Councillors unite behind fire services after damning report

Councillors have united behind Avon’s chief fire officer (CFO) despite a damning government report.

Inspectors gave the service the worst possible rating of “inadequate” in four of 11 areas – including its core duty of responding to emergencies.

His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) also found some staff used sexist and inappropriate language and “disguised this as banter”.

That was despite years of efforts by bosses to tackle cultural problems, including a new zero-tolerance policy, after previous inspections exposed “deep-seated” misogyny and homophobia.

CFO Simon Shilton told an emergency meeting of Avon Fire Authority (AFA) that he was “heartbroken” by those findings.

Simon Shilton said he “did not believe (the report) was truly reflective of the reality” of Avon Fire and Rescue – photo: Avon Fire and Rescue

HMICFRS’s report, published last month, raised “serious concerns” over Avon Fire & Rescue Service’s ability to keep residents – and firefighters – safe.

They concluded the organisation’s mobilisation system, which records information and dispatches crews to incidents, “isn’t reliable and crashes during 999 calls, which results in the public receiving a slower response to emergencies”.

Inspectors have moved the organisation into enhanced monitoring called the “engaged” phase.

But cross-party councillors on the AFA committee overwhelmingly backed fire chiefs and agreed with CFO Shilton that he “does not recognise” the service described in the report.

South Gloucestershire Lib Dem councillor Ben Nutland told Shilton in the meeting: “I fully support you and the senior leadership team, but the report is extremely disappointing. It’s frankly not the service I recognise.”

He said the organisation had made “massive jumps” since the Home Office’s 2017 Baker Report unearthed an “old boys’ club” which made backdoor payouts and oversaw “endemic” bullying and harassment, particularly of Black, Asian and minority ethnic staff.

Nutland said of the latest report: “This is not a situation we can’t salvage. We are here to scrutinise you to make sure it improves but I believe it will and you have the right team to do it. You have our full backing and we believe in you.”

North Somerset Conservative councillor Martin Williams said: “As someone who has been on the authority previously, I can see the improvement in the place. It’s so much better, so much more open, it’s a much more positive place to be.

“Previously I would have had serious concerns that this report would be ignored or buried but now I feel you and your team will sort it out. You have my full support.”

Bristol Conservative councillor Steve Smith said: “This is difficult reading in difficult times. The mood of the room is that we are behind you and your senior team in sorting this out.”

Shilton said: “This is quite a damaging report for us and it’s quite upsetting to read, frustrating to read, which gives the indication that there is much work to do across a wide range of areas in our service and as such this is about incremental improvements.

Bristol Conservative councillor Steve Smith told Shilton councillors were “behind him and his senior team in sorting this out” – photo: Martin Booth

“I am deeply saddened by the findings despite the efforts of many staff across the service. Undoubtedly this has an impact on all of our organisation and all of our staff. I do not believe this is truly reflective of the reality of our organisation.

“Nevertheless it has identified some areas we need to improve on, which I accept and take on the challenge.”

He said significant work had already taken place to respond to the recommendations of the previous round of inspections but that “the pace has not met the expectations of the HMICFRS”.

The chief said two “accelerated causes for concern” were raised immediately after the inspection, prior to the report’s publication, and that he had made those a priority.

CFO Shilton said the report highlighted two further causes for concern, including the service’s culture, along with 31 areas for improvement, with action plans being finalised in response to the findings.

He said: “The culture cause for concern is particularly disappointing and frustrating as much work has been undertaken since round two inspections including the zero-tolerance position, policy changes, independent reporting and confidential reporting lines.

“When I saw the outcome of the investigation it was personally heartbreaking. I am particularly heartbroken by the assessment of culture.

“But as heartbreaking as it is, there have been findings and we will respond positively.”

The report rated the service “inadequate” in four areas – understanding fire and risk, preventing fire and risk, responding to fires and emergencies, and promoting values and culture.

Five others “require improvement” and two were judged to be “adequate”, with none “good” or “outstanding”.

Inspectors revisited earlier this month and will formally report back on the two accelerated causes for concern in January.

Adam Postans is a local democracy reporter for Bristol, Bath, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire

Main photo: ASFR

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