Meeting Details

The Chairman announced the following:

• The Chairman had attended the recent medal ceremonies in both Worcester and Hereford.
• The Fire Minister is due to visit Hereford in February and the Chairman will take the opportunity to discuss the issues affecting the Service.
• DCFO Palmer has indicated he will be retiring next summer. A process to appoint his successor will begin in the new year.

The General Counsel, Clerk & Monitoring Officer presented a report to inform Members about changes in committee membership and to appoint a new Chair of Audit, Scrutiny & Standards Committee.

Members were informed that following notification from the Conservative Group Leader of changes in Committee membership, Members agreed to appoint Cllr D Morehead as Chair of Audit, Scrutiny & Standards Committee with immediate effect.

RESOLVED that Cllr D Morehead be appointed as the new Chair of Audit, Scrutiny & Standards Committee.

The Chief Fire Officer presented Members with the opportunity to review and scrutinise the revised Core Strategies for Prevention, Protection and Response for the period 2025–2030 which followed and aligned with the new Community Risk Management Plan (CRMP) and set out the Authority’s strategic goals to deliver high-quality, sustainable services that meet community needs.

Members were informed that alongside the CRMP, the Core Strategies drive everything the Service delivers and underpin the mission to deliver high quality and sustainable services to the communities of Herefordshire and Worcestershire. They ensure that prevention, protection and response activities are evidence-based, risk-informed and proportionate. These strategies also support broader organisational goals, including workforce development, asset management, financial sustainability and continuous improvement, which all have plans and strategies of their own.

Members noted that these strategies provided clarity and direction to employees and the public and would support the Authority in delivering safe, effective and sustainable services through 2030.

In respect of the Prevention Strategy, there was discussion around the Service’s role in relation to road safety and the degree of involvement in the Road Safety Partnership. The Chief Fire Officer explained that whilst we actively engage with partners, the Service only attends road traffic accidents when required.  The Service did however have a longstanding record of delivering driver awareness training to younger people through engagement with schools in particular.

RESOLVED that:

i)  having scrutinised the Core Strategies for Prevention, Protection and Response for 2025–2030 it be agreed that the Core Strategies are approved. In particular it be noted that:

• The Core Strategies are in full alignment with CRMP objectives and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).
• There is integration with the National Fire Standards and the Core Code of Ethics.
• There are robust governance and performance monitoring arrangements for each Core Strategy.

ii) further updates on the Service's involvement in the Road Safety Partnership be brought to Members as appropriate.

The Assistant Chief Fire Officer - Director of Protection presented Members with the opportunity to review and scrutinise the updated Asset Management Strategy 2025-2030.

Members were informed that the Asset Management Strategy complemented the Core Strategies by setting out how Hereford & Worcester Fire Authority would manage its physical and digital assets from 2025 to 2030, ensuring assets met organisational priorities and legislative requirements. It also supported environmental commitments to reduce the Services’ carbon footprint and improve efficiency. The Strategy aligned with the CRMP and Core Strategies to ensure sustainable, efficient, and high-quality services, it ensures that buildings, ICT, fleet and equipment design, procurement and replacement cycles meet organisational priorities and objectives while supporting CRMP and Core Strategies.

Members asked about decisions whether to purchase or lease equipment and were informed that this depended upon the circumstances; protective clothing was currently under a managed contract arrangement whereas vehicles were funded from capital borrowing over the lifespan of the vehicle, which at the present time was more cost effective than finance leasing.

Members noted that by approving the strategy, it enabled the Authority to deliver safe, effective and sustainable services through 2030 while maintaining trust and excellence.

RESOLVED that having scrutinised the Asset Management Strategy 2025–2030 it be accepted and approved. In particular it be noted that:

i)   There is full alignment with CRMP and Core Strategy objectives and a range of specific delivery plans for each area are in place under the overarching Asset Strategy.

ii)  There are full integration of Contract Standing Orders and the Core Code of Ethics.

iii) Robust monitoring and review arrangements are in place.

The Assistant Chief Officer - Director of Prevention provided Members with an opportunity to scrutinise the HMICFRS Improvement Plan and the progress made on actions during Quarter 2 2025-26.

Members were informed that the Improvement Plan had now been updated to outline the progress made up to the end of Q2 2025-26. The report covered the 11 Areas for Improvement (AFI) highlighted in the HMICFRS inspection report and the 32 actions set out by the Service that would address the AFIs. As of Q3 2025-26, the Service had now completed 81% of the actions in the Improvement Plan. This included completion of all actions under AFIs 2,3,4,5,6 and 7. Meanwhile, the remaining 19% of the actions were in progress. There were no actions which were still to be commenced. In answer to a Member’s question, it was explained there was no expectation or requirement that all AFIs had to be completed before the next inspection took place, provided good progress was being made. 

Members noted that the next HMICFRS inspection would commence in February 2026. The document request and staff survey would be given to HWFRS in the week commencing 5 January 2026. Work was ongoing to ensure that the Service was prepared for the inspection.

Officers also provided further details around the different elements of the talent management strategy (known as the Step Framework - Step In, Step Through and Step Up) and Members were pleased to note the level of take up among staff. 

RESOLVED that having scrutinised the details of the Q2 2025-2026 HMICFRS Improvement Plan, those details be accepted and approved and that the following headlines in particular be noted:

i)  81% of actions in the Improvement Plan have been completed; and

ii) Preparations for the next HMICFRS inspection in February 2026 are underway.

The Chief Fire Officer presented Members with an interim update on the response to the long and dry weather in the spring and summer period to provide the opportunity to review and scrutinise the performance of the Service in responding to fires between January 2024-September 2025.

Members noted that due to the high temperatures and low average rainfall during the summer of 2025, HWFRS saw a significant increase in outdoor fires rising from 321 incidents in the same time period the previous year, to 867 which is a 170% increase. Members were assured that whilst the Service had been incredibly busy, 86% of the outdoor fires were attended within the performance measure and the Chief Fire Officer was pleased with the way the Service had responded..

RESOLVED that following scrutiny of the report on Outdoor Fires and the impact on activity and use of resources, Members note in particular that:

 i)  The Service saw a significant increase in outdoor fires of 170% during the spring and summer 2025, compared to the same comparable period in 2024.

ii) 86% of the outdoor fires in spring and summer 2025 were attended within our attendance performance measure (10, 15 or 20 minutes dependent on geographic location).

The Chief Fire Officer presented an update on the reduction of Unwanted Fire Signals (UwFS), following a twelve-month period of implementation, and proposed potential next steps.

Members noted that the implementation of the current UwFS policy had proven to be effective over the 12-month period, with a risk assessed approach implemented via call filtering, with a reduction of 468 incidents being achieved.

RESOLVED that the Fire Authority:

i)   Note the current update and Service position regarding UwFS;

ii)  Note the development of further potential future call filtering periods and exemptions; and

iii) Note the NFCC proposal to amend the current national classifications of buildings to a new ‘higher risk premises’ categorisation list.

The General Counsel, Clerk and Monitoring Officer presented a report to approve the meeting dates for 2026/27.

RESOLVED that the meeting dates for 2026/27 be agreed.

The Chairman of the Committee presented the minutes of the Audit, Scrutiny and Standards Committee meeting held on 24 September 2025.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Audit, Scrutiny and Standards Committee meeting held on 24 September 2025 be received and noted.

The Chairman of the Committee presented the minutes of the Policy and Resources Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 26 November 2025.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Policy and Resources Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 26 November 2025 be received and noted.