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News Release

Issued: 08.12.09

At: 4.30pm

Under strict embargo until 00:01 9 December 2009

Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Combined Fire Authority Achieves a Solid Score in the Comprehensive Area Assessment

Today, the Audit Commission has released the results of the Organisational Assessment for the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Combined Fire Authority.

The Authority has been assessed as scoring two out of four for both ‘Managing Performance’ and ‘Use of Resources’ and has been described by the Commission as ‘Providing a satisfactory level of protection from emergencies and its service and finances are being appropriately managed’.

Organisational Assessment is part of the Comprehensive Area Assessment which is an independent assessment of how well people are being served by their local public services, along with how well such services are providing value for money.

The Audit Commission has further singled out the Authority for praise in other areas:-

  • The Authority is making reasonable progress in delivering its priority services
  • The Authority is working well, independently, and with partner organisations such as councils and the police, to make sure that improvements are likely to continue
  • Community safety work in preventing fires and protecting people is increasingly successful
  • Arson and other types of fires have reduced
  • Far fewer people are being injured in accidental fires
  • More smoke alarms are being fitted particularly in higher risk homes
  • The Authority is keeping citizens safer by working with partners and is helping to achieve the improvements agreed with partners in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland
  • The speed in reaching road traffic accidents and fires has improved
  • New ways of working are helping to direct activity to where it will have most impact.
  • The impact of the Service on the environment is being given increasing consideration.
  • Leadership of the Service is strong and effective.
  • Support services are continuing to develop and help make the business more efficient
  • Training and development of staff has been greatly improved
  • Far fewer staff are now missing work through sickness
  • The Authority provides good value for money and stays within planned budgets as well as continually making savings
  • The Authority has satisfactory Governance arrangements to ensure the conduct of its staff and councillors is appropriate
  • The Authority has good data quality arrangements

Dave Webb, Chief Fire and Rescue Officer, said: -

“This is a sound score for the Fire Authority and recognises our many strengths. I believe it is a testament to all the hard work and effort that all our staff have made.

“Although it is not possible to draw comparisons with previous years due to the changes made to the assessment framework, the Audit Commission applied a much harder test for the 2008/09 financial year measuring both how efficiently Authorities use resources and how effectively they perform against a range of indicators and criteria. Public satisfaction with their local Fire and Rescue service is rated consistently higher than other public services.

“However, despite assurances, the Audit Commission failed to deliver on their promises of a ‘lighter touch’ approach to inspection and assessment. Many Services have expressed concern at the time and money required to gather and supply evidence to auditors, with audit reports providing little to point to, either by way of examples of excellence or of failure.

“The Area Assessment that appears on the OnePlace website does not fully reflect the many valued initiatives that Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service deliver, in partnership with business, other public services and the not for profit sector, to prevent fires and other emergencies.”

- ENDS -

Notes to News Desk

Contact Information

For more information please contact:

Corporate Communications
Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service
Tel: 0116 287 2241

To visit the OnePlace website, click on the image below:

Oneplace - for independent information about local public services