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Greater Manchester’s ‘Innovative’ Fire Authority is ‘performing well’
Today saw the release of the Comprehensive Area Assessment (CAA) results, formerly the Comprehensive Performance Assessment (CPA). The results show that overall; Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Authority ﴾GMFRA﴿ is ‘performing well’, ‘operationally effective’, ‘influential nationally’ and ‘innovative in its approach to modernising’. The CAA is a new way of assessing local public services in England. It examines how well councils and other public bodies, working together, meet the needs of the people they serve. Commenting on the very positive results Councillor James Pearson, Chairman of the Fire Authority said, “The results are extremely encouraging, acknowledging that we are focusing strongly on delivery at the community and borough level. In real terms we are actively involved in local partnerships, improvements are being delivered year on year, with some of these improvements are significant. These results demonstrate to the people of Greater Manchester that we are, rightly so, performance driven to provide the best service that we can to our communities”. The CAA also states that GMFRA uses its resources well and gives good value for money. GMFRA Vice Chairman Councillor Paul Shannon said, “The Fire Authority has made it a priority to use finances effectively to deliver strategic priorities whilst also securing a stable financial position. These priorities have been achieved whilst making the highest efficiency savings in the country, a position that sets GMFRA in good stead for the challenges ahead”. When factoring in levels of deprivation, GMFRA has the second lowest service cost per head nationally. But the good news doesn’t end there. The impact that fire has on the communities of Greater Manchester has also been reduced; Ø The number of properties and vehicles deliberately set on fire has been reduced Ø Over 61,000 home fire risk assessments have been undertaken, and Ø The number of people injured in accidental fires in the home has been reduced significantly. County Fire Officer Steve McGuirk said, “Our staff, the public and our partners should be proud of the magnificent achievements we have made in public safety. But we recognise that there is much still to do in areas such as equality and diversity. We face tough economic times, where providing high performing, value for money services that meet the publics needs should continue to be our priority. I firmly believe that in these reports the CAA has acknowledged that Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service is well placed to meet that challenge”. Other notable performance includes the improvements in health and safety, with action taken to reduce the risk of staff being attacked on duty, including actively identifying and pursuing prosecution of the culprits. Good ideas like the "Drive to Arrive" policy have reduced the number of accidents and near misses involving fire engines. What is CAA? CAA is a story about people and places. For the first time, six individual inspectorates will provide a joint assessment of what it is like to live in each area of England and assess the prospects for sustainable improvement in the future. Local public services will be held collectively to account for their impact on improving quality of life for residents. This means that CAA will look across councils, health bodies, police forces, fire and rescue services and others responsible for local public services, which are increasingly expected to work in partnership to tackle the challenges facing their communities. CAA will focus on what is preventing improvement and identifying success and innovation that others can learn. In this way CAA will be: a catalyst for improved local services and better value for money a source of independent information and assurance for citizens, service users and taxpayers an independent evidence base for central government on progress against national priorities a means of rationalising and coordinating inspection. CAA will look most at what matters locally, reflecting the priorities of local communities, political leaders and service chiefs. It may cover issues like reducing health inequalities, increasing affordable housing, reducing the fear of crime, improving education, attracting investment or reducing the area's carbon footprint. The issues assessed in each area will reflect local priorities for improving quality of life and protecting the most vulnerable. Other service or organisation specific assessments will continue. For example, health and police services will still be assessed by their respective inspectorates for those services that they are solely responsible for, but these will be delivered alongside CAA to avoid any duplication. Schools, colleges, social housing and residential care homes will also continue to be inspected to check they meet required standards
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