Archived decisions

Hampshire Fire and Rescue Authority

Performance Review Committee Item 13

15/03/200515th March 2007

Fire and Rescue Service Assessment for 2006/07

Report by the Chief Officer

Contact: Philip Webb, Performance Review Manager

Telephone: 023 8062 6828

1

Summary

1.1

The attached report from the Audit Commission confirms that following the recent assessment by the Department for Communities and Local Government and the Audit Commission, Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service has been awarded a score of 4 (the highest possible) which denotes we are `performing strongly'.

1.2

The Service Assessment is constructed from two elements, the Operational Assessment of Service Delivery for which we were rated as a 4 and Fire and Rescue Performance Information for which we were awarded a score of 3 - `performing well - considerably above minimal requirements'.

The ratings for the other two sections of the framework process, Direction of Travel and Use of Resources will be released on 5th April 2007.

2

RecommendationError! Bookmark not defined.

2.1

That the Authority notes the attached report from the Audit Commission.

3

Introduction Error! Bookmark not defined.and background

3.1

Following the Comprehensive Performance Assessment of the Service conducted in 2005, in which we were rated as `good', the assessment process for Fire Authorities was developed into the Fire and Rescue Performance Framework for 2006/07. This process involved three distinct areas of assessment:

    · Service Assessment.

    · Direction of Travel.

    · Use of resources.

The Service Assessment section was itself split into two elements:

    (1) Operational Assessment of Service Delivery.

    (2) Assessment of Fire and Rescue performance information.

3.2

The attached report confirms the overall score of 4 for Service Assessment. Members will note that one particular indicator was noted to be below the lower threshold.

"Injuries arising from accidental dwelling fires per 100,000 population."

This had the result of reducing the score for this element to 3, although the overall score of 4 remains.

4

Contribution to corporate aims and objectives

4.1

In today's age of continual audit, the area of Operational Delivery is of particular interest to both the Service and the public focusing as it does, on how we respond when an emergency occurs.

4.2

A high score in this assessment confirms the validity of our operational strategy and provides confidence to our communities that we are indeed making Hampshire Safer.

5

Risk analysis

5.1

Failure to achieve a satisfactory standard of operational performance could lead not only to a lowering of public confidence in the Authority's ability to provide a competent Fire and Rescue Service, but could also in the worst score scenario, potentially result in intervention. I am pleased to report that our performance in both areas of this review are at the very high end of performance.

6

Resource implications

6.1

None - report for information only.

7

Equality impact assessment

7.1

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

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

None.

Appendix 1 - Best Value Review of Service Level Agreements - Action Plan