Agenda item

The Head of Protection and Organisational Performance introduced the report which provided an update on the Service’s Quarter 1 2020-21 performance for each of the Key Performance Indictors (KPIs). Appendix 1 to the report included the Corporate Scorecard, which reflected the Quarter 1 position against targets set and the year- on-year direction of travel for the KPIs.

Officers expanded on some of the KPIs, providing further context, particularly where targets had not been achieved.  In addition Members were asked to note three new indicators.

The Head of Protection and Organisational Performance asked Members to note that performance in Quarter 1 had been mixed as Covid-19 had had a significant impact on many areas of the Service.            

He referred Members to the KPI relating to the number of deaths in primary fires.  Two deaths had occurred in Quarter 1, both fatalities occurred in one incident with the cause involving smoking materials and with both victims aged over 65.

The KPI status for the number of Injuries in Primary Fires was currently red, with 14 injuries recorded against a target of 11.  The Head of Protection and Organisational Performance confirmed that all incidents had been investigated and lessons learned.

The KPI status for the number of Safe and Well visits delivered to properties of Heightened Risk was currently red.  These visits had largely stopped due to the pandemic, but up to the end of Quarter 1 1,443 heightened risk visits had been completed by Prevention and Operational staff, including additional visits to vulnerable people.

The KPI status for Thematic Inspections completed by Operational Staff and Fire Safety Audits in Non-Domestic Premises were currently red as these visits had stopped due to the pandemic and not yet restarted.

The Head of Protection and Organisational Performance provided an update of performance against the On-Call availability KPI.  There were variations of availability between the differing on-call systems with the status of Nucleus and Primary on-call being Green and Secondary on-call Amber.  The Covid-19 pandemic had had an impact on the availability of On Call appliances and staff, with a steady increase throughout the quarter as primary employers either closed, furloughed their staff, or implemented a work from home policy.  In addition, a number of staff in other departments who have worked from home during lockdown have volunteered to be available for local on call stations and this also had a positive impact on availability.

The Head of Protection and Organisational Performance drew Members’ attention to the new KPIs.  Road Traffic Collisions Attended would help the Service to monitor and report on the number of road traffic collisions that the Service attends as there had been an increase in the number of fatalities on the road up to December 2019, (with a subsequent decrease during the last two quarters due to travel restrictions place on households due to Covid-19).

The new KPI on Total Number of False Alarms attended has been included as approximately 40% of all operational incidents across Cheshire are false alarms and from this year the Service will monitor all false alarms, both malicious and those of good intent, to review how the Service can improve performance.  Over the last 12 months 3454 incidents had been classified as a false alarms, 56.4% (1,947) are automatic false alarms and 41.6% (1,437) classified as false alarm good intent from dwellings. 

A Member asked for clarification on what the Service categorises as a false alarm.  The Head of Protection and Organisational Performance responded that there are a number of categories which fall under false alarms and these were detailed in the tables on Page 60.

RESOLVED: That

[1]       the Performance Report – Quarter 1 2020-21 be noted.