To consider Report CFO/010/22 presenting the Service Delivery Planfor 2022-23.

Phil Garrigan, Chief Fire Officer, presented the Service Delivery Plan for 2022 to 2023.

Members attention was drawn to the Station Plans contained in the report which had been developed with each station, directed by the IRMP. Each plan was bespoke to the area covered by that station and the communities that it served in that locality meaning that targets would vary across the estate. For example, Heswall may focus on Home Fire Safety Checks and the City Centre would focus on high-rise risk and inspections.

Councillor Wood questioned how fuel poverty and safely heating homes played into the plans especially for areas of deprivation. The Chief highlighted the importance of deprivation in relation to risk of fire and risk of fire death, which had resulted in a higher demand for resources in those areas of heightened deprivation. Through dialogue with the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and local authorities, including poverty in Equality Impact Assessments was being considered. Including that information in local authority plans would help MFRA to tackle fuel poverty and other risks associated with deprivation in a cohesive way, ensuring that the right actions were taken. A collective approach to this issue was needed across Merseyside as more people struggled with the cost of living.

In relation to fuel poverty, Councillor Wood asked what the impact of fuel poverty would be in the winter in terms of health risks like hypothermia, inability to heat homes and some families not being able to afford smoke alarms. The CFO explained the impact that a poor quality environment can have on people’s health and that through increased partnership working that could be identified and remedied earlier. One way to achieve this would be for GP’s to prescribe a Safe and Well visit to individuals who present with a pattern of influenza illness. This would reduce costs for the NHS and improve the environment for the individual involved.

The Chief confirmed that data from energy and water suppliers was available to the Authority but this could be reviewed to ensure it was used as effectively as possible to support the most vulnerable.

Councillor Connor queried how outputs from the Station Plans would be measured in terms of attainment against key performance indicators. It was explained that each station would feedback into the Authority were the data would be monitored to ensure that the targets were being met. Comparing each station would be difficult as the targets for each would be based on the communities they served and so would differ.

The Chair also complimented the Station Plans as they endorsed localism and using the knowledge of the firefighters working in those areas to help the community. He raised concerns that there could be differing levels of service provided but that allowing stations to use their initiative and dynamism to make improvements was welcomed, provided a baseline of quality was met.

The Committee discussed the Community Impact Fund noting that there would be £1000 available for each station to invest back into the community. It was explained that the relationships formed through investment needed to be maintained and the communities would require support throughout the year, not just a one-time gift or donation. The aim was to tackle root causes of poverty and to facilitate referrals into the stations through positive interactions with the community. Watch Managers were encouraged to work hard in understanding the needs of their locality in order to make a significant impact using the Fund.

It was agreed that an update on the Community Impact Fund be presented to the Committee at a future meeting to highlight how it helped to meet the aims of the Authority.

RESOLVED that the attached Service Delivery Plan (Appendix 1) for 2022-23 be approved prior to the publication of a designed version on the Authority’s website.