The Fire and Rescue Scrutiny Committee of Gloucestershire Council met on Friday 09 January 2026 to discuss the Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service's (GFRS) Service Plan within the context of the draft budget for 2026/27, and to consider the draft Community Risk Management Plan (CRMP) 2026-2030. The committee also received an update on Blue Light Collaboration and reviewed performance data for Quarter 2 of the 2025/26 financial year.

GFRS Service Plan and Draft Budget 2026/27

The committee considered the Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service's Service Plan in the context of the draft budget for 2026/27. The report outlined how GFRS supports the council's strategy, 'A Stronger Future, Built Together', with the emerging CRMP for 2026-30 aligning with this strategy. The plan details how resources will be strategically allocated and operational measures implemented to address risks across the county. Key drivers influencing the plan include recommendations from His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS), national operational learning, cultural improvement initiatives, the need for efficiency, the impact of climate change, and the increasing challenges in recruiting and retaining on-call firefighters. The report highlighted that the top three risks identified for the county are flooding, dwelling fires, and non-residential fires. The committee was informed that the GFRS Directorate Plan for 2026-27 focuses on ensuring communities are safe and resilient, supported by an effective, efficient, and inclusive Fire and Rescue Service.

Community Risk Management Plan (CRMP) 2026-2030

The committee reviewed the draft Community Risk Management Plan (CRMP) for 2026-2030, a statutory requirement for all fire and rescue services in England. The CRMP outlines how GFRS will strategically allocate resources and implement operational response, protection, and prevention measures to address fire and rescue-related risks. The plan is informed by a detailed Community Risk Profile, which assesses current and emerging risks. The development of the new CRMP has taken into account national pressures and priorities, including recommendations from the Grenfell Tower and Manchester Arena tragedies, HMICFRS inspections, and cultural improvement reviews. The top three risks identified for Gloucestershire are flooding, dwelling fires, and non-residential fires. The next steps involve launching a public and internal consultation, with feedback to be considered before a final draft is presented to Cabinet in April 2026.

A member raised concerns that the report did not detail the full content of the CRMP or a clear timetable for its delivery, requesting to see the full proposals in March 2026. The Chief Fire Officer, Mark Preece, explained that the CRMP is an enabling document informed by modelling and potential efficiency savings. He acknowledged the committee's involvement as part of the decision-making process.

Concerns were raised about the urgency of addressing climate change impacts within the CRMP. The Chief Fire Officer responded that both reducing carbon emissions and the operational response to climate change impacts are being addressed, with the fleet strategy being the responsibility of Gloucestershire County Council (GCC). The member stressed the need for GFRS to highlight the significant risks of climate change to secure sufficient funding.

The re-establishment of fire cadets was also queried, with the potential benefits for young people and firefighter recruitment highlighted. The Cabinet Member for Public Health, Communities and Fire, Cllr Paul Hodgkinson, was asked to look into this.

Update on Blue Light Collaboration

An update was provided on Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service's (GFRS) approach to Blue Light Collaboration, detailing the strategic framework for joint initiatives with Police and Ambulance Services. The aim is to enhance efficiency, improve community safety, and deliver value for money through integrated working. The Policing and Crime Act 2017 mandates emergency services to explore collaboration opportunities. Current collaboration areas include estate sharing, with existing arrangements at Newent and Winchcombe, and future opportunities being discussed. Operational integration includes participation in police Daily Management Meetings (DMM) and joint exercises. The report highlighted that GFRS is committed to working with partners to identify new opportunities that enable the best possible service delivery, from preventative work to emergency response.

Community Safety Directorate Performance Data - Quarter 2 2025/26

The committee received performance data for Quarter 2 of the 2025/26 financial year. The report detailed the core suite of indicators, including Corporate Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), Service KPIs, and 'Good Management of Service' indicators. GFRS is currently reviewing its KPIs and targets to align them with the CRMP and the new council strategy. The performance reporting process is being enhanced to increase efficiency and confidence in outturn, with PowerBI dashboards being used to display data.

Key performance areas highlighted included:

• Response Times to Dwelling Fires: Average response times have remained elevated, with a slight increase in the average response time for wholetime crews. On-call availability was 78% in Quarter 2, with a disparity between day and night availability. This is a key challenge that will be addressed in the CRMP 2026-30.
• Site-Specific Risk Information (SSRI) Visits: The programme of SSRI visits was ahead of the scheduled target at the end of Quarter 2, despite challenges in recruiting qualified staff.
• Prevention: The rate of Safe and Well visits per 1,000 population has improved, with a continued focus on targeting vulnerable individuals.
• Protection: The risk-based inspection programme was within tolerance of its scheduled target, although performance in Quarter 2 was affected by staff training and operational cover.
• Fatalities from Fires: There were no fatalities from fires in Quarter 2. The Prevention Team is exploring new ways to reach at-risk individuals.
• Dwelling Fires: The rate of dwelling fires per 10,000 population was worse than the seasonal forecast and showed a slight upward trend compared to previous years.

Work Plan

The committee reviewed its work plan for 2026. Key items to be added include an update on progress with Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) proposals, an update on the Coroner's Service and Trading Standards, and an overview of the on-call national research study. Items for future consideration include progress on the HMICFRS Inspection action plan and an overview of prevention and protection activities.

The meeting also noted the dates of future meetings.