Information

1 Welcome and introductions.

Attendees:
PFCC Danielle Stone (DS)
DPFCC Marianne Kimani (MK)
Jonny Bugg (JB)
Vaughan Ashcroft (VA)
Paul Fell (PF)
Stuart McCartney (SMc)
CFO Nikki Watson (NW)
ACFO Jim Powell (JP)
ACFO Phil Pells (PP)
Robert Berwick (RB)
Lisa Jackson (LJ)
Lisa Byran (LB)
Nick Alexander (NA)
Sam Ashby-Clarke (SAM)

Apologies
ACO Paul Bullen (PB)

2 Minutes and decisions of previous meeting

The minutes were approved and actions updated.

PART 1

Fire Fatalities and Casualties

ACFO Pells updated the meeting and provided data and context relating to the work being undertaken by the service. He noted that despite the rise in the figures over 2025, the numbers were stable, though at the higher end nationally which may be driven by more accurate reporting. He also explained that the number of casualties was below the national average, whilst there was an increase nationally. LB explained that whilst a lot of incidents are cooking related, lithium-ion batteries were becoming a growing issue for the service. The OPFCC Delivery Director highlighted the changing risks within households relating to fires and LB explained the service were shifting the focus of their home fire safety visits to cover new and emerging risks such as this. ACFO Pells explained that the improvement in analysing data is feeding into the community risk process, but he did note the subjective element in assessing the severity of injury to casualties. The OPFCC Chief Executive asked about the work related to warning people about dangers of purchasing substandard electrical items. LB explained that the NFCC are working on this issue and the service were working with trading standards in the county.

LB then briefed the meeting on deliberate and intentional fires and the links with mental health. The Chief Fire Officer explained many were known to partner agencies. She explained that people living on their own were placed higher on the risk matrix and work was being undertaken in relation to safeguarding and guidance was being provided to local care providers. She also explained the issue relating to the provision of telecare and the switchover to digital technology. Training was being provided and the NFCC was looking at this issue nationally.

LB briefed the meeting on the emerging dementia risks and increasingly complex nature of such cases. The Commissioner asked whether more could be done and in response LB explained that the service was working with partners to identify vulnerable people. She explained the role of the new Complex Case Manager and how referrals are managed. The Commissioner asked if partners could do more. LB explained that learning and training is cascaded down and the service gets support from partners and the NHS to help identify and support vulnerable people. The Commissioner then asked if the service provides information on what an unsafe dwelling was. LB explained that crews support community initiatives that engage with residents which helps to identify risks and protection issues. The Commissioner noted that there are many groups who go door to door and make referrals and suggested the Fire & Rescue Service work with them.

Assurance Statement

The Commissioner stated that she was pleased with the understanding of the issues that were being discussed and the positive use of data that was informing the service thinking on this matter, as well as the learning and the partnership working that was emerging from this which was considered a huge positive. She was assured by the fact that the data from the analysis of these incidents was being utilised to revise the risk matrices that the service used. She was assured that the service was gaining good insights into these incidents that was allowing it to try to respond more effectively to changes in risk assessments and that training had been delivered to approx. 1500 frontline workers across the county in 2025.

 

PART 2

Treasury Management Strategy

The Chief Finance Officer briefed the meeting on the strategy and noted it was broadly similar to one previously published. He noted that the strategy was focussed on maximising income without increasing risk and that it was designed to deliver a significant capital programme. The Commissioner asked if any extra money would be available from central government to help support the strategy. The OPFCC Chief Finance Officer explained this was unlikely. The Commissioner asked about the timescales relating to the borrowing as outlined in the strategy. The Chief Finance Officer responded and noted the risks relating to long term borrowing and work would be ongoing to endure how to best address the financial challenges and uncertainties. The OPFCC Chief Finance Officer also explained that any future borrowing would be linked to capital purchases. The Commissioner asked if the Power of Competence has ever been used by the OPFCC. The OPFCC Chief Finance Officer responded and noted that the corporate appetite for risk was low so it was not a power that had been utilised. The Deputy PFCC asked whether a mid-term report will be produced. It was agreed that this would be provided if the Finance Officers felt there was a need to provide a further update.

It was agreed that the PFCC would adopt the Treasury Management Strategy for 2026/27.

Assurance Statement

The Commissioner received this appear and strategy. She agreed with the proposed and prepared strategy and risk appetite in relation to investments. In terms of ongoing assurance, the Commissioner agreed that the OPFCC Section 151 officer and Fire and Rescue Service Chief Finance Officer would undertake a mid-term assessment and raise any risks as appropriate where they were identified.

Rushton Fatal Fire Update

The Area Manager for Business Services and Fire Control provided the meeting with an update on the delivery of recommendations and the work being undertaken following the tragic fire in Rushton on 28 March 2025. The Commissioner asked about the future plans for the Control Room and ACFO Powell explained that work was ongoing with how best to deliver a control room for the service. ACFO Pells then briefed the meeting on what the service will be doing on the first anniversary of the fire as well as a planned peer review of the changes the service has delivered.
There was a discussion relating to a peer review that the CFO had commissioned that will look at the NFRS internal investigation report following the fire to ensure that all required recommendations have been fully and properly implemented.

Assurance Statement

The Commissioner having received a full briefing on the follow up actions from this incident was assured that good progress has been made with regards to implementation of changes that formed the basis of the report’s recommendations. She also noted that there was still an impending coroner’s inquest into the circumstances of the fire.

3 AOB

No further business was raised.