Information

Welcome and introductions.

 

Attendees:

PFCC Danielle Stone (DS)

Marianne Kimani (MK)

Jonny Bugg (JB)

Louise Sheridan (LS)

Paul Fell (PF)

Vaughan Ashcroft (VA)

CFO Nikki Watson (NW)

ACFO Phil Pells (RP)

ACFO Jim Powell (JP)

ACO Paul Bullen (PB)

Nick Alexander (NA)

 

 

Minutes and decisions of previous meeting

 

• DS welcomed everyone to the problem-solving meeting.

 

 

Community use of Fire and Rescue estate

 

The Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner has a desire, where possible to utilise public buildings for the benefit of local people and the wider communities that they serve.

This discussion should focus on the types of community usage to which Fire estate buildings could be put, in what circumstances and how these fit into the role that NFRS has now and in the future within local communities, exploring options for a wider community safety role for the service

• There was a discussion about the Commissioners vision for how fire stations are other buildings might be accessed and how firefighters might be seen as wider community safety advocates in addition to undertaking home fire safety visits.
• Accepting that the current estate was not built with community access in mind (contaminates challenge plus unlocking and relocking if the crew have to leave) the Commissioner is keen that the two new fire stations have a space that can be accessed by community groups and schools.

• PB confirmed plans for new builds, community rooms will be designed into them
• Of the current estate, only Brackley and Rushden have possibility of being more open to community groups however the local authority have not been able to suggest anyone who would want to make use of them.
• In terms of visibility, the Commissioner was keen to understand how firefighters are being visible in communities and what this means.
• NW gave an overview of all of the community based activities undertaken by both crews, and the Prevention team which included 5400+ HFSV including home repairs, independent living advice and information on fraud prevention.
• 643 education/engagement activities have reached 28,950 individuals
• Crews also host fire station open days and visits, give talks on fire and water safety and work with partners around adult safeguarding.
• A Biker Down programme is also delivered alongside police colleagues.
• The Prevent team run suicide awareness events.
• The Commissioner was pleased to hear all of the examples and asked how the Chief Fire Officer could increase awareness externally so that people know the extent to which firefighters are keeping people safe in the community.
• The Annual report presents an opportunity to highlight how fire is reaching out into the community.

 

Action – PF to speak to Stuart McCartney so that he can include in the Annual Report.

 

Action – The Commissioner would like the new fire stations to include a study centre similar to the Saints programme with a curriculum based around Fire. (For PB to note and NW to discuss with Lisa Bryan)

 

 

Overall resourcing

 

The Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner’s Safe and Sound Plan, the revision and consultation on the Community Risk Management Plan and the work relating to “Your Future Service” all present possible challenges or opportunities in relation to resource allocation across the service.

The Commissioner and Chief Fire Officer welcome a discussion that will agree how potential conflicting resourcing demands might be managed and prioritised and the means and overall approach that is intended to be developed or implemented by the Chief Fire Officer Team for addressing this to achieve the best possible outcomes for the public and the workforce overall

• NW confirmed that the new CRMP launches on tomorrow (9^th April).
• The public consultation runs for 6 weeks
• The final plan will be agreed by the end of June.
• The Senior team will then do the modelling of where resources need to be and at what times of the day.

• This is a big piece of work which will be followed by a review of the current resourcing model and consultation with crews.
• NW confirmed that the senior team also need to look at the resourcing of Fire Control which has been discussed in previous accountability board meeting.
• In addition, the Service still needs to identify £400k of savings as agreed in the Budget settlement.
• Unable to move further forward until the CRMP is finalised.
• There was a discussion about ‘Your Future Service’
• JP, being new to NFRS, commented that there is a lot to do and trying to do everything limits what you can do in certain areas.
• NFRS has been on a journey of improvement for the past 5 years and is still on that journey.
• There was a discussion about the relationship with Enabling Services. The new CRMP will reset that.
• Resources are limited so need to work out what priorities are.
• BAU is high demand. CRMP is additional.
• NW confirmed the senior team are meeting later for laser focus on this very issue
• This will provide clarity on what can realistically be achieved whilst accepting the risk on some of the things that can’t.
• First pass this afternoon then NW will socialise that with the OPFCC.
• There was a discussion about issues with Fire control– how it crewed etc.
• Can only do BAU. No space for change. This area needs some focus.

Timescales

• Short term – remedial plan and secondment of subject matter experts from another service.
• Medium term – look at other options and work through in a considered way
• New control room system in 2027

 

• The Commissioner wanted to know why it was taking so long. The ECR was commissioned almost 2 years ago.
• NW confirmed that the Service don’t currently have the resource to deliver the change and need a dedicated resource to manage whole end to end process.
• PF asked where does the work that needs to be done on control room sit against all the other priorities. He also wanted to know if it was on the risk register and if so, if it needs to be reviewed.
• NW confirmed that discussions on the CRMP, Your future service and Fire Control will be taking place later today (8^th April) and SLT need to agree what needs to be prioritised.
• Control room – first part of process. Call comes in – how do we deploy. Need to get that right.
• NOG and fire standard for control room. Do gap analysis. What are the gaps and then do the remedial work to address using subject matter experts
• In addition, HMICFRS have alluded to more focus on control rooms in future inspections so important to address this now.
• VA confirmed that there is money left for specialist resources/project manager from the previous business case re control room.

• PB advised that Enabling Services are currently doing a 5-year roadmap for the police control room.
• This is business led, with technology laid over it and PB is working on a plan that will include Fire
• It was agreed that having this discussion about prioritisation is a positive step forward for both organisations.
• There was a discussion about colocation of control rooms and the need for an early decision on whether this is still a requirement/ambition.
• In terms of the issues with Fire Control, the priority is remedial action to up resource then review what is needed to future proof the department.
• It was agreed that Resourcing should be bought back to the Accountability Board for a further update and discussion in September.
• In relation to the point on the last page. It was agreed that Resourcing should be bought back to the Accountability Board for a in principle decision on the proposed future option e.g. status quo, combination with WFRS, partnership with TVFCS or similar, and how this relates to the ‘co-location’ decision in the previous bullet point in September. However, The Chief Fire Officer should continue to monitor via her 1-2-1 meetings with the Commissioner to provide ongoing assurances about what is happening here rather than wait several months for suggestions.
• DS advised that she is meeting with the fire minister at the end of April and will want to press the issues discussed.

Action – The Chief Fire Officer should continue update the Commissioner on Control room resourcing in their by-weekly 1-2-1 meetings to provide ongoing assurances about what is happening.