Report of the Assistant Director Planning & Improvement

The Fire Authority considered the report of the Assistant Director Planning & Improvement (ADP&I) presenting details of East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service’s performance for the period April – March 2018/19. 

The report summarised the 2018/19 performance outcomes for East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service, providing a single view of information and allowing the Service to be held to account.  The report provided comparison against last year’s performance, and illustrated the Service’s direction of travel and whether or not performance had improved, stayed the same or declined. 

The report also provided comparison to other Fire & Rescue Services nationally on a scale of best to worst performance based on the latest data sets available.  A lengthy discussion was had by Members on the contents of the report.

Members queried whether it was anticipated that grass fires would increase due to the impact of climate change.  The Chief Fire Officer (CFO) informed Members that in the UK in 2017/18 there had been 76 open grass fires consuming more than 24 hectares, rising to 96 by July 2019.  The trajectory of these fires showed that there were more of them and that they were bigger.  The NFCC has stated that Climate Change is an issue for Fire & Rescue Services nationally and it is an issue now.  Whilst data does not show there a significant local issue, we ensure any operational learning is gathered from other services and we are confident that we have appropriate levels of resource to match the risk.

Members asked why the data presented a decrease in the number of fires confined to the room of origin.  It was explained that this is a national dataset, the definition of which is that the fire has remained in one room at the finish of the incident.  Members were informed that there were a number of reasons that this figure could change for example if a door was left open, or a burning object taken outside.  It was important to clarify that this did not mean ESFRS were arriving at incidents slower.

Members requested more information on figures relating to staff sickness, in particular long-term sickness.  The report showed that sickness absence was a priority for the Service and performance had improved on last year.  The ADHRODTA confirmed that the ESFRS had a sickness policy that was adhered to, and that it was implemented in line with a strong case management approach.  Meaning that each case of long-term sickness was approached in an empathetic and caring way on its own merits, understanding the individual circumstances.  Members were reminded that in 2018 ESFRS had moved to an improved Occupational Health provider which was proving to be both effective and pro-active.  The culture at ESFRS was not one of presenteeism and each situation was dealt with sensitively, patiently and jointly with the employee.

Members queried why Home Safety Visits (HSVs) were being undertaken by two members of staff.  The Assistant Chief Fire Officer (ACFO) confirmed that staff were now visiting more vulnerable people and these visits were becoming more complex, less pastoral and more clinical.  By attending in pairs the HSVs are of a better quality.

The Authority was interested to read that almost half of the total ESFRS incidents were false alarms, Members wanted confirmation that property owners were being given guidance to stop them happening and whether consideration had been given to introducing fines to repeat offenders.  The ACFO explained that although there were still a high proportion of Automatic Fire Alarms (AFA) there had been a reduction through the year and that the experience at ESFRS mirrored the national challenge.  He informed Members that whilst consideration was being given to charging repeat offenders, having observed the trials by other services it was evident that this approach was yielding limited success and presenting its own challenges.  The ACFO reassured Members that every AFA callout was used as an opportunity, if false, to conduct a robust education piece as part of the wider business safety discussion and work was being undertaken with repeat offenders.

Members commented that whilst there was basic information included on the nature of the complaints received there was no detail on the subject of the compliments, it was agreed that in the report next year basic themes of the compliments received would also be included.

RESOLVED – That the Fire Authority:

       i.          approved the performance results and progress towards achieving the Service’s purpose and commitments; and

      ii.          approved the performance results and remedial actions that have been taken to address areas of underperformance in the Fire Authority’s priority areas.