Agenda item

Guide time: 2.15 – 2.45pm

RESOLVED that:

a)  The panel notes the HMICFRS Report.

b)  The Panel requests the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner provide sight of actions plans developed to address areas for improvement in service delivery as identified in the HRICFRS 2021/22 Inspection.

The PFCC presented the Outcomes of the HMICFRS 2021/2022 inspection of Northamptonshire Fire & Rescue Service and highlighted the following points:

• HMICFRS independent assessment had confirmed that NFRS provided a much improved service in keeping the county safe.  Values and Inclusion had been identified as an area for improvement.  The improvement of culture would be a key priority for the new Chief Fire Officer, the progress would be monitored and reported to the Panel.

• Further opportunities for collaboration would be identified within NFRS as the services embedded.

•  The HMICFRS report identified that NFRS had made significant progress and he was proud of this. 

The Panel considered the report and members made the following points during the course of their discussion:

• The HMICFRS report referred to the shortfall in the service’s ICT infrastructure and it was questioned whether this reflected that improvements made as part of the development of Enabling Services were not in-place at that point.

• Reassurance was sought that the PFCC had a robust process, action plan or strategy in place to address the HMICFRS’s concerns with regard to, ensuring fairness and promoting diversity and managing performance and developing leaders, in order to engage and support staff - to improve the service; care of staff and to implement succession planning.

• Having undergone a successful recruitment process with 19 posts having been filled, the benefit and progress towards addressing the concerns in the HMICFRS report would be seen when they were established within post.

• The report had highlighted both Efficiency and Effectiveness as ‘good’ reflecting improvement in these areas, with room for improvement, which the PFCC had demonstrated he was addressing.

The PFCC made the following points during the course of the discussion:

• As a consequence of enabling services, a team of approximately 70 staff were now able to provide IT support to the NFRS.  As an example of the PFCC’s commitment to continuous improvement, the OPFCC had undertaken a procurement exercise for a new Command and Control Service for the NFRS.

• Subsequent to the issue of the inspector’s report, a Statutory Action Plan had been produced for NFRS and would be submitted to the HMICFRS.  Whilst he held a view of what should be included in the wider action plan, the ownership and implementation of the plan would be the responsibility of the incoming Chief Fire Officer. The wider plan would be shared in due course.

• Whilst Equality had been highlighted as an area for improvement in the HMICFRS report, it had been previously been noted as an area of concern through the NFRS accountability process.  He informed the Panel that he was committed to changing behaviours in order to create a working environment where staff felt safe and respected thereby allowing staff to maximise their full potential.

• Whilst the report had identified that there were areas of non-compliance with the Equality Act 2010 by NFRS he was confident that robust procedures were in place to challenge and address the unacceptable cultural attitudes.

•  Implementation of change had begun on the transfer of NFRS and measures to address the efficiency and effectiveness had exceeded the requirement for improvement outlined in the report.

• A critical challenge would be to provide support to the firefighters and fire staff by creating an environment of respect, improving facilities and providing effective equipment, and ensuring that improvements were sustainable in a competitive employee market.

• The report indicated that NFRS had strategic action plans in place, and he was keen to ensure they were embedded and would be monitoring the progress.

• Having made significant improvements over two years he commended the NFRS leadership team’s achievement in bringing about the positive changes and improving the safety of the public. 

RESOLVED that:

a) The panel notes the HMICFRS Report.

b) The Panel requests the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner provide sight of actions plans developed to address areas for improvement in service delivery as identified in the HMICFRS 2021/22 Inspection.