Hampshire Fire and Rescue Authority Item 13...

15/03/200531 May 2006

Error! Bookmark not defined.Fire and Rescue Performance Framework 2006/07

Report by the Chief Officer

Contact: Philip Webb, Performance Review Manager, Telephone 023 8062 6828

E-mail: [email protected]

1

Summary

This report seeks to clarify how the Performance Framework follows on from the Comprehensive Performance Assessment (CPA) process undertaken in 2005. It has been developed by the Audit Commission with the assistance of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM), now the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG), the Chief Fire Officers Association (CFOA), and the Local Government Association (LGA).

2

RecommendationError! Bookmark not defined.

2.1

That the strategies and resource implications for meeting the requirements of the Performance Framework be noted.

3

Introduction Error! Bookmark not defined.and Background

3.1

The Comprehensive Performance Assessment (CPA) carried out in 2005 resulted in the Service being awarded a rating of `good'.

3.2

The Audit Commission have since drafted their proposals for the next round of assessment. The approach consists of three separate - but linked - areas of assessment. These are:

- Operational Assessment of Service Delivery

- Use of Resources

- Direction of Travel

4

Operational Assessment of Service Delivery

4.1

Service Assessment comprises two parts:

1. Operational Assessment of Service Delivery (DCLG) to lead)

2. Review of key performance information (Audit Commission to lead)

4.2

Part 1 - Operational Assessment and Service Delivery

The operational assessment requires authorities to complete a self assessment which addresses five key lines of enquiry (KLOEs). These relate to:

Risk Analysis

Prevention and Protection

Operational Preparedness

Call Management and Incident Support

Emergency Response

Under each KLOE are six sub sections. Each subsection starts with a self assessment focus (109 separate areas in total) and includes a detailed list of evidence required to support our submission. The expectation is for each Service to complete a self assessment, which will be followed by an on site assessment by a three person team from the DCLG for three days.

4.3

Part 2 - Review of Key Performance Indicators (BVPIs)

This section of the assessment will review key performance indicators and consider our performance against an upper and lower performance threshold (these thresholds are based primarily on the 25^th and 75^th percentiles).

The indicators proposed are:

BV 142ii Primary fires per 10,000 population

BV 142iii Secondary fires in dwellings per 10,000 dwellings

BV 143i Deaths arising from accidental fires in dwellings per 100,000 population

BV 143ii Injuries arising from accidental fires in dwellings per 100,000 population

BV 144 Percentage of accidental dwelling fires confined to room of origin

BV 149i False alarms caused by automatic fire detection

BV 206i&ii No deliberate primary fires(incl vehicles) per 10,000 population

Non BVPI No of non fire related incidents

Although these are proposed BVPIs and are subject to consultation, it is unlikely that there will be substantial change this year. (Next year the indicators will be revised and additional PI's included.)

5

Use of Resources Assessment

5.1

This scored assessment has been designed to provide a judgement as a range of financial issues and particularly whether the Authority is securing value for money.

5.2

There are five key lines of enquiry (KLOEs) as follows:

Financial reporting -

how good the Authority's financial accounting and reporting arrangements are

Financial management -

how well the Authority plans and arranges its finances

Financial standing -

how well the Authority safeguards its financial standing

Internal control -

how the Authority's internal control environment enables it to manage its significant business risks

Value for money -

whether the Authority currently achieves good value for money and how well it manages and improves value for money

When reaching a judgement on value for money, the Auditors will take into account the results of the operational assessment.

6

Direction of Travel

6.1

This scored assessment will consider how well the Authority has performed since the original CPA categorisation and whether or not it is considered that we will continue to improve.

6.2

The assessment will be determined by examining two areas of focus, each supported by KLOEs.

6.2.1

What evidence is there of the Fire & Rescue Authority improving outcomes?

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Are services improving in areas the FRA has identified as priorities and areas the public say are important to their communities?

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What contribution is the FRA making towards wider community outcomes?

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To what degree is the FRA improving both access and the quality of service for all its citizens focusing on those who have been hard to reach or previously excluded?

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Is value for money improving as well as quality of service?

6.2.2

How much progress is being made to implement improvement plans to sustain improvement?

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Does the FRA have robust plans for improving? (Aligned with other plans, SMART, detailed, resourced, agreed and widely communicated?)

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How well is the improvement planning being implemented - are key objectives and milestones being achieved?

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Does the FRA have the capacity to delivery its plans?

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Are there any significant weaknesses in arrangements for securing continuous improvement or failures in corporate governance that would prevent improvement levels being sustained?

6.3

The assessment will be made by the Authority's Relationship Manager (RM) (currently this is Stephen Taylor). We will be able to provide supporting evidence to inform our RM of our progress. The self assessment (completed as part of the Service Assessment) will give the Authority the opportunity to provide information on:

6.3.1

Local context - focusing on key issues that inform and shape local priorities and improvement.

6.3.2

Priority services and wider outcomes - demonstrating achievement against these.

6.3.3

The robustness of improvement planning and the extent to which improvements are delivered as planned.

6.4

The RM will use the self-assessment, along with the evidence gathered from the service assessment, including the operational assessment of service delivery and use of resources assessment, to come to an overall judgement which will be reported in March 2007. A timetable of events is included within appendix A.

7

Contribution to Corporate Aims and Objectives

7.1

Actions taken to complete the self assessment and participate in these areas of review will assist the Authority to identify areas of potential improvement.

8

Risk Analysis

8.1

Failure by the Authority to meet the demands of this assessment and to provide the required level of complementary evidence will leave the Authority open to criticism, damage to its reputation, and potential intervention by the DCLG.

9

Resource Implications

9.1

Preparation and participation in this assessment will have considerable resource implications for the time commitment of our staff. Although still at the consultation stage it is clear that this assessment is significantly more detailed than the 2005 CPA assessment.

10

Equality Impact Assessment

10.1

Carrying out equality impact assessments will ensure that all proposed policies and actions comply with current legislation and expectation for improving equality and diversity in the workplace and in our delivery of services to the public.

10.2

The proposals within this report are considered compatible with the provisions of the European Convention on Human Rights, the Human Rights Act 1998, and the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000.

11

Consultation

11.1

Fire and Rescue Circular 20-2006 and the Performance Framework 2006/07 are consultative documents which offer Hampshire Fire & Rescue Authority the opportunity to respond. These papers have been circulated to HFRS managers and the Corporate Management Team for comment prior to a composite response being submitted.

12

Conclusion

12.1

The Audit Commission are on record as saying that they will be looking for improved performance standards from fire authorities post CPA 2005.

12.2

This new assessment promises to be more detailed and stringent, particularly in the area of operational service delivery.

12.3

Despite the considerable effort required to adequately prepare for an assessment of this magnitude it does offer a real opportunity for the Authority to demonstrate the significant new initiatives being taken to make Hampshire a safer place to live and work in.

Background Information (Section 100D of Local Government Act 1972)

The following documents disclose the facts or matters on which this report, or an important part of it, is based and has been relied upon to a material extent in the preparation of the report:

Fire and Rescue Circular 20-2006 - Office of the Deputy Prime Minister

Fire and Rescue - Performance Framework 2006/07 - Audit Commission

Note: The list excludes: (1) published works; and (2) documents that disclose exempt or confidential information defined in the Act.

TIMETABLE OF EVENTS:

Publication of final framework 2006/07

July 06

Complete Self-assessment

July - mid August (6 weeks)

Service Assessment

· Operational Assessment

· Performance Information

Aug - Nov 06

Consultation closes 16 Jun 06

Use of Resources

Sept 06 - Jan 07

Consultation closes 30 May 06

Direction of Travel

Dec 06 - Mar 07

Consultation closes 30 May 06

Publication of Results

March 2007