North Yorkshire Fire service deemed ‘inadequate’ with concerns over its response to emergencies
North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service has been deemed inadequate and inefficient in a critical report released today (Friday).
His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) said it required “urgent improvements”.
Its report graded fire service:
- ‘requires improvement’ at effectively keeping people safe and secure from fire and other risks;
- ‘inadequate’ at efficiently keeping people safe and secure from fire and other risks; and
- ‘inadequate’ at looking after its people.
His Majesty’s Inspector of Fire and Rescue Services Roy Wilsher said: “Since its last inspection, North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service’s performance has deteriorated in most areas.
“Although the service is good at preventing fires and other risks, I have concerns about its ability to respond to them.
“We have also highlighted serious concerns about how sustainable its financial plans are for managing these risks in an affordable way.
“It needs to make sure collaboration activities, such as those with police are effective and provide value for money.
“It currently shares some business services with North Yorkshire Police and the office of the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, but there is little evidence to show its benefits to the service.
“Our inspection also found the service to be inadequate in how it looks after its people. The service needs to improve how it promotes the right values and culture, as well as how it maintains and develops staff performance.”
They would be back to check on progress, Mr Wilsher said.
What the report said
North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service is good at:
- preventing fires and other risks; and
- responding to major and multi-agency incidents.
In the year to 31 December 2021, Home Office data shows response times to primary fires was 11 minutes 39 seconds – a minute slower than average for predominantly rural fire services.
“The efficiency of the service – that is, how it uses it resources – was found to be inadequate. This is due to the fragility of its budget. It needs to make sure collaboration activities, such as those with police, provide value for money and don’t negatively affect the service. It also needs to improve how it makes its services affordable now and in the future.”
North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service was found to be inadequate in the way it looks after its people. The service needs to improve how it:
- promotes the right values and culture;
- ensures fairness and promoting diversity; and
- manages performance and developing leaders.
You can read the full report here.