Issue - meetings

Ben Brook (Chief Fire Officer) provided a verbal report, stating that Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) had undertaken an eight-week virtual inspection of Warwickshire Fire & Rescue Service (WFRS) between March and April 2021. The inspection examined activities across the organisation with a focus on efficiency, effectiveness, and people.

Ben Brook advised that the inspection report had recently been published. He outlined the headline findings, stating that WFRS received three causes of concern within the areas of Prevention; Protection; and Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI). The report also identified 41 areas for improvement. He stated that WFRS was committed to making the required improvements. An Action Plan had been developed to address the findings of the inspection; significant progress had already been made.

Ben Brook reported that delivery of the Action Plan would be enabled by means of a budgetary allocation of £775,000 for Year One of the Plan, and the same amount for Year Two.

Ben Brook advised that a re-inspection had occurred in February 2022. To date, verbal feedback had been received; a detailed assessment was expected in due course. However, HMICFRS indicated that WFRS had made good progress, particularly in Prevention. He emphasised that there was more work to do. Progress would be reported to the Integrated Risk Management Assurance Panel (IRMP). A further reinspection with a focus on Protection was scheduled in Autumn 2022. The next full inspection was likely to take place in early 2023.

The Chair expressed his appreciation for the efforts made in response to the inspection, stating that the Committee had confidence in the work of WFRS.

In response to Councillor Boad, Ben Brook advised that nationally, each fire and rescue service was inspected every two years. In cases where a cause of concern had been found, this was revised to an inspection every six months. Once causes of concern had been addressed, the inspection regime was likely to abate.

Councillor Crump (Portfolio Holder for Fire & Rescue and Community Safety) stated that substantial investment had been made to support delivery of the Action Plan. The IRMP Assurance Panel had expanded its remit in response to the findings of the Inspectorate; HMICFRS representatives had been invited to meetings to provide additional detail and commentary. He advised that the inspection had highlighted several areas where WFRS had performed well, such as partnership working (particularly with other blue light services) and the response to recent critical incidents. He commented that virtual inspections were different in character to physical inspections, this could account for some of the findings. He emphasised that the findings of the Inspectorate would be given full attention.

The Chair proposed that the Committee note the Inspection Report, as well as members’ concerns relating to the frequency of inspections which placed a burden on WFRS. He proposed that a letter be produced from the Committee to HMICFRS registering these concerns.

Resolved:

That the Committee notes the HMICFRS Inspection Report and writes to the Inspectorate to highlight the additional demands  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5