Warwickshire Fire and Rescue service is improving!
An Organisational Assessment of Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Authority by the Audit Commission, has confirmed it is improving and the reasons why the Service needs to modernise.
Acknowledging the good work carried out by the Authority, the Organisational Assessment noted that there has been some good success in reducing fires in the home, deaths and injuries from fire, profiling risks and reducing arson and nuisance fires. In addition, they acknowledged that firefighter safety was a priority for the fire and rescue authority and that firefighter training is good.
The Organisational Assessment concluded that, “Work in communities to prevent fires is having some impact, but the Authority needs to do much more”.
It also noted that the Authority has invested less in the past in community safety work, than any other authority in England.
Some of these points have already been recognised by the Authority and have been addressed in the Service’s Improvement Plan, which has been out to public consultation. This is recognised in the report and states that “Stronger leadership inside the Service and from the County Council is driving forward an improvement plan that represents substantial and radical change in how the Authority delivers its services and spends its money”.
Chief Fire Officer, Graeme Smith said:
“I believe that modernisation is necessary if the Fire and Rescue Service is to maximise available resources for the greater good. The role of firefighters has widened since significant changes were last made and we need to ensure that we have a Service fit for the 21st century.”
Portfolio Holder for Community Protection, Councillor Richard Hobbs said:
“There is much evidence of excellence within Warwickshire Fire & Rescue Service, but we do recognise that in order to develop our services, we do need to change. The organisational assessment clearly shows that there is a need to change and we need to be looking closely at the recommendations within the report to see how we can apply them.”