The Fire and Rescue Scrutiny Committee is scheduled to meet on Friday 18 September 2026. The agenda includes consideration of updates on the development of a new training facility, progress on local government reorganisation, and community safety performance data. The committee is also scheduled to review the annual statement of assurance and discuss the committee's work plan.

GFRS Training Facility

The committee is scheduled to receive an update on the development of the Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service (GFRS) Training Facility. This project is part of Gloucestershire County Council's wider Coombe Hill development and aims to ensure the service maintains a modern, resilient, and in-county training capability before the current Severn Park PFI contract concludes in March 2028. The report outlines that the programme supports statutory obligations under the Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004, national expectations, and local priorities within the Community Risk Management Plan (CRMP). The new facility is intended to enable firefighters to train safely and effectively for current and emerging risks, such as flooding, wildfire, and incidents involving lithium-ion batteries and electric vehicles. The report also details the strategic drivers for this investment, including statutory duties, national expectations, and local strategic drivers outlined in the GFRS CRMP 2026–2030. The proposed Coombe Hill facility will include a live fire training building, water mapping structure, classroom facilities, and other practical training areas. Enhancements are also planned for five strategic satellite training sites across Gloucestershire to ensure personnel can access a suitable training location within approximately 30 minutes travel time. The timeline indicates planning submission in September 2026, with construction estimated to start in February 2027 and completion by February 2028. Risks associated with training continuity, environmental considerations, and programme dependencies are also detailed.

Local Government Reorganisation

A verbal update is scheduled to be provided on the progress of plans for the implementation of Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) in relation to the Community Safety Directorate. This topic aligns with the council's Corporate Strategy 2025-2029, specifically addressing Theme 4, Outcome 18, which focuses on delivering LGR in a collaborative, sustainable, and community-needs-aligned manner.

Community Safety Performance Data - Quarter 1 2026/27

The committee is scheduled to note the Community Safety performance data for the first quarter of the 2026/27 financial year. This data is presented in the Strategic Performance Scorecard and covers key performance indicators (KPIs) related to community safety. The report highlights performance against targets for measures such as the rate of Home Fire Safety Visits (HFSVs) undertaken, the percentage of HFSVs conducted with vulnerable individuals, and average response times to dwelling fires. The scorecard indicates that while some measures are performing better than target, others, such as the rate of dwelling fires per 10,000 population and average response times to dwelling fires, are noted as being worse than target.

Annual Statement of Assurance

The committee is scheduled to note the Annual Statement of Assurance for 2025-26. This document is a requirement of the Fire and Rescue National Framework for England and provides assurance to communities and government regarding the delivery of the Community Risk Management Plan (CRMP), financial, governance, and operational matters. The statement confirms that Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service (GFRS) continues to meet its statutory duties. It highlights progress made in delivering on the CRMP 2022-26, addressing recommendations from His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS), and adopting emerging best practices. The report details progress against the strategic aims of People, Prevention and Protection, and Response and Resilience, outlining specific activities and achievements during the financial year. The statement also covers GFRS's legal and statutory responsibilities, governance and assurance structures, financial expenditure, and operational establishment, including workforce overview and diversity.

Independent Review

The committee is scheduled to consider a verbal update on the outcome of an Independent Review. This item is part of the committee's work plan for 2026/27 and aims to allow scrutiny to hold the executive to account regarding issues raised and to monitor the implementation of recommendations made by the review.

Work Plan

The committee will review its work plan for the upcoming year and is invited to suggest items for future consideration. Members are encouraged to assess whether scrutiny can add value to proposed topics and to consider alignment with the Council Strategy, areas of poor performance, public interest, and member concern. The work plan includes scheduled items such as updates on the GFRS Training Facility, Local Government Reorganisation, and performance data. Future items for consideration include the outcome of the HMICFRS inspection, GFRS Audit arrangements, and the Service Plan and Budget.

Future Meetings

The committee is scheduled to note the dates of future meetings, which are planned for 26 November 2026, 8 January 2027, 12 March 2027, 21 May 2027, 16 July 2027, 17 September 2027, and 19 November 2027, all commencing at 10:00 am.