The consultation process

The consultation for the Integrated Risk Management Plan 2008/09 ended on 20th December 2007.

The consultation included the collection of opinions from staff, stakeholders and the public using the following methods:

• Distribution of the consultation draft plan to all staff
• Invitation to consult sent to over 400 partners and organisations
• A postal survey of 5,000 homes in Brighton & Hove and East Sussex
• Staff meetings & focus groups in Brighton, Eastbourne & Hastings.
• Public focus groups in Brighton & Hastings

The Consultation Results

The results of the consultation process are summarised below:

• Amongst staff there was 100% support for option C - staying as we are. Staff indicated clearly that they were not convinced by the merits of option A (Variable Crewing) and option B (Annualised Hours) for ESFRS.
• There was some acknowledgement by staff that improvements can be made to the current system without changing its basic 2, 2, 4 structure.
• Partner organisations and the public were more supportive of the proposal to closer match resource to demand but were reluctant to offer opinions on how this should be achieved as this is felt to be an internal management issue.

Full reports of each section of the process are now available including transcripts from the staff meetings and comments returned on the staff questionnaires.

• FBU Final Response [pdf, 130kb]
• Report of 5 independent focus groups [pdf, 365kb]
• Report of independent questionnaire to 5,000 homes [pdf, 677kb]
• Cross-tabulated report of independent questionnaire to 5,000 homes [pdf, 715kb]
• Text comments from independent questionnaire to 5,000 homes [pdf, 591kb]
• Text comments from responses to Service questionnaire [pdf, 149kb]
• Text comments from staff meetings [pdf, 89kb]

What Happens Next?

The Way Forward Working Group (WFWG) has met on a number of occasions during 2007 to discuss the future of East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service with regard to their Integrated Risk Management Plan; this group is led by elected Members and includes the Deputy Chief Fire Officer. It invites to each of its meetings the recognised representative bodies to hear their views and contributions. The WFWG report their findings and any recommendations initially to the Policy and Resources Panel and then to the full Fire Authority for agreement.

The Fire Authority met on 17th January 2008 and after due deliberation concluded the following action points:

• Whilst it is recognised that variable crewing does have merit, it is not considered viable to introduce into East Sussex at this time; this matter to be kept under review.
• Whilst recognising the additional associated costs, the Authority would wish to explore the feasibility of introducing retained appliances onto wholetime stations, particularly in Eastbourne and the city of Brighton and Hove.
• Whilst recognising that there is a potential to introduce annualised hours, the Authority recognises there are a number of risks in maintaining organisational resilience and, therefore, does not intend to introduce an annualised hours system at this time.
• s programmed annual leave and training would have the benefit of more effectively planning resource requirements, improve organisational resilience and Service training, the Chief Fire Officer (CFO) is to consult on the introduction of programmed annual leave and training.
• The CFO is to implement amendments to the station working routines to ensure the majority of the 24 hour period is given over to operational training and community safety activities, that other station work routines are kept to the minimum necessary and that stand-down time is only available after all other tasks are completed.
• The Chief Fire Officer & Chief Executive is to move forward the introduction of a shift pattern that provides a minimum of an 11-hour break between night shifts.