COUNCIL MEETING, 30 MARCH 2006

REPORT OF THE

HAMPSHIRE FIRE AND RESCUE AUTHORITY

INTEGRATED RISK MANAGEMENT PLAN 2006 TO 2009

1. The Government requires every fire authority in the country to produce an Integrated Risk Management Plan (IRMP) and an annual action plan. On 15 February 2006, the Hampshire Fire and Rescue Authority approved its third IRMP. However, for the first time, the new plan covers a three, rather than the normal one year period. This is intended to give a greater opportunity to focus on the key areas of development and change in the Fire Service. The draft IRMP 2006 to 2009 was the subject of extensive consultation with staff, the general public and stakeholders, including Trade Unions, Neighbouring Fire and Rescue Services, Hampshire Constabulary, Hampshire Local Authorities etc. As a result of comments made over the consultation period, the final draft plan put to members and approved by the Authority on 15 February was an updated and modified version of the original, particularly in relation to proposed changes to duty systems. The intention is for the Authority to continue to produce an annual report in the form of an Action Plan .

2. The IRMP 2006 to 2009 continues to build on the themes of the previous year, separating the plan into the four key elements of preventing fires and other emergencies, protecting lives and properties, responding to new risks and challenges and managing resources. Also, it seeks to improve the county's risk profile and gain information in relation to changing risk trends and patterns. Among the key aims included within the plan are for every home to have a home-safety visit by 2010; for every pupil to be educated in fire safety by Key Stage 3; for every household in Hampshire to have at least one smoke detector by 2010; to reduce hoax calls by 5% by 2008; to reduce hoax calls from automatic detection systems by 10% by 2010; to reduce the number of fires in buildings by 3% by the end of 2006; to offer fire safety protection advice to building developers, owners and users but to take action to enforce compliance with regulations when necessary and to attend all emergency calls within eight minutes on 80% of occasions.

3. It will have significant resource implications and has impact for human resources in terms of working patterns and more flexible use of people. There is already in existence a major ICT project on developing a new risk data base. From a financial perspective, the initiatives contained within the IRMP are expected to be met within existing budgets by transferring resources between the three functions of preventing, protecting and responding. Copies of the Authority's recently published IRMP 2006 to 2009 are available in the Members' Rooms.

M.F. CARTWRIGHT

Chairman

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