Agenda item - Service Delivery Performance Update

Agenda item

Service Delivery Performance Update

Report of the Chief Fire Officer

Minutes:

Craig Parkin, Deputy Chief Fire Officer, presented the report which informs the Committee of the performance of the Service Delivery directorate between 1 April and 30 June 2019, with contributions from Damian West.

 

(a)  a total of 2628 incidents were attended by Nottingham Fire and Rescue Service between 1 April and 30 June 2019, which is a decrease of 216 incidents during the same period in 2018;

(b)  an increase in secondary fires of 69 has been recorded as well as 3 fatalities where none were recorded the previous year. Fatalities are always followed up by Fatal Fire Reviews to identify any learning;

(c)  the Authority would like to improve its work on Road Safety and intends to report on this at the next meeting. A joint meeting is planned with key partners to discuss improving a more joined up approach;

(d)  On-call availability  has improved and improvement is being maintained. The figures are lower for Southwell, Collingham and Eastwood, due in part to sickness absence and annual leave;

(e)  over the summer period the Service was deployed in support of flooding in Lincolnshire and the Major Incident at Whaley Bridge in Derbyshire;

(f)  the Service delivers an annual exercise training programme which enables crews to train and practice essential skills. To date this year 8 exercises have taken place, with a total of 26 planned;

(g)  1474 Safe and Well Visits have during the period of 1 April to 30 June, including 5 specialist alarms for deaf people;

(h)  a Data & Intelligence Community Engagement (DICE) event took place in Aslockton and Whatton in June to improve smoke alarm ownership. 627 properties were visited and over 250 smoke alarms were fitted. Approximately 40% of properties were found to have inadequate or no smoke detection;

(i)  members of the Prevention Team have delivered the first of the Service’s Safety Zone initiatives aimed at Year Five and Year Six pupils across the north of the county, at Ranby School;

(j)  the Service is reviewing how SWVs are delivered to ensure that the best value for money is achieved. This will include a review of the current commissioned services provided through Framework and Age UK;

(k)  the Protection Team have recently engaged with the High Speed 2 project in order to provide guidance and assurance in relation to proposed tunnels in Nottinghamshire;

(l)  initial meetings have taken place with Nottinghamshire Police to discuss greater collaboration between the Fire Investigation Team and the Crime Scene Investigation team;

(m)a Safer Communities strategy is currently being completed that will outline the work that the Prevention and Protection teams will complete in order to achieve the Service’s vision. This will be delivered to the Committee in January 2020;

(n)  the Joint Inspection Team in Merseyside was recently visited to understand any learning that can be used within the Service and City team;

(o)  Home Office statistics show an increase in incidents in Nottinghamshire of 6% between 2017/18 and 2018/19. This increase was mostly due to an increase in secondary fires;

(p)  Collaboration with East Midlands Ambulance Service has seen an increase in operational crews responding to assist entry to premises, whereas the cessation of Emergency First Responding by wholetime crews has resulted in a significant reduction of this incident type.

 

The following responses were provided in response to questions of the Committee:

(q)  when the Service supports incidents such as flooding events, host services coordinate accommodation where appropriate. Crews arew well looked after and rotated;

(r)  members of the public can request a visit from the Service to check their home for safety and receive a free smoke alarm if required through a Safe and Well Visit;

(s)  DICE events target a variety of areas, covering privately owned, privately rented and council rented accommodation.

 

RESOLVED to note the report.

Supporting documents: