Agenda item

(To receive a report from Mark Baxter, Chief Fire Officer, which provides the Committee with an annual progress report on the Integrated Risk Management Plan 2020-2024)

Consideration was given to a report from Mark Baxter, Chief Fire Officer, which provided the Committee with details of the annual progress on the Integrated Risk Management Plan (IRMP) for 2020/2024.

The Committee was reminded of the background to the report; the challenges encountered by the service over the last year; and the performance made against each of the highlighted objectives detailed in the report.

The Committee noted that work was now underway in the development of the new IRMP, which was to be rebranded as the Community Risk Management Plan.

During consideration of this item, some of the following comments were noted:

·       The Committee was advised that a blended approach of reactive and proactive visits had been adopted, which had resulted in an increase in the number of home safety visits carried out by community safety advocates and operational crews. It was noted that the Sherman concept was adopted.  It was noted further that the service worked with partners through sheltered accommodation and the Council to identify the most vulnerable, and that information sharing agreements were in place with partner agencies to be able to let the service know where vulnerable people had been identified. It was also highlighted that local teams also had their links in to local communities, and that they were encouraged to deliver open day sessions.  There was recognition that there was more to be done to increase the number of vulnerable individuals supported throughout 2023/2024;

·       The Committee was advised of the arrangement the fire service had with the National Farmers Union concerning accessing water at rural farms. It was highlighted the service had been able to secure dedicated adapters for all fire appliances which provided the service access to water bowsers many farmers already had on their farms.  It was highlighted that this was also alongside a fire safety message on how to help themselves in the event of a fire and how to prevent fires happening in the first place;

Note: Councillor K E Lee left the meeting.

·       Praise was extended to the Saxilby fire station crew for being invested with improvements, and having a strong healthy working relationship;

·       That following the Grenfell Tower inquiry, the main recommendation taken on board by the service was about operational response and being prepared for such a large-scale complex incident. It was highlighted that the service had been tested by a live exercise, where it had been able to use the technology of a real incident at one of the high-rise flats in Lincoln, which had been a successful exercise;

·       The Committee noted that the consultation to introduce an on-call element to the Fire Safety Inspector role was at the closing stage, and that an implementation plan to have people in place was likely to be from 1 January 2024 to the middle of July 2024;

·       Confirmation was given that the ‘Biker Down’ programme was in the process of being rolled out in the county, and that officer training would be programmed into that training.  It was however noted that the ‘Biker Down’ programme was more predominantly focused on members of the public; and

·       The Committee was advised that following a review of the co-responder scheme, the scheme had been adapted for the service to attend only the most serious category 1 incidents.

The Chairman on behalf of the Committee extended thanks to the Chief Fire Officer for his presentation.

RESOLVED

1.      That the comments raised by the Committee in respect of this item be received.

2.      That assurance be received on the information contained in the end of year Integrated Risk Management Plan performance update.