Fire & Rescue Service Update

Local Area Agreements (LAA’s) and especially their impending changes are an important focus and challenge for the Fire and Rescue Service (FRS). Regionally, the FRS is very well represented within the existing LAA’s, but the emphasis of the changes influenced by the Governments White Paper, makes it especially important that each of the North West Fire and Rescue Services (FRS) understand the new relationship these agreements will have to CAA.

The priority in this process is working with Government Office to facilitate learning that will promote successful and positive engagement within the new LAA framework. Importantly FRS needs to fully understand and recognise the cross cutting benefits of their Community work and engagement. The FRS works, like many of its partnering Agencies/Services within a broader agenda, driving outcomes based on tackling causes rather than just their symptoms. It is important within the new LAA structure that the FRS is both understood and recognised for its contributions in these areas, examples of which: ASB, Cohesion, Crime, Offending and re-offending.

To establish and build this understanding I am currently meeting with each of the FRS’s to organise learning events in association with each of the GONW teams. The first event was held on August 29th with Greater Manchester FRS. The event was supported by Karen Williams and members of the GONW Greater Manchester team.

Greater Manchester FRS organised the learning event which was attended by representatives from the Senior Management team, Fire Authority Members, Borough Commanders, and Senior Support Staff. The Greater Manchester FRS event was held at Manchester University, within the Centre for Local Governance. Through its FRS lead in the North West with NWIN (North West Improvement Network) Greater Manchester, Dr Stephen Brookes facilitated the day. Stephen who is a Senior lecturer within the Business School at the University has a comprehensive background in Central/Local Government Practice. Formerly a Director within the GOEM, Stephen is now working with NWIN on a programme of research looking at the context and development of the LAA framework, its introduction, application and performance.

Supported by GONW it is planned to organise and run these learning days within each of the NW Fire and Rescue Services, through October and November. These events will complement and build on the nationally planned CLG (FRS) LAA workshops in both London and Manchester, the later being hosted by Greater Manchester FRS on 17th October 2007. Feedback and learning from each event will be used to build a Northwest FRS LAA strategic guidance and engagement toolkit.

Set out below are the learning areas covered by the workshops together with their overall aims and objectives:

Aims and Objectives

The learning event is aimed at promoting a better understanding of the new LAA structure including its delivery and performance framework. This will include the identification of GONW delivery structures as well as the LAA impact on the FRS – From FRS Integrated Risk Management Planning (IRMP) to Local delivery and Community engagement. Importantly this will also include an introduction to the new Comprehensive Area Assessment process, which introduces performance measurement based on risk and outcomes for the local community, replacing the Comprehensive Performance Assessment (CPA) in 2009.

As an outcome Managers will have a fuller understanding of the changing process, enabling them to positively and successfully engage as a statutory partner within their Local LAA negotiations and delivery plans. Feedback and learning from each event in the North West will be used to build a Northwest FRS LAA strategic guidance and engagement toolkit.

Learning areas:

• Understanding the background and context of LAA’s
• GONW structures in the support and delivery of LAA’s
• Influence and changes to the LAA framework made by the Local Gov White Paper and the Local Gov and Public Involvement Health Bill
• Changes in Statutory responsibility and funding
• Understanding the change proposed by CSR07 to reduce the current performance measures to 200 and how these will by prioritised within LAA’s
• How will the FRS be represented and measured within the 200 National Indicator Set (National priorities) and LAA 35 local priority areas
• Funding and the likely changes – PSA/LPSA
• CPA to CAA and how this is likely to impact on the FRS
• MAA’s - understanding the concept and likely outcomes
• Challenges for the FRS

Adrian Luty
Fire and Regional Liaison Officer, GONW
0161 952 4372
adrian.luty@gonw.gsi.gov.uk