Archived decisions
COUNCIL MEETING, 3 APRIL 2008
REPORT OF THE
HAMPSHIRE FIRE AND RESCUE AUTHORITY
PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT OF FIRE AND RESCUE AUTHORITIES FOR 2007
1. The Hampshire Fire and Rescue Authority has achieved excellent results in the Audit Commission's latest national assessment of fire and rescue authorities' performance. It is currently well within the top ten best performing fire and rescue authorities in the country. For the second year running, the Authority has attained the top category `4' for the way services are delivered to the public and considered to be `performing strongly'. In the use of resources assessment, the Authority was judged to be `performing well' with a score of `3'. Its overall direction of travel was considered to be `improving well' with a score of `3'.
2. This is the second follow-up performance assessment since fire authorities were first subjected to the former Comprehensive Performance Assessment (CPA) in 2005. In 2006, an `operational assessment of service delivery' was undertaken for the first time; this included the verification of key outcome-based performance indicators. The latest 2007 assessment followed broadly the same structure, but the number of performance indicators taken into account was increased. As in 2006, an assessment was made of authorities' use of resources and their direction of travel in terms of overall improvement. A copy of the Chief Officer's report on this item, including a summary of the national report and results of all fire and rescue authorities performance assessments is available in the Members' Rooms.
3. The Authority has paid tribute to the Chief Officer and all Fire Service staff on the excellent results achieved by Hampshire following this, the latest performance assessment of fire and rescue authorities by the Audit Commission. Members have also congratulated the Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service on improvement to an already high standard of performance.
FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICE PLAN 2008-2011
1. The Authority has approved a comprehensive set of corporate objectives as part of its updated Integrated Risk Management Plan, now to be given the new title "Fire and Rescue Service Plan 2008-2011". It is an important document which outlines how it intends to make life safer in Hampshire.
2. As part of his detailed presentation, the Chief Fire Officer made clear to the Authority that each of the proposed eighteen corporate objectives within the Plan had been reviewed and revised following extensive consultation with key stakeholders. The objectives cover a range of areas of work for the Service, including the development of Diversity Liaison Officers on fire stations, the reduction of high impact incidents such as lift rescues and fires involving acetylene cylinders, and the closure of Copnor Fire Station with a community contact point being established in the Portsmouth area.
3. The proposal to close Copnor Fire Station provided the greatest strength of feeling during the consultation process and at the Fire Authority meeting itself. As a result an amendment to this corporate objective was made so as to establish, in consultation with local partners, a community contact point in the Portsmouth area. It was felt by the majority of Fire Authority Members to be an appropriate and effective way forward. The purpose of the contact point will be to provide the location for the development of a pumping appliance and crew at key times of the day that is closer to highest risk areas within the current Copnor Fire Station ground, prior to its closure from 2 April 2008. The Chief Officer is to prepare a report to the next meeting of the Authority on progress regarding the establishment of the new community contact point. A copy of the Chief Officer's report on this item is available in the Members' Rooms.
M.F. CARTWRIGHT
Chairman
4IR360308