Committee Report - Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Consultation - Final Strategic Plan 2025-28
North Ayrshire Council · 16 June 2025
Back to Police and Fire and Rescue Committee — 16 June 2025 and its agenda
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NORTH AYRSHIRE COUNCIL 16 June 2025 Police and Fire and Rescue Committee Meeting Title: Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Strategy 2025- 2028 Consultation Purpose: To advise the Committee of the response submitted to the consultation. Recommendation: That the Committee notes the response submitted. 1. Executive Summary 1.1 The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (“SFRS”) issued a request for responses to a consultation on the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service’s strategy over the next three years. 1.2 The deadline for responses to the Consultation was 2 April 2025. 1.3 At the Committee meeting on 3 March 2025, members agreed that the response be delegated to officers to prepare in consultation with the Chair of the Police and Fire and Rescue Committee, based on feedback provided by members of the Committee. 1.4 The purpose of this report is to advise the Committee of the response that was submitted. 2. Background 2.1 The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service were undertaking a consultation on the draft Strategy 2025-2028 and looking for responses from the public and strategic partners on shaping the plan for the SFRS for the next three years. 2.2 The Strategy identifies five strategic objectives and associated outcomes which support the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service’s Long-Term Vision as a Service. These are narrated in the draft Strategy as:- 1. Objective: Safer Communities through Prevention Outcome: Through our work, in partnership with communities and other organisations, the safety and wellbeing of the people of Scotland continually improves. 2. Objective: Safe and Effective Response. Outcome: We are a leading Fire and Rescue Service where our communities and people are safe. 3. Objective: Investing in our People. Outcome: Our people feel valued and supported by SFRS in a culture that embraces
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diversity and inclusion, empowerment and accountability and drives joined up working. 4. Objective: Improving Performance. Outcome: We will continuously improve our organisational performance, productivity and resilience. 5. Objective: Innovation and Investment. Outcome: We are more innovative and achieve sustained investment in our technology, equipment, estate and fleet, making us more effective and efficient. 2.3 As the response required to be submitted prior to the next meeting of the Committee, a high level and general response was submitted by officers. A copy of the response is included at Appendix 1. 2.4 In summary, the priorities highlighted by the SFRS reflect the direction of travel required to provide a modern, comprehensive, proactive and responsive Fire and Rescue Service. The Council welcomed the priorities suggested by the SFRS and confirmed that the Council looks forward to working in partnership with the SFRS to improve outcomes for our communities. 3. Proposals 3.1 That the Committee notes the response submitted to the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. 4. Implications/Socio-economic Duty Financial 4.1 There are no Financial Implications arising from this report. Human Resources 4.2 There are no Human Resources Implications arising from this report. Legal 4.3 There are no Legal Implications arising from this report. Equality/Socio-economic 4.4 The SFRS has carried out an Equality and Human Rights Impact Assessment on the draft Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Strategy 2025-28. Climate Change and Carbon 4.5 The draft Strategy acknowledges the need to adapt to evolving risks including the impacts of climate change. Key Priorities 4.6 The response to the consultation contributes to the Council priorities of Wellbeing and Communities and Local Democracy.
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Community Wealth Building 4.7 N/A 5. Consultation 5.1 The SFRS will take into account the response to the consultation responses received on their draft plan from members of the public and strategic partners. The finalised version of the plan will be brought back to this Committee for information. Aileen Craig Head of Democratic Services For further information please contact Raymond Lynch, Senior Legal Manager, on Email: raymondlynch@north-ayrshire.gov.uk. Background Papers: 0
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Response ID ANON-N481-8YKU-V Submitted to Draft SFRS Strategy 2025-28 Submitted on 2025-03-31 15:03:04 INTRODUCTION 1 What is your name? (Optional) Name: North Ayrshire Council Police and Fire and Rescue Committee 2 What is your email address? (Optional) Email: raymondlynch@north-ayrshire.gov.uk 3 To help us analyse all feedback, please tell us if you are responding as a: local authority If you chose the 'other' option please explain here: 4 If you are responding on behalf of an organisation please state the name of the organisation: Organisation name: The North Ayrshire Council 5 If you are responding as an individual please provide the first part of your postcode e.g. G77, EH34: First part of postcode here: 6 We would like your permission to publish your consultation response. Please let us know if you are happy for us to publish your response: Publish my response OUR OBJECTIVES AND OUTCOMES 7 Looking at this Objective (Safer Communities through Prevention), to what extent do you agree it should be included in the SFRS Strategy 2025-28? Strongly Agree 8 Looking at this Outcome, to what extent do you agree it should be included in the SFRS Strategy 2025-28? Strongly Agree 9 Are there any other comments you would like to make about this Objective or Outcome? Are there any other comments you would like to make about this Objective or Outcome: The North Ayrshire Council Police and Fire and Rescue Committee receives regular updates on the work done at a local level to prevent fires in homes and businesses and supports SFRS’s ambitions to work even more closely with communities, businesses and Public Service partners to build on this and improve the safety and wellbeing of the people of Scotland. OBJECTIVE AND OUTCOME 2 10 Looking at this Objective (Safe and Effective Response), to what extent do you agree it should be included in the SFRS Strategy 2025-28? Strongly Agree 11 Looking at this Outcome, to what extent do you agree it should be included in the SFRS Strategy 2025-28? Strongly Agree 12 Are there any other comments you would like to make about this Objective or Outcome? Are there any other comments you would like to make about this Objective or Outcome?: Appendix 1
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The Committee has benefited from attending the SFRS training centre and control room as well as briefings on local emergency incidents. The Committee is supportive of SFRS’s ambition to continue to adapt and develop equipment, training and ways of working and to continue to learn and adapt from incidents in order to provide a safe and effective response. Coverage of the retained duty system and appliance availability is of particular concern to the Committee across North Ayrshire Council, including our island communities. OBJECTIVE AND OUTCOME 3 13 Looking at this Objective (Investing in our People), to what extent do you agree it should be included in the SFRS Strategy 2025-28? Strongly Agree 14 Looking at this Outcome, to what extent do you agree it should be included in the SFRS Strategy 2025-28? Strongly Agree 15 Are there any other comments you would like to make about this Objectives or Outcome? Are there any other comments you would like to make about this Objectives or Outcome: The Committee recognises the contribution of SFRS to the local economy and community as an employer in the local area and the importance of attracting, retaining and supporting its workforce. OBJECTIVE AND OUTCOME 4 16 Looking at this Objective (Improving Performance), to what extent do you agree it should be included in the SFRS Strategy 2025-28? Strongly Agree 17 Looking at this Outcome, to what extent do you agree it should be included in the SFRS Strategy 2025-28? Strongly Agree 18 Are there any other comments you would like to make about this Objective or Outcome? Are there any other comments you would like to make about this Objective or Outcome?: The Committee has good working relationships with local SFRS representatives in undertaking its scrutiny role and supports the ambition to continue to improve organisational performance, productivity and resilience with effective governance and strong accountability. OBJECTIVE AND OUTCOME 5 19 Looking at this Objective (Innovation and Investment), to what extent do you agree it should be included in the SFRS Strategy 2025-28? Strongly Agree 20 Looking at this Outcome, to what extent do you agree it should be included in the SFRS Strategy 2025-28? Strongly Agree 21 Are there any other comments you would like to make about this Objective or Outcome? Are there any other comments you would like to make about this Objective or Outcome?: The Committee is supportive of proposals to continue developing and diversifying SFRS’s role within communities, building on existing partnership working with public service partners to help save lives, minimise harm to people and add social and economic value. The importance of the right facilities, equipment and technology to enable effective service delivery is also recognised. THINKING ABOUT THE STRATEGY AS A WHOLE... 22 Are there any other comments you would like to make about the draft SFRS Strategy 2025-28? Are there any other comments you would like to make about the draft Strategic Plan 2022-25: The Council has a strong working relationship with SFRS both at strategic and operational level. The Committee values the locality-based approach to reporting which enables specific issues and vulnerabilities to be identified and addressed within our diverse communities. More About You 23 What is your age?
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Not Answered 24 What is your sex? Not Answered 25 Do you consider yourself to be trans or have trans history e.g., trans man, trans woman, non-binary? Not Answered 26 Which of the following best describes your sexual orientation? Not Answered Please provide other sexual orientation here: 27 Do you have any physical or mental health conditions or illnesses lasting or expected to last 12 months or more? Not Answered 28 Do any of these conditions or illnesses affect you in any of the following areas? Add other health conditions here: 29 Does your condition or illness/do any of your conditions or illnesses reduce your ability to carry-out day-to-day activities? Not Answered 30 Do you have caring responsibilities? 31 Please tell us if you are care experienced. 32 What it your ethnic group? Not Answered If you chose an 'other' option please state your ethnic group here: 33 What religion, religious denomination or body do you belong to? Not Answered If you chose 'other' please state your religion or belief here::