The Community Wellbeing Overview and Scrutiny Committee was scheduled to meet to discuss the Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service Community Risk Management Plan 2026-2030, and to receive updates from cabinet members. The committee was also scheduled to elect a chair and vice-chair.

Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service Community Risk Management Plan 2026-2030

The committee was scheduled to discuss the Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service's (CFRS) Community Risk Management Plan (CRMP) for 2026-2030. The government requires all fire and rescue services to produce a CRMP covering at least a three-year period, developed in consultation with the public, partners and key stakeholders.

The report pack included a recommendation that the Community Wellbeing Overview and Scrutiny Committee provide direction and contribute to the CFRS CRMP 2022–2026 engagement.

The Fire and Rescue National Framework for England states that the priorities for Fire and Rescue Authorities are to:

• make appropriate provision for fire prevention and protection activities and response to fire and rescue related incidents
• identify and assess the full range of foreseeable fire and rescue related risks their areas face
• collaborate with emergency services and other local and national partners to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the service they provide
• be accountable to communities for the service they provide
• develop and maintain a workforce that is professional, resilient, skilled, flexible and diverse.

The report stated that the Community Wellbeing Overview and Scrutiny Committee was asked to consider the following questions for the CFRS CRMP 2026–30:

• What is their current level of awareness, engagement, and understanding of CFRS?
• What is important to them from a fire and rescue service?
• Do they have any other considerations with regards to our priorities for the CRMP 2026-30?

The feedback was scheduled to be incorporated into the CRMP 2026-30 consultation documentation and subsequently the final CRMP.

The report pack noted that a decision wheel¹ was in the process of being undertaken to inform the approach of the public consultation.

A CRMP engagement leaflet was included in the report pack, providing information about the work of CFRS, its operating context, key challenges, performance and budget for 2024-2025. The leaflet outlined key challenges for the fire service, including:

• Political changes, such as the national government reforming fire and rescue services.
• Social changes, such as changes in population requiring tailored community risk management and outreach efforts.
• Legal changes, such as new laws like the Fire Safety Act 2021² and the Building Safety Act 2022³ adding more responsibilities.
• Economic factors, such as slow economic growth and inflation impacting the ability to maintain and improve services.
• Technological changes, such as electric vehicles and new firefighting gear needing investment and training.
• Environmental factors, such as more extreme weather events requiring better preparedness and response strategies.
• Organisational challenges, such as the rural geography and mostly on-call workforce making it hard to achieve local response standards.

Cabinet Member Updates

The committee was scheduled to receive updates from Councillor Thalia Marrington, Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Public Health, Councillor Sarah Preece, Cabinet Member for Tourism, Localism and Planning and Councillor Loic Rich, Cabinet Member for Environment and Climate Change.

Councillor Thalia Marrington noted that the Overview and Scrutiny Committee carries out the statutory duty of reviewing the annual Safer Cornwall Plan and the 3 year plan to 2028.

Councillor Loic Rich noted attendance at several events including:

• Local Infrastructure & Net Zero Board (LINZ) Lead Member Meeting
• The launch event to celebrate the completion of the King Charles III England Coast Path in Cornwall⁴
• Mount Edgcumb introductory site visit
• The OTS Zero Emission Bus Launch in Falmouth