Archived decisions
Hampshire Fire and Rescue Authority Item 7 Performance Review and Scrutiny Committee 26th June 2009
Evaluation of IRMP Objective PRO3 (2006/09) - `New Fire Safety Legislation'. Report by: GM Dave Norgate |
Contact: Name/Telephone/Email Dave Norgate 07918 887553 [email protected] |
1 Summary
1.1 As part of the Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service's performance monitoring system, the evaluation of Integrated Risk Management Plan (IRMP) objectives is an integral part of our assessment of service delivery. This report evaluates the IRMP objective PRO3 in the 2006/09 document relating to `New Fire Safety Legislation' and confirms the achievement of the stated corporate objective.
2.1 That this report and its content are noted by the Performance Review and Scrutiny Committee.
2.2 That it is acknowledged that the Protection Department achieved PRO3 (2006/09) IRMP.
3.1 The piecemeal fire safety legislation applicable across the UK came under governmental review during the early years of 2000. Supported by government, commerce and industry, as well as the British fire service, a single unifying piece of legislation came into force on 1st October 2006 entitled the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, (RRO).
3.2 In our Corporate Plan 2006/09 (our IRMP) objective PRO3 committed to:
o What and Why ? We will develop a strategy and action plan to carry out our statutory responsibilities under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order. This will ensure that the business community and the public are fully supported in complying with this new legislation, which is intended to make working environment safer.
o How and when ? We will ensure that our publicity and education strategy complements the governments information campaign and meets the needs of our business community. We will enforce fire safety legislation where property owners fail to comply. Implementation of this strategy will commence in line with the enactment of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order due in 2006 and will be fully developed within 12 months of the order commencement date.
4 National, Regional and HFRS approach
4.1 The introduction of this new legislation had a wider implementation issue for the British Fire Service, not just HFRS. Through the national Chief Fire Officers Association (CFOA) a series of `Task and Finish' work groups were established to address the implementation issues of:
o Policy,
o Training,
o Enforcement, and
o Audit process
4.2 HFRS led on the Audit Process element and delivered (on time) a national audit form compatible with all regulations under the RRO. The production of this national audit form which has been adopted by all fire services was the basis of consistent application of the new legislation across the country. HFRS used the national training package to train and educate the inspection workforce on the new legislation, and adopted the policy and enforcement protocols.
4.3 Our strategy to support and adopt the national stance on the implementation of the RRO, and the internal action plan to address training, new forms, policy documents within the required timeframes was successful.
4.4 In order to ensure that "our publicity and education strategy complements the governments information campaign and meets the needs of our business community" statement HFRS worked on a regional basis through the CFOA structure. As a fire and rescue service HFRS supported the regional advertising campaigns.
4.5 HFRS also worked internally using our own resources to target commerce and industry within the county boundaries. A large number of information workshops were arranged with in excess of one thousand delegates attending the free of charge seminars. During these events the implications and responsibilities for those to whom the new legislation applies was explained in full.
4.6 The national, regional and local evaluation of the launch of this new legislation was mixed in its results:
o The DCLG (as the then government department leading on the issue was) recognised that insufficient funds had been allocated to the advertising campaign. The overall results being that little more than 20% of the target audience had knowledge of the new legislation before it became law. It is interesting to note that following this exercise the government has learnt from it and newer campaigns on changes to road fund issues, tax self assessment etc all receive significantly more advertising funding to achieve the aims.
o The South East CFOA faired better than the national picture due to all brigades contributing funds to run additional advertising above that from the CLG. The method of collating evidence was via reply and post card returns which indicated as much as a 70% awareness in the region.
o Internally HFRS ran the seminars indicated above, of the delegates who attended 95% stated (by end of seminar feedback forms) satisfaction with the intention of the new legislation and the information provided.
4.7 Therefore our strategy to `be ready' for the new launch of this legislation by use of an action plan to prepare internal policies, procedures and train staff for the commencement date succeeded.
4.8 Our media awareness campaign mirrored and supported the national one, giving commerce and industry a better awareness than was the national picture.
4.9 Our internal procedures have been established over the first 12 months and we have seen a increase in high level enforcement actions and successful prosecutions to correct fire safety deficiencies since the new law came into force.
4.10 The CLG have also commissioned their own national review entitled `Initial Evaluation of the Effectiveness of The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
4.11 HFRS contributed to this national research report and the overall summary of findings states that `The early indications are that the new Fire Safety Order is bedding in well and has been positively received'.
4.12 The report goes on to state that enforcing authorities have a good understanding of the legislation and the intent behind its use, that being to move away from a prescriptive stance on fire safety in buildings but to risk assess each premises with the responsible person of that premises deciding on the fire safety measures applicable. The fire service then auditing the measures and either confirming or using informal or formal powers to correct identified deficiencies.
4.13 The CLG's own assessment of the change in legislations records that across commerce and industry there has been around 60% awareness by those now responsible for fire safety in buildings. We have implemented an awareness campaign to increase this measure and improve the awareness of small to medium enterprises (SME's) which is the group identified by the CLG as lacking in understanding of their responsibilities under the legislation.
4.14 The report further goes on to state that the fire service has been seen as a supportive enforcer to those who now have the responsibility for fire safety. Many of those now responsible stated that the fire service, whilst the enforcing authority, were still the first port of call for advice and were also found to be supportive and helpful. This, from a Hampshire perspective, serves to confirm that the extra effort placed in delivering the free information workshops across the county was of benefit to those whom we now enforce.
4.15 The CLG report goes on to indicating that despite the initial positive replies from across the country there is still much to do. The work to continue to inform the sections of commerce and industry not aware of this change in legislation needs to continue.
4.16 HFRS have:
o continued to run the free information workshops,
o all appointments made to visit premises are confirmed in writing stating what the responsible person can expect,
o the letter also invites the responsible person to one of the free workshops prior to our visit to view the fire safety standards,
o HFRS have commissioned an independent company `Risksmart' to run an information campaign starting in May 2009 targeting the small to medium sized premises who form the largest sector of commerce who are perceived as being unaware of their responsibilities under this new legislation.
4.17 The report also comments on the work undertaken by brigades to prepare themselves for the change in legislation and to become more effective by better targeting of resources to high risk premises. Hampshire have continued to develop their own internal risk methodologies.
4.18 As a look forward the CLG report does indicate that many F&RS have identified that to continue to refine / enhance their knowledge of premises within their areas will take additional funding to support existing or develop new risk information systems. Hampshire have supported through the National User group Forum the development of our existing CFRMIS system. Hampshire Protection department have transferred an existing member of staff from the Protection department who is intimately knowledgeable on the system into the Community Risk Intelligence department. The CFRMIS system had been further enhanced by the purchase of the Ordinance Survey `Address Layer Two' premises information system which now means that HFRS has knowledge of over 98% of all premises addresses within the county. Cost issues around the continued development of such systems will now reside within the Community Risk Intelligence department
4.19 In summary all of the task items of PRO3 have been achieved, and the findings of the national evaluation report also support this.
5. Contribution to Corporate Aims and Objectives
5.1 In achieving the IRMP PRO3 the Protection department have supported the 2006/09 corporate aims of
o To reduce fire deaths and injuries by 20% by 2010
o To reduce the number of fires in buildings by 3% by the end of 2006
o To reduce fires started deliberately by 10% by 2010
o To be in the top 20%of high performing fire and rescue services in the country
6. Risk Analysis
6.1 By not fulfilling the IRMP PRO3, HFRS would have been failing in one of its statutory duties to enforce firs safety legislation within the authority area.
None other than already within HFRS Protection establishment
None
7.3 Information and Communications Technology Resources
None other than are already in the HFRS IT strategy
7.4 Financial Implications (3 Year Financial Plan)
None
No implications
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.
Appropriate consultation was conducted at the outset.
That the IRMP Objective PR03 (2006/09) was successfully achieved.
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:
Note: The list excludes: (1) published works; and (2) documents that disclose exempt or confidential information defined in the Act.
Fire and Rescue Service's Act 2004
Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005
HFRS IRMP 2006/09
Communities and Local Government - `Initial Evaluation of the Effectiveness of The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005'.