM CA9
CABINET – 19 FEBRUARY 2008
FIRE AUTHORITY’S INTEGRATED RISK MANAGEMENT PLAN 2008-2013 AND ACTION PLAN 2008-09
Report by the Director for Community Safety & Shared Services/Chief Fire Officer
Introduction
1. This report informs Cabinet on the progress of the projects from the 2007-08 Integrated Risk Management Plan Action Plan and the proposed projects for 2008-09, including the feedback from the public consultation exercise; which is a requirement of the IRMP.
2. The Action Plan 2007-08 was approved at the Delegated Decisions by the Cabinet Member for Community Safety on 17 September 2007 and contains six projects that form part of the delivery mechanism of the IRMP Strategic plan. These projects have aims and objectives with set miles-stones for monitoring progress which is achieved through the Project Implementation Team (PIT). The PIT provides written reports to the Cabinet Member for Community Safety and the Community Safety Scrutiny Committee every quarter.
3. Cabinet, under Delegated powers, approved the document for public consultation. The consultation process lasted for three months commencing in October 2007 and ended on 24 January 2008.
Background
4. Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Authority published its first IRMP in April 2004, providing the strategic direction for the next three to five years. The strategic document has been subjected to annual review and amended as required. The 2004-09 strategy is now to be replaced with the new IRMP 2008-13 strategy and is contained in the IRMP plan. This new document provides the Oxfordshire Fire & Rescue Service’s (OF&RS) strategy in dealing with identified and known risks in the county and sets out its priorities for the next three to five years and, subject to Cabinet approval, will be implemented on the 1 April 2008.
5. The six projects contained in the 2007-08 Action Plan contribute to the Service’s delivery of the overall IRMP strategy during any relevant period. As they progressed, the projects have been monitored by the PIT at regular intervals and reported to the Cabinet Member for Community Safety and the Community Safety Scrutiny Committee.
6. The proposals submitted for inclusion in the 2008-09 action plan have been determined by the professional judgement of the Service Delivery Leadership Team and ratified by the Strategic Leadership Team. The options within the documents have been subjected to a rigorous process of ‘risk analysis’, based on the standard advocated by the Institute of Risk Management and have been consulted widely during the three-month period from 24 October 2007 – 24 January 2008.
Progress of the projects from 2007-08 IRMP Action Plan
7. The following section summarises the progress of the projects that were covered in last years IRMP Action Plan.
Project 1 - Arson Reduction
It was identified through statistical data that arson is an area which requires greater focus and additional resources if the OF&RS are to be successful in targeting those people most at risk. Since this project commenced, OF&RS have employed an Arson Reduction Officer who, through the ‘Key Stage Schools’ programme and Oxfordshire’s business community, educate these groups in the dangers of arson. In addition, specialist officers investigate all suspicious fires, working in partnership with Thames Valley Police producing evidential reports.
The project has been completed within the timescales and has contributed to improving the F&RS response in this area and service to the public of Oxfordshire.
Project 2 - Heritage Protection
The county of Oxfordshire has a large number of buildings of national interest and heritage. This project is aimed at pre-incident gathering of information that will assist in improved outcomes (loss reduction of both buildings and contents) should an incident occur.
OF&RS have produced a draft procedure for dealing with heritage buildings and identification of such buildings working in partnership with, amongst others, the National Trust and has commenced operational audits of identified buildings to improve our knowledge and pre planning. This is carried out in partnership with the owners of such buildings.
This project has been completed within timescale and in-budget and will contribute towards the protection of heritage sites throughout the county for the future generations of Oxfordshire.
Project 3 - Fire Investigation
This review was completed with our Thames Valley partners over the last financial year and OF&RS has made good progress in improving the techniques and practices for fire investigation. All working practices have been reviewed and the outcomes converted to learning packages that have now been delivered to Station Managers. These will be updated regularly ensuring good understanding of Fire Investigation. Other Specialist Officers are programmed to receive training in Forensic & Electrical Fire Investigation in the next financial year (08-09) completing the initial foundation learning. All good practice will be shared with other Brigades in the region and the Fire Service College.
Fire Investigation is seen as a skill that needs to develop through the service and it is OF&RS’s aim to improve training to ensure that FI contributes to the reduction of incidents in the county.
The project was completed on time and in budget.
Project 4 - Environmental Protection
OF&RS responds to a large number of incidents, most of which in some way have a detrimental impact on environment and eco systems that exist therein. The Service has had a dedicated unit (Environmental Unit) based at Rewley Road for a number of years to combat the effects of incident pollution. In recent times, however, this has proved to be insufficient to meet increasing demand.
Over the last few years, environmental concerns have extended from primarily chemical type incidents to ‘all incidents’ such as fires, road traffic collisions etc. Consequently, environmental response has grown requiring improved response from the Service.
Over the last 12 months, through partnership working with the Environmental Agency, OF&RS have secured the funding for a new unit and additional equipment necessary to improve OF&RS’s response. The unit has been designed jointly with firefighters and workshops personnel. OF&RS’s policy has been reviewed and updated and training for the new equipment has commenced. The new environmental unit is expected to be ready for April 08.
The project was completed on time and in-budget.
Project 5 - Review Community Fire Safety
Community Fire Safety is key to OF&RS in delivering the 365 Alive campaign. The review that took place in November 2007 by South East Improvement Partnerships looked at how the communities of Oxfordshire can best be served through the current structure, strategy and resources in delivering CFS. The review scrutinised roles, responsibilities, functions, audit process, administration and reviewed current policies. A comprehensive report was produced, highlighting strengths and weaknesses, which will be fed into Service Planning in the medium and long term.
The project was completed on time and in-budget. Project 6 - Fire Cover Resilience
This project reviewed fire cover provision in the Vale of White Horse area and how best to use the current resources to improve fire cover in the area (resilience). The review examined crew availability, the use of crews from other areas/stations, the moving of fire appliances from one station to another and mobilising protocols. Each option has been validated through Fire Service Emergency Cover modelling to ensure that any changes will help maintain and/or improve fire cover in the area. This review will culminate in a full report in March 2008 making recommendations as to the balance of fire cover in the Vale area.
Project is on time and in budget.
IRMP Action Plan 2008-09
8. The following items summarise the projects proposed for inclusion in the IRMP Action Plan for the fiscal year 2008-09.
Water Rescue and Flood Provision
· Major Flood Emergencies review of Brigade capability in line with National Guidance document, also to include Water Rescue provision.
Review Animal Rescue Provision
· A complete review of all animal rescues across the county. This will cover areas of competency, equipment provision, personal protective equipment and risk assessments. · The review will also need to gauge the public’s expectations in this specialist area.
Review of Childcare Provision for Retained Duty Staff (RDS)
· Childcare arrangements for RDS personnel are anachronistic and can be seen as a barrier for entry into the service and to existing personnel, who are unable to provide extended hours of availability due to childcare issues. · (Note: The IRMP on Fire Cover Review identified recruitment and retention issues for RDS fire-fighters and this review would contribute to achieving this objective)
Retained Duty System - Review Crewing and Availability at Fire Stations
· The review will focus on stations that have a poor record of availability and the best way to support the station. The review will cover a raft of options, ie. using spare RDS personnel from other stations and/or on an overtime or detachment basis through Wholetime personnel and any other options that may be available. · (Note: The IRMP Fire Cover Review identified this as a potential way forward (alternative crewing option) to resolving fire cover deficiencies in the county)
Review of Rural/Agricultural Firefighting
· This review will consider OF&RS current procedures against national best practice to ensure compliance and will also include equipment provision and the potential for improvement to secure the safety of firefighters.
Foam Strategy Review
· The current foam strategy is no longer contemporary and has not been designed as a ‘treatment’ for today’s risk or the inherent negative environmental impact of older types of foam. The Water Carrier/Foam Tender also has limited application should larger scale foam offensive be required and is likely to impede operational procedures. · (Note: Primarily the foam review came from the 06-07 IRMP on Small Appliances)
The Implementation of the Roles and Appliance Provision at Kidlington Fire Station
· The implementation of the change to appliances and crewing provision at Kidlington fire station (involving Wholetime and RDS staff) based on the IRMP project report submitted by the Cherwell Fire Risk Manager and agreed by SLT. · The report concluded that the Day Crewing Firefighters at Kidlington are unable to carry out their current ‘dual’ role without compromising competency of one or both of their roles. · Day Crewing firefighters carry out a dual role of ‘conventional firefighting’ and ‘rescue technician’ as they crew the Brigade’s Rescue Tender which carries specialist rescue equipment. In recent years the training requirement for this specialist equipment has increased significantly and has impacted on their role, which means there is insufficient time available to maintain competency on all equipment and procedures to enable them to operate safely in a hostile environment. · (Note – This was carried over from the full review of appliances at Kidlington Fire Station during the IRMP 2006-2007) IRMP 2008-13 Strategic Document
9. The following summarises the IRMP 2008-13 Strategic Plan.
The IRMP Strategic Plan aligns itself to the National Priorities, which are:
· reducing the number of fires and other emergency incidents; · reducing the loss of life in fires and other emergency incidents; · reducing the severity of injuries in fires and other emergency incidents; · safe guarding the natural and built environment and our heritage for the future; · reducing the commercial, economic and social impact of fires and other emergency incidents; and · securing value for money and firefighter safety.
All of the above contribute to the ‘365 Alive’ vision in making our communities safer.
The overarching IRMP strategy identifies risk in the county and the performance separately in the five district areas. This includes analysis of:
· the population; · the built environment; · the F&RS infrastructure; · current activities and performance; · the future direction of the F&RS; and · its priorities and aspirations in delivering the three key areas of service delivery, ie. Prevention, Protection and Intervention, working from a foundation of protecting vulnerable people.
Consultation Feedback
10. The timing of this report has not provided sufficient time between the conclusion of the consultation (24 January 2008) and the report to Cabinet due by date (extended to 1 February 2008) to collect and respond to the consultation feedback. However, a summary of that feedback will be available verbally at the meeting of 19 February 2008.
Financial and Staff Implications
11. Financial Implications – there are no financial implications in respect to the new IRMP Strategy document 2008-13 and any financial implications in respect to the 2008-09 action plan are expected to be kept within existing budgets. Future reporting will be in accordance with agreed protocol and reported to Cabinet and Scrutiny members on quarterly basis via the Project Implementation Team.
Staff implications – there are no staffing implications in respect to either the IRMP Strategy document or the IRMP Action Plan. RECOMMENDATION
The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to approve the ILMP 2008-13 Strategy and the ILMP Action Plan 2008-09, subject to the inclusion of any amendments necessary as a result of the consultation process as agreed by the Directory for Community Safety & Shared Services / Chief Fire Officer in consultation with the Leader of the Council and the Cabinet Member for Community Safety.
JOHN PARRY Director for Community Safety & Shared Services/Chief Fire Officer
Background papers: Fire & Rescue Service (Draft) National Framework document 2008-11 Integrated Risk Management Plan Guidance Notes 1-7 OFRS SPD IRMP MAN/ADM/047
Contact Officer: Martin Crapper Tel; 01865 855279 or 07836 503320
February 2008
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