Agenda item

The Committee has requested an update on the Fire and Rescue Improvement Programme.

The Committee has invited Cllr Jenny Hannaby, Cabinet member for Community Safety, to present the report and Rob MacDougall, Chief Fire Officer and Director of Community Safety, to answer the Committee’s questions.

The Committee is asked to consider the report and raise any questions, and to AGREE any recommendations it wishes to make to Cabinet arising therefrom.

The Committee will adjourn at the conclusion of this item and will reconvene at 14:00.

The Committee requested an update on the Fire and Rescue Improvement Programme, and invited Cllr Jenny Hannaby, Cabinet member for Community Safety, to present the report and Rob MacDougall, Chief Fire Officer and Director of Community Safety, to answer the Committee’s questions.

The Cabinet Member introduced the fire and rescue service improvement item by noting the report provided an update on progress addressing areas for improvement identified in the latest inspection, highlighting that six critical areas had been addressed and emphasising the success of the dynamic improvement pipeline and the Fire Improvement Board. The Chief Fire Officer added that 26 areas for improvement had been identified, with six completed, and explained the importance of fire survival guidance, the structure of the improvement programme, and the involvement of the inspectorate liaison officer to ensure progress and oversight.

The Chief Fire Officer clarified that the inspection took place in January, but the report was not published until July, explaining an apparent discrepancy in the scrutiny report.

The Committee raised the following questions:

·       The Committee enquired about staff morale in the fire service amid proposed changes and the potential for a greater role for cadets. The Chief Fire Officer explained that morale was monitored via surveys and ongoing staff engagement, acknowledging that consultations regarding changes had had some impact. He highlighted the value of cadets, noting six active units across the county, and stressed their positive role in youth engagement and community support. However, expansion of the cadet programme depended on resources and the availability of volunteers.

·       How were the fire and rescue service addressing plans for retirements and recruitment, including succession planning. The Chief Fire Officer stated that succession and workforce planning were ongoing areas of attention, with an establishment board that regularly reviewed retirements, staff turnover, and recruitment requirements. Succession planning was identified as an area for improvement in the inspection report and was being addressed.

·       The procedures regarding how the fire and rescue service monitored response times, as well as the handling of exceptions such as instances where response times exceed targets, were addressed. It was clarified that response times were tracked through the Council’s monthly business monitoring report, with defined targets established for attending calls within set timeframes. Any responses exceeding 14 minutes were subject to investigation, and this data was published in the annual performance report, which was subsequently presented to the committee for review.

·       The Committee enquired about the expected timeline for completing the identified areas for improvement and the safety outcomes, particularly those related to the fire cover model. The Chief Fire Officer confirmed that the areas for improvement currently on hold were anticipated to be completed within this financial year, with all issues resolved prior to the next inspection. The fire cover model was clarified as a means of enhancing service delivery and implementing key safety measures identified by the inspectorate, rather than a cost-saving initiative. The Committee was to receive further detailed updates on these developments in due course.

The Committee adjourned for lunch at 12:30 and reconvened at 14:00.

Cllr Gordon left the meeting at this stage.