Agenda item

(To receive a report from Dan Quinn (Planning, Prevention and Protection Assistant Chief Fire Officer), which provides key performance information for 2018/19, in relation to the work of Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue)

10:08 Councillor K Cook entered the meeting.

Consideration was given to a report by the Area Manager – Planning, Prevention and Protection, which provided an overview of Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue's (LFR) performance for 2018/19.

It was noted that LFR had received an overall rating of good by the Her Majesties Inspectorate for Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS). Officers were pleased with the positive performance of the service for 2018/19.

The Area Manager – Planning Prevention and Protection, outlined LFR's key performance information for 2018/19, as well as providing an outline of the Training and Development exercises completed in 2018/19.

Members were referred to Annexe A of the report for a list of LFR's Outcomes and Targets for 2018/19.

Members were invited to ask questions, in which the following points were noted:

·       It was clarified that in the case of false calls, a call challenge system had been implemented which would save valuable time and resource which was spent responding to false incidents. The call challenge system aimed to call the location to verify that the incident was genuine before sending out a respondent. It was possible to issue fines to those repeat offenders of false calling.

·       There were certain high risk locations in which the call challenge system would not be implemented, such as hospitals. In those instances, response vehicles would be issued immediately.

·       It was noted that there was a divisional plan in place which involved working with farmers, farming communities and other key partners to communicate the dangers of hot summers and educate on how to reduce the risk of grassland fires.

·       It was explained that officers had a legal responsibility for any unregistered Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO's) once they had been made aware of them. As part of prevention activities, officers exchanged information with key partners which helped to locate unregistered HMO's in order to implement measures to reduce incidents in those locations.

·       Officers agreed to provide details of the number of HMO's that LFR were aware of and had been categorised.

·       There had been positive feedback from the Elected Member visits to local fire stations for the annual inspections, which had been beneficial for both Members and officers. 

·      It was noted that the number of malicious calls had significantly reduced, however officers continued to work with schools and colleges to educate pupils on the consequences of false calls.

·       Officers agreed to provide members with information on the number of female firefighters employed by Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue.

·       Members were informed that the recruitment department were actively looking into ways in which they could diversify the recruitment of firefighters, which included investigating possible reasons why people were opposed to becoming a firefighter.

·       It was clarified the Medical Response Programme had made a significant difference on the time it took a responder to reach those that needed urgent care.

·       LFR were investigating the possibility of introducing 'what3words', which was a form of technology that could provide the location of a person using a mobile phone app. It was hoped that this could help locate individuals who did not know their location.

·      It was explained that for incidents where a large number of fire engines were dispatched to a location, it would trigger a response to dispatch other emergency responders to the incident.

·       It was highlighted that LFR staff were trained at the international training site in Waddington, which was used as a training location for Fire and Rescue Services nationally.

The committee congratulated Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue for their performance throughout 2018/19, and thanked officers for their hard work and dedication.

On behalf of LFR, Mark Baxter (Assistant Chief Fire Officer) thanked Lincolnshire County Council for their ongoing support to the service. 

RESOLVED:

          That the report be noted.