Full Consultation Report for IRMP 14
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Making Cheshire Safer Integrated Risk Management Plan for 2017/18 Report on public, staff and partner consultation January 2017 IRMP 14 (2017/18) Consultation Report Page 1 of 153 Contents Page 1. Introduction 4 2. Executive summary 5 3. The consultation programme 11 4. Consulting with the public 13 5. Consulting with staff and internal stakeholders 18 6. Consulting with stakeholders 20 7. Feedback, evaluation and communicating outcomes 23 8. Detailed results 25 Your Fire and Rescue Service 25 Funding 27 Proposal to increase council tax by 1.99% 27 Proposed review of staffing systems 29 Proposal to remove third hydraulic platform 30 Proposed introduction of third engine at Crewe and Ellesmere Port 32 Proposed expansion of cardiac response pilot 33 Proposal to redevelop operational training at HQ 35 Proposing a new Automatic Fire Alarm (AFA) Policy 36 Proposed campaign for sprinklers in schools 38 Overall agreement/disagreement with plans 39 Further comments 40 Smoke alarms 41 Communicating with you 43 Public and staff response data tables 45 9. Profile of respondents 55 Appendices Appendix 1: Social media and press coverage 64 Appendix 2: Annual Report, IRMP Summary, IRMP Survey and Stakeholder Newsletter 70 Appendix 3: Partners and stakeholders communicated with 76 Appendix 4: Additional public responses 79 IRMP 14 (2017/18) Consultation Report Page 2 of 153 Appendix 5: Public comments 82 Proposal to increase council tax 82 Proposed review of staffing systems 90 Proposal to removal third hydraulic platform 94 Proposed introduction of third engine at Crewe and Ellesmere Port 98 Proposed expansion of cardiac response pilot 100 Proposal to redevelop operational training at HQ 104 Proposing a new Automatic Fire Alarms (AFA) policy 105 Proposed campaign for sprinklers in schools 107 Further comments 108 Appendix 6: Staff comments 113 Proposal to increase council tax 113 Proposed review of staffing systems 114 Proposal to remove third hydraulic platform 116 Proposed introduction of third engine at Crewe and Ellesmere Port 118 Proposed expansion of cardiac response pilot 121 Proposal to redevelop operational training at HQ 123 Proposing a new Automatic Fire Alarms (AFA) policy 126 Proposed campaign for sprinklers in schools 127 Further comments 128 Appendix 7: Responses from partners and stakeholders 132 IRMP 14 (2017/18) Consultation Report Page 3 of 153 1. Introduction This report sets out the results of the programme of public, staff and partner consultation on Cheshire Fire Authority’s draft Integrated Risk Management Plan (IRMP) for 2016/17, titled Making Cheshire Safer, between October 3rd 2016 and January 3rd 2017. The purpose of this report is to enable the Authority to understand the differing level of opinion among all groups to the proposals set out in the draft IRMP, in order to assist the Authority in giving consideration to the results of the consultation in its decision making process. This feedback will be among the issues considered by the Fire Authority prior to approval of the final version of the IRMP. This report comprises eleven sections, as follows: An executive summary, which briefly describes the consultation programme, the level of response and the key conclusions which can be drawn from the feedback received An overview of the consultation programme An outline of the methods used when consulting with the public Outlining how the Service consulted with staff and internal stakeholders An overview of the approach taken to consult with partners and external stakeholders A description of the work undertaken to assess and evaluate the consultation against previous consultations. Detailed results of the survey that underpinned the consultation, showing how each group responded to the consultation questions A summary of media coverage generated by the consultation, including coverage on social media platforms. A profile of respondents who completed the consultation survey. Appendices including the summary IRMP, the list of partners communicated with, written submissions and additional comments received and news releases. This report has been made available to public and partners on the Service’s website - www.cheshirefire.gov.uk/consultation - and to staff on the Intranet. Report prepared by: Graeme Worrall Consultation and Engagement Officer Planning, Performance and Communications, Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service January 30th 2017 IRMP 14 (2017/18) Consultation Report Page 4 of 153 2. Executive summary This report details activity undertaken during the consultation on Cheshire Fire Authority’s draft Integrated Risk Management Plan (IRMP) for 2017/18 between October 3rd 2016 to January 3rd 2017. Nearly 4,000 members of the public and over 250 stakeholders and partner agencies were communicated with during the consultation, along with Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service staff at a number of events across Cheshire. From this, a total of 632 members of the public, 137 members of staff and eight stakeholders formally responded to the consultation. Additionally, comment was received from Members of Parliament and local authority leaders and chief executives during face-to-face briefings. Views were sought through a range of engagement activities including public and staff roadshows, online surveys and briefings with key partners. The consultation focused on the key proposals within the draft IRMP, as well as seeking views on proposals to increase the Authority’s share of council tax precept and the overall value placed on Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service. Additionally, the consultation undertaken this year was used to undertake the latest public satisfaction survey. Therefore in addition to the IRMP proposals the consultation questionnaire asked several questions relating to overall perceptions of the Service, views on future priorities and communications methods. A standard 22-question consultation survey was developed to gauge opinion amongst the public and external stakeholders. A survey was also created for staff to complete, which contained ten questions primarily related to the emergency response proposals contained in the draft Plan. There were 632 responses received from the public consultation in total, which provides a margin of error of +/- 4% and also enables the Service to have 95% confidence level that the results fall within this +/- 4% range. 1,365 additional comments were also submitted into the consultation by both public and staff consultees. The Consultation Institute has also been engaged throughout this consultation process to provide advice and assurance against nationally recognised standards of best practice, as also occurred during the comprehensive consultation undertaken in 2012 relating to changes to emergency cover. The commentary on the following pages provide a summary of both the consultation process and the results emerging from the public and staff surveys. More detailed analysis of the survey results are provided later in the document. IRMP 14 (2017/18) Consultation Report Page 5 of 153 Public and staff responses Overall 99% of the public value Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service as a local service provider and 92% are satisfied with the overall performance of Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service. 55% of public respondents have not had contact with the Service in the past three years. Only 6% have come into contact with the Service through a fire incident or road traffic collision. 79% of the public and 49% of staff agree overall with the proposals as set out in the draft IRMP, while 4% of public and 28% of staff disagree. 119 comments were received from the public, with 12 residents expressing support for the proposals. 17 comments stated concern over a perceived reduction in service due to funding cuts, while others outlined their desire for good emergency cover in their local areas, namely Crewe, Macclesfield, Runcorn and around South West Cheshire. Others highlighted support for the cardiac response programme, a growing need to address cycle safety and statements on trusting the professional judgement of officers when making plans. Out of 35 staff comments, 11 raised concern over what they feel is a reduction in cover across the service area, two felt this was particularly the case in Cheshire East and around Crewe. Two staff considered the Home Safety Assessment targets to be too high and two staff were critical of the Blue Light Collaboration project with Cheshire Constabulary. 13 comments related to the financial environment and raised issue with a perceived reduction in service due to the requirement to meet savings targets. Funding 80% of the public agreed that Cheshire Fire Authority represented value for money based on the existing level of precept. 5% disagreed with this. 66% of the public and 58% of staff agreed with the proposed increase in the precept of 1.99%. 12% of the public and 21% of staff disagreed with this proposal. 298 public additional comments were submitted regarding increasing the precept. 114 comments indicated respondents support for the increase. Of the 53 comments raising concerns, some highlighted the impact of tax rises on fixed incomes; others were concerned about what they saw as continuing cuts on front line services. 15 further comments highlighted areas for organisational savings that could be made to reduce the need for increasing tax. 15 of 39 staff comments supported the proposed increase and 9 oppose. 7 comments questioned the way in which the Service used its funds and prioritised spending. IRMP 14 (2017/18) Consultation Report Page 6 of 153 Plans for the future Reviewing staffing systems 41% of public and 36% of staff agreed with the proposed review of staffing systems at Birchwood, Macclesfield, Penketh and Wilmslow fire stations. 10% of the public and 38% of staff disagreed with this. 135 additional comments were made by the public. 42 respondents stated objections to any reduction in service and 18 also felt that more detail on a review was needed before they could offer a firm view. 13 respondents supported a review and 7 felt that this was a matter left to professional judgment. 38 additional comments were left by staff, 10 of which supported a process of review.