To consider a report relating to Merseyside Fire and Rescue Services, Service Delivery Plan 2023-34 Oct- Dec Update (Report CFO/18/24).

Chief Fire Officer Phil Garrigan introduced the Service Delivery Plan and provided an update for the October–December 2023-24 period.

The Chief Fire Officer discussed Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authorities performance and progress against the Service's Functional Plans and the IRMP objectives

Members' attention was drawn to page 22 which displayed the emergency calls received in MFRA’s Fire Control and noted the Service’s proactive protection activity for the 2023–24 period.

It was reported that there had been a reduction in the volume of calls for 2023, with Fire Control handling 15,991 calls, which was 4,299 fewer than the previous year. It was also noted that, compared to previous years, 97.7% of calls were responded to within 10 seconds.

The Chief Fire Officer praised the staff in Fire Control for their outstanding performance.

Members were made aware of the two accidental dwelling fire fatalities, which were contained on page 26 of the report, and were advised that a correction had been made by the coroner. Members were informed that one of the two fatalities was not caused by fire, and it was concluded to be a cardiac arrest.

The Chief Fire Officer reported that only one fatality would be recorded for the cumulative period. It was added that the fatality was close to the end of this period of monitoring, and it was noted that if MFRA continued to have only one fatality, it would be the lowest number recorded by MFRA. The Chief Fire Officer added on behalf of the Authority, everybody’s sincere condolences for the family and the communities of Merseyside associated with the fatality.

It was noted that on page 30, the performance indicators recognised a requirement for work to take place in relation to false alarms due to an increase in incidents..

The Chief Fire Officer drew Members' attention to page 32 which displayed the shifts lost due to sickness absence, and

reminded the Members that the Scrutiny Committee were reviewing the sickness absence data.

Councillor Hanratty also discussed his concerns around false alarms, it was noted that the numbers of false calls were increasing again. Councillor Hanratty inquired if there was anything Members could assist with relating to recurring patterns of false alarms from hospitals and student accommodation.

The Chief Fire Officer reported the increase and described the type of incidents the service responded to. The Chief Fire Officer informed Members that MFRA would continue to respond and agreed with Councillor Hanratty that unwanted false alarms could be a result of failing apparatus. It was noted that work with the provider of services to reduce the impact of the system not being installed correctly or the apparatus not updated could mitigate and manage the risk.

Members were advised that the increase in incidents was predicated on MFRA's statutory duty to collaborate with other Blue Light Services in response to gaining entry on premises where vulnerable individuals were located.

Members were also reassured that the incidents relating to fire were reduced over the five- and 10-year period. The Chief Fire Officer discussed the national benchmark which is over a 10-year period with a 16% reduction in accidental dwelling fires. Members were also advised that MFRA had a 32% reduction in dwelling fires and noted that MFRA was described as ‘outstanding’ in its latest inspection from HMCIFRS around its work on community safety and prevention.

Councillor Byron questioned if the service was attending all false calls if it sounded like a fake call. The Chief Fire Officer emphasised that the Fire Control team would challenge if any caller sounded inauthentic and Fire Control would deal with the situation appropriately. It was also added by the Chief Fire Officer that arrangements are in place regarding challenging calls, and it was advised that Fire Control Officers were trained on receiving suspicious calls.

Members' attention was drawn to page 61, Paragraph 1.7, and it was explained that it included essential information about the Authority's legal responsibility to cooperate and work with the Northwest Ambulance Service (NWAS).

The Chief Fire Officer explained that MFRA do an extensive amount of work alongside NWAS, relating to special services calls.

It was explained that MFRA could support cardiac arrest incidents, and the Authority knows that trained firefighters would assist with defibrillation and an effective response. Additionally, it was noted that ongoing national discussions around the role of a firefighter were taking place.

Members were reminded that the Authority has recognised that there is a part that the firefighter could play in assisting the NWAS, with responding to certain incidents.

The Chief Fire Officer advised that this was a national issue and therefore was currently marked as red on the Service Delivery Plan, indicating that the action was not complete.

Councillor Rennie requested further information about people who live alone and use oxygen and how this was managed by the Authority when attending incidents.

The Chief Fire Officer discussed the process for an individual being discharged from the hospital. It was explained that the NHS would ensure that the individual was capable of being discharged and that the environment was safe. It was explained to Members that in and around this time, a Home Safety Check (HSC) and a Safe and Wellbeing Assessment would be undertaken.

Also, it was added that as part of data and information sharing, the Authority must know where oxygen was held in the public's homes across Merseyside.

Councillor Hanratty inquired as to why the status of the action to collaborate with MWAS was coloured red in the report.

It was explained that collaboration between emergency services was being considered nationally alongside the role of the firefighter and as such the action would remain red.

Members were advised by Councillor Byrom that the rating for implementing recommendations from the Grenfell Inquiry was also red, but the Authority was relying on other services and departments to complete certain requirements to progress.

Councillor Byrom explained that additionally, some of the actions promised under Grenfell are the responsibility of the government and conducting an impact analysis was necessary to determine the extent of MFRAS's responsibility in the matter.

It was noted that MFRA would try to continue to strengthen accountability and responsibility for the delivery of those actions and to be clear with the public.

Councillor Murray suggested a change of colour from red to pink in the delivery plan, so that the Authority knew that the actions were outstanding but could not be completed b by the Authority alone.

Councillor Moloney noted that there were six hybrid vehicles due for delivery in March and he asked if they were plug-in hybrids or none plug-ins.

Anthony Holland, Estates Development Manager confirmed that the vehicles were plug-in hybrids. The Chief Fire Officer discussed that the Authority was strongly committed to ‘going green’ but that the vehicles needed to equally function effectively.

RESOLVED that Service Delivery Plan reports (Appendices 1–11) for publication on the website be approved.