Integrated Risk Management Action Plan 2012-2013
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INTEGRATED RISK MANAGEMENT ACTION PLAN 2012-2013 CONSULTATION PAPER INTRODUCTION West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Authority faces some difficult challenges in meeting its objectives and at the same time delivering significant efficiencies over the next few years. The following report presents seven important proposals for more efficient and effective ways of working. On 9 September 2011, the fire authority agreed that the recommendations from its chief fire officer be published for a 12-week period of public consultation. A further report will then be considered by the authority in December 2011. If the proposals are approved they will be implemented between 2012 and 2017. 2 WYFRA FULL AUTHORITY 9 Sept 2011 ITEM NO REPORT OF: DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS PURPOSE OF REPORT: To present a range of proposals as part of the Integrated Risk Management Planning (IRMP) process for inclusion in the 2012/13 Action Plan. RECOMMENDATIONS: 1. Approval is given to undertake full consultation in relation to: The introduction of a Fire Response Unit and Resilience Pump at Moortown to replace the 2nd fire 3 appliance and the removal of up to 12 fulltime posts by way of planned retirements. Remove the 2nd fire appliance at Silsden and transfer it to Keighley as a Resilience Pump and the removal of 5 Retained Duty System posts from the establishment at Silsden. The construction of a new fire station to replace South Elmsall fire station with the removal of 11 fulltime posts from the establishment by way of planned retirements and the closure of Hemsworth fire station with the removal of 12 Retained Duty System posts. The construction of a new fire station to replace Rawdon fire station with the removal of 11 fulltime posts from the establishment by way of planned retirements and the closure of Otley fire station with the removal of 12 Retained Duty System posts. The construction of a new fire station to replace Brighouse and Elland fire stations and removal of 24 fulltime posts from the establishment by way of planned retirements. The construction of a new fire station to replace Batley and Dewsbury fire stations and removal of 24 fulltime posts from the establishment by way of planned retirements. The construction of a new fire station to replace Gipton and Stanks fire stations and removal of 24 fulltime posts from the establishment by way of planned retirements. 2. The outcomes of the full consultation are reported back to West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Authority in December 2011 for approval of the proposals subject 4 to the feedback received. LOCAL GOVERNMENT (ACCESS TO INFORMATION) ACT DETAILS EXEMPTION CATEGORY: NONE ACCESS CONTACT OFFICER: DCFO Beckley and AM Rhodes BACKGROUND PAPERS: Service Plan 2011-15 Community Risk Management Strategy 2011-15 IRMP Community and Engagement Strategy OPEN TO INSPECTION: www.wyfrs.co.uk SUMMARY WYFRA faces some difficult challenges in meeting its objectives and at the same time delivering significant efficiencies over the next few years. There have been some major successes over recent years in reducing risk, activity and demand, with the number of fires, deaths and injuries at an all-time low, providing opportunity to consider more efficient and effective ways of working. This paper presents seven proposals, each of which is supported by a business case. 5 Approval of WYFRA is sought to commence full consultation with all stakeholders and interested parties over a 12 week period in relation to a range of proposals that will enable significant efficiencies to be made. A further report will be submitted in December 2011 to WYFRA, which will include the outcomes of the consultation. Approval will be sought for the proposals, subject to any changes arising from the process of consultation. If the proposals are approved they will be included in the Action Plan for 2012/13 for implementation between 2012 and 2016. 1 BACKGROUND 1.1 Integrated Risk Management Planning was introduced by Government in April 2004, replacing the 1985 Standards of Fire Cover. Since the introduction of Integrated Risk Management Plans, WYFRS has not only complied with statutory requirements but has also been proactive in developing initiatives that have enabled the delivery of an excellent Fire and Rescue Service for the community of West Yorkshire. West Yorkshire is one of the best performing fire services in the country; the Integrated Risk Management Planning process it uses will enable it to remain a first class service whilst still delivering value for money. 1.2 In 2009 WYFRS reviewed its Integrated Risk Management Planning process in order to prepare fully for the challenges that Fire and Rescue Services across the country were likely to face due to budgetary reductions. In late 2009 firefighter recruitment was suspended in anticipation that funding would reduce. 1.3 This critical decision places WYFRS in a strong position to be able to respond to reductions in funding. The high level strategy is based on the alignment of changes to the profile of 6 firefighters retiring. This enables the number of firefighters employed by WYFRA to reduce gradually, in order to avoid wholetime firefighter redundancies. 1.4 As firefighters retire, obviously the numbers that remain to crew WYFRS fire appliances also reduces. It is therefore necessary to change the number and locations of fire appliances to maximise the capacity of the workforce by implementing a major change programme to reorganise and restructure the Service. 1.5 At the heart of WYFRS’s strategy to meet the challenges and continue to make West Yorkshire safer is the integration of prevention, protection, response and resilience services. An explanation of how these key pillars operate together is contained within the Community Risk Management Strategy 2011-2015, which explains how WYFRS determines a proportional approach to the management of risk in order to deliver an equitable service to the whole of West Yorkshire. 1.6 The risk management methodology adopted and set out in the Community Risk Management Strategy has been externally validated to ensure that the Authority is provided with the highest quality of robust information practicable. This document can be found on the home page of the WYFRS internet site. 1.7 Incidence of fire is comparatively rare; WYFRS has achieved great success in reducing the total number of all incidents in West Yorkshire by 22% between 2004/5 and 2009/10, with the number of more serious fires reducing by 42%. It is entirely appropriate that the general reduction of risk and demand is taken account of when determining the level of resources required. 1.8 The principles outlined in the Community Risk Management Strategy 2011-15 enabled a range of changes to be presented to WYFRA in June 2011. Approval was given at that meeting to carry out internal consultation and negotiation with employees and their representatives as the changes have an insignificant impact on fire cover. This report now presents further proposals requiring full consultation. 2 INFORMATION 2.1 A comprehensive Emergency Cover Review has recently been concluded. This review enables WYFRS to ensure that its emergency response resources are in the right place at the right time and that they are being provided in an efficient and effective way. The Emergency Cover Review provides the basis for determining proposals for future change. Such changes will alter the way in which WYFRS delivers its emergency response and drive the optimum use of resources, 7 delivering better value for money. 2.2 Many fire stations are located in certain areas for historical reasons and due to the changes in risk and demography, are no longer in the optimum location. The Emergency Cover Review has provided strong evidence for major change. 2.3 The Emergency Cover Review has utilised a number of scientific evaluation tools alongside local knowledge and professional judgment to identify the changes which would have the least impact on service delivery. The risk process has been developed, and externally validated by Risk Management specialists. The Review is also underpinned by a very detailed Resource Optimisation Study jointly undertaken with experts in this field. The outcome of this extensive and thorough collaborative work is a robust evidence base on which proposals can be constructed. 2.4 The alignment of the retirement profile and the anticipated financial plan has enabled significant changes to be identified that have a limited effect on fire cover. The Community Risk Management Strategy approved by WYFRA in September 2010, presented a range of potential types of change which could be introduced, these have been summarised below: Restructuring of Response resources based on Risk: o Station Mergers and redistribution of appliances. o Closure of some Retained Stations. o Removal of 2nd appliances or change or supplement the types of appliances with, for example, Fire Response Units. Dual Crewing Specialist appliances. Introducing Combined Aerial Rescue Pumps. Day Crewing (Close Call) Stations. Peak Activity Crewing. Resilience Pumps. 8 2.5 The Emergency Cover Review has enabled the impact of these and other options for change to be considered; those options which have the least impact have led to evidence based business cases being produced. 2.6 Five of the proposals in this report will require the purchase of land and the building of new fire stations. It has been necessary to include these proposals at this early stage to allow the lengthy process of land purchase, planning permission and construction to be undertaken. If approved, the implementation of the five new builds will take place between 2013 and 2017; this is dependent on the availability of suitable land for purchase. 2.7 Further proposals will be presented to WYFRA in future years, however it is not anticipated that these will involve any further new builds prior to 2016.