Agenda and minutes

Members are reminded that this meeting will be audio-recorded.

Members were reminded that the meeting would be audio-recorded.

Apologies were received from Cllr M Simon.

Members are reminded that the Members’ Code of Conduct requires the disclosure of Statutory Disclosable Pecuniary Interests, Non-Statutory Disclosable Pecuniary Interests and Disclosable Non-Pecuniary Interests.

There were no declarations of Members’ interests.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Performance and Overview Committee held on 28^th February 2018.

RESOLVED: That

[1]       the minutes of the Performance and Overview Committee meeting held on 28^th February 2018 be confirmed as a correct record.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Closure of Accounts Committee held on 30^th May 2018.

RESOLVED: That

[1]       the minutes of the Closure of Accounts Committee meeting held on 30^th May 2018 be confirmed as a correct record.

The Head of Protection and Organisational Performance introduced the report which provided on update on the 2017-18 Quarter 4 review of performance for each of the Service’s Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).  Appendix 1to thereport containedthe Corporate Performance Scorecard reflectingthe Quarter 4 position against targetsset and theyear-on-year directionof travelfor theService’s KPIs.

He expanded on each of the KPIs, providing further context particularly where targets had not been achieved, e.g. the number of deaths and injuries in primary fires; fires in non domestic properties; the number of non domestic premises fire safety audits completed; and primary/secondary on-call availability.

A member referred to the KPI relating to the number of deaths in primary fires and asked how officers investigated the trend, which indicated a slight increase in fatalities since 2013-14.  The Head of Protection and Organisational Performance explained that all fatal fires were fully investigated by officers and internal reviews were conducted to examine incidents pre/post fire to identify improvements the Service may need to make.  The Head of Prevention also informed Members that the Service’s Performance Scrutiny and Campaigns Board scrutinised these incidents and launched campaigns, where appropriate, as part of the Service’s prevention work.  The Chief Fire Officer and Chief Executive explained to Members that, as the number of deaths in primary fires were very few, each incident could be individually scrutinised by the Service.  He also explained that the Service may make recommendations to the coroner from the investigations undertaken by officers.

A Member referred to the expansion of Safe and Well visits across Cheshire and queried whether Eastern Cheshire’s Clinical Commissioning Group were involved in the Safe and Well programme.  Officers confirmed that it was and that future reports would make this clear.

A Member referred to the Corporate Performance Scorecard which indicated that 23% of accidental dwelling fires had occurred in homes with residents over pensionable age.  He queried whether there had been an increase in the number of accidental dwelling fires among any other age groups or among certain demographics i.e. in less affluent areas.  The Chief Fire Officer and Chief Executive informed Members that a presentation on the Service’s profiling methodology would be included on the agenda at the next Planning Day in September.

A Member queried whether the Service’s on-call availability statistics were similar to other fire and rescues services nationally.  The Head of Service Delivery confirmed that on-call availability was a national issue and that services were working together to share best practice with a view achieving the 85% availability target.

RESOLVED: That

[1]       the Quarter 4 Performance 2017-18 report be noted.

The Chief Fire Officer and Chief Executive provided Members with an update on the Service’s 2017-18 Integrated Risk Management Plan (IRMP) programmes and projects.  He referred Members to Appendix 1 to the report which contained a health report for the final quarter of 2017-18.

Heinformed Membersof theprogress madein respectof theBlue Light CollaborationProgramme. Thecurrent progressstatus ofthe Programmewas now amber (previously red); this was due to the MFSS project being re-baselined in April 2018. 

The Chief Fire Officer and Chief Executive referred Members to the update on the Training Centre Programme, which had a current progress status of amber (previously green).  He informed them that further information on the Programme would be provided at the Members’ Planning Day on 13^th July 2018 and the Fire Authority meeting on 18^th July 2018.

He indicated that closedownreports hadbeen agreedby theService’s Performanceand Programme Board for the programmes concerning the staffing of the second appliance at Crewe and Ellesmere Port.

The Chief Fire Officer and Chief Executive informed Members that the Cardiac Response Project remained on hold, awaiting the outcome of national discussions for the wider firefighter role.  He also explained that the Emergency Services Mobile Communication Programme currently had a red progress status; this was due to milestones being missed by the Home Office and Motorola which had impacted on the delivery of the project.

A Member queried whether officers were also lobbying alongside the unions in relation to pay negotiations concerning the Cardiac Response Project.  The Chief Fire Officer and Chief Executive informed Members that officers supported the Project and that he believed that firefighters deserved a pay rise.

RESOLVED: That

[1]       the Quarter 4 Programme 2017-18 Report be noted.

Kevin Lloyd (the Auditor), a representative from Mersey Internal Audit Agency (MIAA), was in attendance at the meeting to present the Internal Audit Progress Report and Director of Audit Opinion and Annual Report 2017-18.

He informed Members that a review of the Service’s Station Management Framework had now been completed and had received a ‘significant’ assurance level.  Work to assist in the preparation of Data Flow Audits – General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) had also been completed by MIAA in which they provided advisory support to the Service by reviewing data processing activities.

The Auditor referred Members to the Director of Audit Opinion and Annual Report 2017-18.  He explained that the overall opinion for the period 1^st April 2017 to 31^st March 2018 was that substantial assurance could be given that there was a good system of internal control in place and that controls were generally being applied consistently.

RESOLVED: That

[1]       the Internal Audit Progress Report and Director of Audit Opinion and Annual Report 2017-18 be noted.

The Director of Governance and Commissioning introduced the report which provided information about the performance of North West Fire Control (NWFC) during the year 2017-18 (1^st April 2017 to 31^st March 2018).

He summarised the current system performance which included information on the availability of the mobilising system, faults within the system and the speed of the system.  The report also contained information about call handling and mobilising performance, the cost of the service, staff performance and business continuity.

An independent member asked about resilience at NWFC.  The Director of Governance and Commissioning explained that during peaks of activity additional NWFC staff could be called in and that NWFC could also rely on support from other call handling centres.

A Member queried whether the Service had assisted Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service at the ongoing grass fires at Saddleworth Moor.  The Chief Fire Officer and Chief Executive confirmed that the Service had assisted and also provided cover in Manchester city centre to maintain regional resilience.  National assistance had also been provided by other fire and rescue services, as well as support being provided by the army.  The Head of Service Delivery also informed Members that an update would be delivered at the Planning Day on 13^th July 2018.

RESOLVED: That

[1]       the North West Fire Control – Annual Report 2017-18 be noted.

The Assistant Chief Fire Officer, Operational Assurance and Service Improvement, will present an overview of performance (response times, utilisation and audit feedback) in respect of the new fire stations at: Alsager, Penketh, Powey Lane and Lymm.

The Assistant Chief Fire Officer (Operational Assurance and Service Improvement) presented an overview of performance at the four new fire stations at Alsager, Penketh, Powey Lane and Lymm.  His overview included maps depicting the incidents responded to and average response times.  It also highlighted the resources that were deployed.

RESOLVED: That

[1]       the presentation be noted.

The table includes those items that have been identified/agreed to-date.  Members are asked to agree any additional items at the end of the meeting which need to be added to the programme.

The forward work programme was considered by members and the Director of Governance and Commissioning informed them that an additional report concerning the recent HMICFRS inspection should provisionally be added to the agenda for the November 2018 meeting.