PURPOSE OF REPORT

To present for approval the Improvement and Well-being Plan 2020/21.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Fire and Rescue Authority (the Authority) is required to publish improvement and well-being objectives and to have involved the public and other stakeholders in the process of developing those objectives.

This report, presents for Members’ approval, the final draft improvement and well-being plan for 2020/21. The objectives within the plan have been revised and expanded following feedback from the Well-being of Future Generations Commissioner.

RECOMMENDATIONS

That Members approve the final draft Improvement and Well-being Plan 2020/21 for publication on the Authority’s website before the end of March 2020.

OBSERVATIONS FROM THE EXECUTIVE PANEL/AUDIT COMMITTEE

The revised and expanded set of improvement and well-being objectives have previously been considered by the Executive Panel.

BACKGROUND

Fire and rescue authorities in Wales are required to publish improvement objectives in accordance with the Local Government (Wales) Measure 2009, and well-being objectives in accordance with the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015. For the purposes of the Authority’s planning processes these are treated as one and the same in that shorter term improvement objectives can also serve as steps towards achieving longer term well-being objectives.

By law the Authority must endeavour to improve its services in the short term and to consider the well-being of future generations of people in the area in the longer term. Its adopted well-being objectives must contribute to meeting Wales’ well-being goals, and the Authority must be able to demonstrate that it is taking all reasonable steps (in exercising its functions) to achieve its objectives.

The Future Generations Commissioner for Wales’ role is to promote the sustainable development principle, act as a guardian for the interests of future generations in Wales, and to support the public bodies listed in the Act to work towards achieving the well-being goals. The Commissioner can make recommendations to a public body about the steps it has taken or proposes to take to set and then meet its well-being objectives. Public bodies must take all reasonable steps to follow the recommendations made by the Commissioner.

The Authority’s current long-term objectives are:

to support people to prevent accidental dwelling fires and stay safe if they do occur; and

to facilitate high quality, responsive and better integrated fire and rescue services so that prevention activity and emergency response continue to be available when and where required, affordably, equitably and on the basis of risk.

INFORMATION

Recent feedback from the Well-Being of Future Generations Commissioner suggests the need for the Authority to increase the number of objectives that it is pursuing.   This is based on an interpretation of Section 3(2)(a) of the Well-being of Future Generations Act 2015 that a public body must set and publish objectives “…that are designed to maximise its contribution to achieving each of the well-being goals”.

Members will recall that the well-being goals for Wales are to achieve: a prosperous Wales; a resilient Wales; a healthier Wales; a more equal Wales; a Wales of cohesive communities; a Wales of vibrant culture and thriving Welsh language; and a globally responsible Wales.

The attached draft Improvement and Well-being Plan includes a revised and expanded set of objectives which have taken into account the Commissioner’s feedback and have also considered how future reporting against the well-being goals and potentially against the National Fire and Rescue Framework can be improved.

IMPLICATIONS