Agenda and minutes

Committee members and officers must declare any pecuniary or personalinterest in any business on the agenda. They should also make declarations at any stage such an interest becomes apparent during the meeting. Consideration should be given to leaving the meeting if the nature of the interest warrants it.  If in doubt please contact Democratic Services before the meeting.

20.1     No declarations were made.

The Committee is asked to agree the minutes of the meeting held on 14 September 2023 (cream paper).

21.1     Resolved – that the Committee agrees the minutes of the meeting held on 14 September 2023 and that they be signed by the Chairman.

The Committee is asked to note the responses to recommendations made at previous meetings of the Committee.

22.1     It was clarified that, although the age bracket 15 – 24 is used in collecting statistical data around the diversity of people attending training courses, people have to be 18 to become fire fighters.

22.2     Resolved – that the Committee notes the responses.

Report by the Chief Fire Officer.

The report provides a context to the Performance and Assurance Framework for the purpose of future scrutiny of the Executive’s approach to performance.

23.1     The Committee considered a report by the Chief Fire Officer (copy appended to the signed minutes).

23.2     Summary of responses to members’ questions and comments: -

·         Although 25 out of 30 core measures are green, the Service is not complacent; it has increased Safe and Well visits by 25% and soon would be reviewing all its core measure targets. It was important to stay on top of things as another independent inspection was expected

·         All fire stations display their local risk management plans and from April 2024 these will be developed together with local communities so that their concerns are recognised and addressed

·         The Service was confident that its management of sickness and interventions such as manual handling training would lead to an improvement in the number of staff not sick next quarter (causes of sickness include stress, anxiety and musculoskeletal injuries)

·         Serious incidents, including road traffic accidents and past events, can affect staff’s mental health

·         The 2% of retained trainee firefighters who have not undertaken their initial breathing apparatus does not affect the crewing of fire engines but is recorded in Core Measure 27 (Staff not in Qualification)

·         The move for day crewed stations to a seven day rota from a five day rota has helped with response times being the best since 2017 and assuring communities that there are adequate resources for prevention and protection in those areas.

23.3     Resolved – the Committee: -

                i.       Continues to monitor Core Measure 25 (Staff not Sick) to ensure performance in this area improves.

               ii.       Asks the Service to consider Core Measure 27 (Staff not in Qualification) and whether the wording needs updating to better reflect how this is reported

             iii.       Requests that the additional key line of enquiry relating to value for money in the Performance and Finance Scrutiny Committee’s paper be included in the Fire and Rescue Service’s Scrutiny report by Democratic Services

24.1     The Committee considered a report by the Chief Fire Officer (copy appended to the signed minutes).

24.2     Summary of members’ comments: -

·         It was felt that consideration should be given to including the Fire & Rescue Service in corporate risks relating to the health, safety & wellbeing of its employees and Climate Change Mitigation/Adaptation

·         A view was expressed for the Committee to look at the Service’s Estates Improvement Programme

24.3     Resolved – that the Committee: -

                i.    Asks whether the Fire and Rescue Service should be included in corporate risk CR50 (the Council is responsible for ensuring the health, safety and wellbeing of its employees and residents/customers) and corporate risks CR73a (Climate Change Mitigation) and CR73b (Climate Change Adaptation) considering its support to the wider risks identified

               ii.    includes in its work programme the Fire & Rescue Service’s Estate Improvement Programme going forward, including lessons learned from Platinum House, Horsham

Report by Director of Finance and Support Services.

The Committee is asked to review the County Council’s budget pressures, proposed budget reductions and Capital Programme for 2024/25 within the remit of this Committee.

Feedback from the Committee will be considered by Cabinet in preparing the final draft budget and Capital Programme 2024/25 that will be presented to County Council for approval in February 2024.

25.1     The Committee considered a report by Director of Finance and Support Services and Director of Law and Assurance (copy appended to the signed minutes).

25.2     Summary of responses to members’ questions and comments: -

·         The Service had wanted to make improvements to four fire stations, but a feasibility study showed that costs had risen meaning improvements could only be taken forward at two fire stations

·         It was hoped that money could be transferred from another part of the Capital Programme to allow improvements on the other two fire stations to take place

25.3     Resolved – that the Committee notes the impact that potential financial changes could have on the delivery of the Community Risk Management Plan and Key Performance Indicators, and that this is monitored going forward.

Report by the Chief Fire Officer.

This report provides an update on the delivery of the Community Risk Management Plan 2023.

The Committee is asked to review the progress of the delivery of the Community Risk Management Plan 2023.

26.1     The Committee considered a report by the Deputy Chief Fire Officer (copy appended to the signed minutes).

26.2     Summary of responses to members’ questions and comments: -

·         The Leadership and Cultural Change Programme is mandatory with attendance monitored – non-attendance is discussed during performance conversations

·         Apprenticeships are available in the Fire & Rescue Service

·         Regarding Equality Diversity & Inclusion, amongst other measures the Service runs culture programme coaching sessions by team, has held self-focus groups and is confident that it is travelling in the right direction

26.3     Resolved - that the Committee is happy with the Community Risk Management Plan progress from April 2023 to October 2023.

Extract from the Forward Plan dated 20 November 2023 – attached.

An extract from any Forward Plan relevant to the Committee’s portfolio published between the date of despatch of the agenda and the date of the meeting will be tabled at the meeting.

The Committee is asked to consider whether it wishes to enquire into any of the forthcoming decisions within its portfolio.

27.1     Resolved – that the Committee notes the Forward Plan of Key Decisions.

The Committee to review its draft work programme taking into consideration the checklist at Appendix A.

28.1     The Committee considered its draft Work Programme and agreed to add an item on the Estates Improvement Programme to the 17 June meeting agenda.

28.2     Resolved - that the Committee agrees its Work Programme with the addition above.

The next meeting of the Committee will be held on 1 March 2024 at 10.30 am at County Hall, Chichester.  Probable agenda items include:

·         Fire and Rescue Service Strategic Performance Report

·         Quarterly Performance and Resources Report

·         Recruitment of Retained Duty Staff

Any member wishing to place an item on the agenda for the meeting must notify the Director of Law and Assurance by 15 February 2023.

28.1     The next meeting of the Committee will take place on 1 March 2024 at 10.30am.