Decision details

Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services report on West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service (WSFRS) in 2018/19 identified areas where the service requires improvement. 

A number of the findings are in areas where there may be asset-based solutions required, to address physical conditions in order to facilitate improvements in areas such as:

• Use of resources and affordability of services
• Promote the right values and culture
• Ensure fairness and promote diversity

The Orange Fire Stations Guide was subsequently commissioned (See Appendix to the report) to establish and record the requirements of WSFRS for all fire stations.  This was not intended to replace current Building Regulations, British Standards, Codes of Practice, Building Bulletins or any other statutory legislation but does set out the expectations of West Sussex County Council (WSCC).  Upon completion, a survey report of all fire stations was undertaken against these requirements to establish current building conditions at each facility and to develop an improvement plan for the service’s estate.

The Estates Improvement Plan clearly sets out the prioritisation of work to address the gaps between current condition of stations and that recommended through the Orange Guide. That plan has identified the improvement schemes which require the most urgent attention. The next step is to commission the work required to deliver the projects which have been prioritised.

The Cabinet Member for Community Support, Fire and Rescue has approved;

(1)the prioritised set of asset improvement projects as described in section 2 of this report;

(2)the commencement of the procurement of £1.85m of works to enable prioritised works on welfare improvements, contamination remediation, accessibility & community/training areas to be undertaken at Bognor, Haywards Heath, Littlehampton, Selsey & Shoreham Fire Stations; and

(3)the delegation of authority to the Chief Fire Officer to award contracts for the works on completion of the procurement process. 

None.