Report of the Assistant Director – Planning & Improvement

The Panel received the report of the Assistant Director Planning & Improvement (ADP&I) which presented to Members a summary of Service performance information for Quarters 1 to 3 of 2019/20. (Copy in Minute Book)

The ADP&I drew Members’ attention to the areas of performance showing an improvement against the same quarter in the previous year. The Panel congratulated staff in respect of the reduction in the number of accidental dwelling fires.

In respect of the increase in the total number of incidents attended, Members asked for reassurance that the Service had enough resources in place. The Assistant Chief Fire Officer explained that, amidst the changing profile of incidents (a decrease in fires and an increase in attendance to special service calls) he was confident that the allocation of resources matched the risk. He added that the Operational Response Review - the outcomes of which would be presented to Members at the Extra-ordinary Fire Authority meeting on 23 April 2020 - had given the Service the opportunity to re-assess its operational response plan.

The Panel noted that the ADP&I would be reviewing the Service’s performance measures against the new risk framework.

Discussion moved to the urgent item on the 2019/20 Capital Programme Slippage that was being brought to the attention of the Scrutiny & Audit Panel at the request of the Policy & Resources Panel at its meeting on 16 January 2020. The Assistant Director Resources/Treasurer (ADR/T) tabled the report which provided the Panel with additional analysis of the reasons for the level of slippage in the 2019/20 Capital Programme. (Copy in Minute Book)

Underspends in the Capital Programme generally comprised of two elements – where projects were delivered under budget and where scheme spend was delayed (slippage).

In respect of the analysis overview, the Panel queried whether there would likely be a delay on the Lewes scheme proposals being finalised by Spring 2020. The ADR/T responded that the Service was working to the timescale set out by officers at Lewes District Council which anticipated bringing the terms of any deal back to Members by late Spring/early Summer 2020. In response to a further query the ADR/T confirmed that the Lewes scheme (a project involving Lewes District Council, Sussex Police, South East Coast Ambulance Service (SECAmb) and East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service) was part of the wider North Street Quarter Project in Lewes.

Members were disappointed that the South East Workshop Hub project had stalled after initial proposals with Sussex Police were discounted due to affordability. The ADR/T advised that he had since met with SECAmb and discussions were ongoing regarding the possibility of a joint facility with them.

The Panel noted that the slippage in the Service’s Fleet & Equipment scheme was a conscious decision to adjust the scheme to allow service requirements to be reviewed. The Senior Leadership Team had since agreed changes to the Fleet Programme to better reflect the Service’s changing needs.

The ADR/T explained that, at £7.7m, the agreed Capital Programme for 2019/20 had been significantly more ambitious than any previously delivered by the Authority. He advised that the amount of preparatory work carried out in the current year to lay the groundwork for the delivery of projects over the next five years was significant. Many projects were either underway or would be ready for delivery through 2020/21.

RESOLVED – That the Panel:

1.    Considered the performance results and progress towards achieving the Service’s purpose and commitments as contained in Appendix A;

2.    Considered the performance results and remedial actions that had been taken to address areas of under performance in the Fire Authority’s priority areas; and

3.    Noted the analysis of the 2019/20 Capital Programme Slippage and the assurances received by the Assistant Director Resources/Treasurer.