Fire service held back by poor performance checks

12 Jan 06
Inadequate performance management systems and a lack of leadership from elected members are hobbling attempts to modernise the fire service, the Audit Commission has warned.

13 January 2006

Inadequate performance management systems and a lack of leadership from elected members are hobbling attempts to modernise the fire service, the Audit Commission has warned.

The watchdog said there were widespread shortcomings among the 47 English fire and rescue authorities in the measurement of the services they deliver and the assessment of the value for money they represent. This 'consistent under-performance', according to the commission, is undermining the wide-ranging modernisation programme launched in the wake of the bitter firefighters' dispute of 2002–2004.

Its analysis of last summer's Comprehensive Performance Assessments found only limited progress had been made on many elements of the modernisation drive because of the lack of robust performance information. Some of the key elements, such as changes to working practices and skills development, had been affected in this way, the commission concluded.

The report, published on January 12, highlighted that two-thirds of FRAs were either missing or only just meeting the minimum standard for such systems.

Study author Andy Hughes, fire and rescue service lead at the Audit Commission, told Public Finance this failing meant it was impossible for authorities to know whether they were delivering good-quality services that met community needs.

It also hampered the drive for value for money, he explained, because the allocation of resources could not be effectively assessed and money allocated accordingly.

'We're not looking for anything that isn't elsewhere in local government, but in the fire authorities the performance management systems often aren't there. Putting these in place is our number one recommendation,' Hughes said.

'Managers and senior members need to be looking at this information and acting upon it.'

The commission also wants a concerted effort to increase the skills of councillors who sit on the authorities, to ensure they provide the leadership and close scrutiny needed to push through modernisation.

The Local Government Association, responding to the study, sought to paint a more positive picture. Les Byron, chair of its fire services management committee, said: 'There are now far more building blocks and far fewer stumbling blocks to ensure that nationwide there is a modern, efficient fire service that prevents fires, saves lives and provides value for money to the taxpayer.'

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