Issue - meetings

To consider an update on the Local Fire Service from the Chief Fire Officer.

The Committee considered a report, set out in agenda pages 5 to 18, which provided an update on the local fire service.

Trevor Ferguson, Chief Fire Officer, gave a presentation to the Committee outlining various aspects of the fire service including their current workload, budget constraints and the 2019-2025 corporate plan.

Trevor stated that the Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service (RBFRS) was responsible for a £33.479 million budget. He added that £4.96 million had been saved from the budget between 2010 and 2016. The Capital programme would be funded until 2021.

Trevor stated that much of the budget savings had been achieved through reduction of back office staff and by restructuring parts of the business. Trevor stressed that the frontline service delivery had been preserved and that the service was fully capable of responding to incidents.

Trevor explained that as a result of the Grenfell Fire incident, RBFRS fire safety inspector officers inspected 157 high rise premises and conducted 4700 face to face visits. He added that the service jointly inspected 74 buildings which were identified most at risk, and all Aluminium Composite Material (ACM) high rise buildings were identified.

Trevor explained that three tri-service stations were being developed, with one having already opened in 2017, and a further two being scheduled to open in 2020 and 2021. He added that seven new generation fire appliances had been delivered in 2017 and 2018, with a further 4 to be delivered in 2019 at an approximate cost of £200k each. 

Trevor outlined the potential pay pressure placed on the service, as the Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) was using a 2% benchmark for yearly pay increases but inflation was sitting closer to 3%. He added that phase 4 of the RBFRS ‘life after Grenfell’ plans may require additional funding. Trevor stated that, historically, the RBFRS had been a very prudent authority, and as a result sat in the bottom quartile of precept funding when compared to other authorities.

Andy Croy asked whether the majority of staff in the RBFRS had experienced net pay cuts as a result of Central Government austerity measures. Trevor stated that many staff had experienced a real term pay cut over recent years as a result of incremental pay rises being below the market level of inflation.

David Sleight asked for clarification to the definition of a high rise building, and what was the best prevention method for stopping catastrophes such as the Grenfell incident. Trevor stated that the definition of a high rise building was 18m tall. He added that the most efficient method of preventing such incidents were a combination of fire protection staff, building control management and fire safety precautions within the buildings.

Clive Jones asked whether the fire service was consulted adequately regarding new developments. Trevor stated that engagement was crucial in allowing the fire service to address issues as they arose. He added that he could only think of a couple of examples of developments which had ignored guidelines, and that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 25