Hampshire Fire and Rescue Authority

Performance Review Committee Item 8

5th March 2008

Progress report on the Best Value Review of Environmental Impact

Report of Chief Officer

Contact: Philip Webb, Performance Review Manager

Telephone: 023 8062 6828

E-mail: [email protected]

1 Summary

1.1 At the Performance Review Committee meeting held on the 12^th September 2006, it was agreed to conduct a review of Hampshire Fire & Rescue Service's Environmental Impact, and to follow this with a separate but linked review of Energy Conservation, looking at options for the use of renewable energy.

1.2 The first phase of the Review commenced with the commission of a `baseline' report by the Environment Centre (a registered environmental charity based in Southampton), which was reported to Members in June 2007. Since then work has been progressed against some of the areas detailed in that report. This report provides a brief outline of some of the actions taken to date.

2 Recommendation

2.1 That the Committee approves the progress to date and agrees to receive future updates.

3 Progress to date

3.1 The Review commenced in 2007, and it was determined that a dedicated resource was required to enable sufficient progress to be made, and funding was agreed. A firefighter was seconded to the project as the Environmental Progress Coordinator and progress made. Unfortunately the secondee left the Service in December 2007, but we are pleased to inform Members that a replacement has been recruited and has been in post since 28^th January 2008.

3.2 A working party of volunteer staff from various departments within the Service has been formed, and this group last met in November 2007. The aim of this group is to advance pre-determined pieces of work around the seven themes originally identified. These were:

o Utilities

o Transport/ travel policy

o Procurement

o New Builds/ Housekeeping

o Office consumables

o Recycling and Waste

o Pollution

3.3 Progress to date has included the following:

3.3.1 Energy Audit at Headquarters

An unannounced audit was undertaken at the Headquarters site to determine how much electrical equipment had been left on after normal working hours. This information will be used as a baseline against which to measure improvements in the future. Data has been analysed for this site and will be reviewed to determine actions for energy efficiency in the future.

3.3.2 Managers' Seminar Survey

Participants at the Managers' Seminar have been asked to suggest ideas for improvements to our environmental impacts. The feedback has been collated and work will be progressed to move appropriate suggestions forward.

3.3.3 Transport

Service vehicles now run on bio-blend diesel, which it is estimated, will save three tonnes of carbon per quarter.

Internal Audit have been commissioned to review the car user scheme in terms of value for money and energy efficiency. This work is expected to commence in the first quarter of 2008/09.

3.3.4 Energy Usage

Data has been gathered identifying the energy and water usage of each Fire station for the period 1^st April 2004 to 31^st March 2007. An average has been calculated for each Station over that period, which will act as a baseline against which targets will be set for future reduction. Unfortunately some of the data is based on estimated meter readings from the utility companies and therefore does not give us a true picture of the usage. Fire Stations have been asked to read their meters on a monthly basis since December 2007. This data will be analysed, and we predict that it will be 12 months before we have reliable data. Nevertheless, we have set a target for Stations not to exceed their baseline average usage of energy for the year ended 31^st March 2009. We hope to be able to set more challenging targets from April 2009.

3.3.5 Office Consumables

The printers at Headquarters have been set to print on both sides of the paper and defaulted to print in black and white. There are plans for a code to be required to be entered at the main printer to enable release of printing, to reduce unwanted printing.

3.3.6 Recycling

From April 2008, the Headquarters site will have appropriately marked recycling receptacles for waste. Recycling bins are currently being supplied to Fire Stations.

3.3.7 Environmental Management System accredited to International Standard ISO 14001

Work is being progressed to implementing an Environmental Management System which ultimately will be accredited to the International Standard ISO 14001. Assistance with this process has been commissioned from the Environmental Centre.

4 Conclusion

4.1 Progress is being made towards the Review of the Environmental Impacts and Members will continue to be regularly updated.

5 Contribution to Corporate Aims and Objectives

5.1 Undertaking a review of the environmental impact of the Service will contribute to the Service being one of the top Fire and Rescue Services in the country. It will also enhance the Service's Corporate Social Responsibility.

6 Resource Implications

6.1 The major resource requirement for this review continues to be staff time. A working party of staff undertaking some activities over and above their normal roles.

6.2 There is a budgetary requirement for the cost of consultancy advice from the Environment Agency. Costs have been and should be continued to be contained within the Performance Review Team budget.

7 Consultation

7.1 The review will involve considerable consultation with other Fire and Rescue Services and external organisations, and identify examples of best practice suitable for inclusion in our own procedures and practices. The views and aspirations of our own staff will also be sought.

8 Equality Impact Assessment

8.1 Carrying out equality impact assessments will strengthen our Best Value Review practices by ensuring that the consequences of our proposed policies and actions comply with current legislation and expectations for improving equality and diversity in the workplace and in our delivery of services to the public.

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

9 Risk Analysis

9.1 During the review, a risk analysis will be undertaken of issues encountered, in order to inform the review team on the areas to concentrate on in order to utilise resources effectively. It will help to mitigate the risk of the failure to adequately protect the environment in our activities.

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:

Report from the Environment Centre: Phase 1: An Environmental Review of the Eastleigh Headquarters and Four of their Fire Stations for the Hampshire Fire and Rescue Authority.