Hampshire Fire and Rescue Authority

Finance and General Purposes Committee Item 13

26 October 2006

Vehicle Replacement Programme 2007/08 to 2009/10

Report of the Chief Officer

1

Summary

1.1

This report details the vehicle replacement needs for the years 2007/08 to 2009/10; this is broadly in line with previous reports, although some rescheduling of the programme has been made to meet the current needs of the Service. Also included is a summary of progress for the vehicle replacement programme 2005/06 and 2006/07.

2

Recommendations

That it be recommended to the Authority that:

2.1

Subject to the approval of the overall capital programme by the Authority that the vehicles replacement programme 2007/08 - 2009/10 be approved.

2.2

That, for the reasons set out in paragraph 5 , the contract for the 2007/08 pumping appliances be let to Emergency One (UK) Ltd.

3

Replacement Policy

3.1

The current policy for the replacement of operational appliances is:

Front-line/Training Centre Pumping Appliances and Special Equipment Units

12 years

Specialist Appliances

15 years

3.2

To maintain the fleet of 83 front-line and Training Centre pumping appliances at the appropriate level within the age profile, it has been established that 7 pumping appliances need to be replaced each year.

3.3

A further aim is to keep 14 reserve pumping appliances below 15 years of age because these regularly serve as front-line appliances when the main fleet vehicles are undergoing service or repair.

3.4

Ancillary support vans are normally replaced at 8 years of age and Driver Training lorries are replaced at 10 years of age, subject to any specific variations to take account of the mileage and condition of individual vehicles. This policy may vary for certain vehicles when taking into account any operational leasing issues.

4

Recommended Replacement Needs for 2007/08 to 2009/10

4.1

2007/08

Number

Vehicle Type

7

Pumping Appliances

9

Ancillary Support Vehicles: Cars/Light Vans

1

Aerial Appliance

2

Multi Role Vehicles - 5 Year Extension of Lease

2

Aerial Ladder Platform - 5 Year Extension of Lease

2

Off Road Firefighting Vehicles - 5 Year Extension of Lease

3

Ancillary Support Vehicles: PCVs

9

Ancillary Support Vehicle: GP Vans

4.2

2008/09

Number

Vehicle Type

7

Pumping Appliances

3

Ancillary Support Vehicles: Cars/Light Vans

6

Pumping Appliances - 5 Year Extension of Lease

1

Watercarrier - 5 Year Extension of Lease

4

Off Road Firefighting Vehicles - 3 Year Extension of Lease

8

Ancillary Support Vehicles: GP Vans

4.3

2009/10

Number

Vehicle Type

7

Pumping Appliances

11

Ancillary Support Vehicles: Cars/Light Vans

4

Ancillary Support Vehicles: GP Vans

14

Various Frontline Appliances - 3 and 5 Year Extension of Leases

4.4

Based on latest information from potential suppliers the estimated cost at outturn 2007/08 prices of the programme for each year, with inflation assumed at 2.5% (nil for the lease extensions), is:

£000s

2007/08

2,188

2008/09

1,615

2009/10

1,905

5

Contract for Pumping Appliances

5.1

It would be usual to recommend that pumping appliances are purchased under a 3 year contract. Since last year `Firebuy' has been established and whilst some vehicle specifications have been finalised - we are using `Firebuy' for the purchase of the new aerial appliance - the specification for pumping appliances has yet to be finalised. It is therefore recommended that the tenders for pumping appliances identified in this report be invited on the basis of a one year supply only.

5.2

The contract awarded for 2006/07 contained the option for a further supply of 7 vehicles and it is recommended that this option is taken for the 2007/08 pumping appliances and that the contract is awarded to Emergency One (UK) Ltd. The company have confirmed that the vehicles can be supplied in line with the same price as for the 2006/07 vehicles.

6

Vehicle Replacement Programme - Progress on Previous and Current Years

Progress on the approved Replacement Programme for 2005/06 and 2006/07 can be summarised as follows:

6.1

2005/06

Pumping Appliances

Delivered and in service

Ancillary Support Vehicles

Delivered and in service

6.2

2006/07

Pumping Appliances

Ordered - Due October/November 2006

SEU

Ordered - Due October/November 2006

Off Road Vehicle

Delivered and due for fitout

Ancillary Support Vehicles

On order/delivered

The ancillary support vehicles include a vehicle for the Automatic Fire Alarm Reduction Team. This is no longer required since strategies have been refined to better utilise existing vehicles and staff leased cars. It is to be replaced by an Occupational Health, Safety and Welfare (OHS&W) vehicle allowing the team to make efficiency gains by getting the OHS&W team out into the workplace to conduct a range of activities currently delivered centrally. This would include fitness testing, recruitment medical advice/assessments, general on-site health advice, health and safety risk assessments, including specific themed inspections and noise assessments.

7

Equality Impact Assessment

7.1

An impact assessment has been made on the proposals in the paper and shown that they are not discriminatory and that they 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.

Section 100D - Local Government Act 1972 - Background Papers

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.

None

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