The Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes Fire Authority is scheduled to meet on 10 December 2025 to discuss a range of topics, including performance management, contract procedure rules, health and safety, and an update from His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS). The meeting will take place at The Oculus, Buckinghamshire Council, Aylesbury. Councillor Llew Monger is expected to chair the meeting.

Here are the key items that the Fire Authority is expected to discuss:

• HMICFRS Update

  The Fire Authority is scheduled to receive an update on the His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service (BFRS) 2023-2025. The report pack includes the HMICFRS report from 2023, which identified three causes of concern and several recommendations for improvement. The update will likely cover progress made since the inspection, including the closure of all causes of concern and the Service's removal from enhanced monitoring. The report pack also includes HMICFRS's initial Fire and Rescue Services Inspection Programme for 2025–2027, which schedules BFRS for inspection in early 2026. The report pack also includes the State of Fire and Rescue: The Annual Assessment of Fire and Rescue Services in England 2024–25 which states that Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service was specifically highlighted for having successfully resolved all previous causes of concern and re-entered standard monitoring, reflecting significant cultural progress.

• Standing Orders Relating to Contracts

  The Fire Authority is scheduled to consider proposed updates to the Standing Orders Relating to Contracts, specifically the Contract Procedure Rules (CPR). Councillor Niknam Hussain, Lead Member for Finance & Assets, Information Security, and IT, is named as the lead member for this report. These updates are intended to align with the Procurement Act 2023, which came into force on 24 February 2025. The report pack highlights that the act aims to create a simpler and more transparent regime for public sector procurement that will deliver better value for money and reduce costs for suppliers and the public sector. The proposed amendments incorporate detailed procedural guidance and enhanced compliance and transparency measures. The report pack notes that the main changes to the CPR to reflect the Procurement Act 2023 include:

  • A new section on Procurement Overview, including governing legislation, application of the rules, procurement objectives, procurement policy and social value, conflicts of interest, CRMP, working with SMEs, and excluding suppliers.
  • An updated section on Procurement – Planning, Design, Timings & Documentation, detailing the planning, documentation, and process to be considered prior to commencing a procurement.
  • A replacement of the Competitive Tendering Process section with sections on Procurement Documentation and Procurement Process and Contract Management.
  • An increase in the value requiring the common Seal of the Authority from £500,000 to £1,000,000.
  • New sections on collaborative procurements, purchase cards, community right of challenge, and grants.

• Health and Safety Annual Report 2024-25

  The Fire Authority is scheduled to note the Health and Safety Annual Report for 2024-25. Councillor Robin Stuchbury is the lead member for this report. The report covers the period from 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025 and includes a statistical overview, information on protecting against contaminants, training investment, and improved safety and compliance.

• Protection Assurance Report

  The Fire Authority is scheduled to note the Protection Assurance Report. Councillor Llew Monger, Fire Authority Chair, is the lead member for this report. The report provides assurance on the performance, progress, and continuous improvement of the Protection function within Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service (BFRS). The report pack states that it outlines how the Service is delivering against its statutory responsibilities, national standards, and HMICFRS effectiveness expectations through proportionate, risk-based regulation and engagement activity. The report evidences significant progress since the 2023 HMICFRS inspection, during which the Service was issued with a Cause of Concern (CoC) for Protection, which has now been closed.

• Performance Management – Q2 2025/26

  The Fire Authority is scheduled to note the Performance Management report for the second quarter of 2025/26. The report pack includes the recommendation from the Executive Committee that the Performance Management – Q2 2025/2026 report be noted. The report details 53 specific performance measures split across the Service's six objectives, as defined in the 2025-2030 community risk management plan (CRMP). The objectives are: Reducing risk and keeping our community safe; Protecting people from the risk in the built environment; Responding quickly and effectively to emergencies; An Inclusive, healthy and engaged workforce; Making the most of our finances and assets; and Optimising our technology and data. The report pack states that at the end of Q2, 51 measures reported with a Blue, Green, Amber or Red status, one is awaiting information and one is currently for monitoring purposes only.