12 February 2009
Improving well for the third year running – that’s the Audit Commission’s verdict on Buckinghamshire & Milton Keynes Fire Authority today.
This year’s performance assessment notes that the authority is among the highest ranking improvers in the country. It is reducing the number of injuries from accidental house fires, and it makes a significant contribution towards wider community outcomes and focuses on people who are vulnerable because of their circumstances.
In 2005 the authority – but not the emergency service it provides - was rated as “weak” in a Comprehensive Performance Assessment, an audit looking at issues such as budget management, staff training and work with community partners.
Chief Fire Officer Damian Smith, said: “The assessments get harder every year and we get better every year – that’s no mean feat. We have come a long way in a relatively short period of time and I am obviously delighted that so many positive aspects of our organisation have been highlighted."
Councillor David Rowlands, Chairman of Buckinghamshire & Milton Keynes Fire Authority, said: “Once again I must thank our staff for all the hard work that has contributed to this consistent improvement. We have managed to achieve it while remaining one of the lowest-cost fire authorities in the country.”
What the Audit Commission said today about Buckinghamshire & Milton Keynes Fire Authority’s progress in 2008:
Buckinghamshire & Milton Keynes Fire Authority has improved its operational performance well over the last year. It is among the highest ranking improvers in the country and is reducing the number of injuries from accidental house fires.. It makes a significant contribution towards wider community outcomes and focuses on people and areas who are vulnerable because of their circumstances. Value for money is improving. However it has only five per cent indicators in the best quartiles and over 40 per cent of corporate health indicators have worsened. It has more to do to address the equalities and diversity agenda. The FRA has robust plans to improve in its Integrated Risk Management Plan, annual action plans and its Medium Term Financial Plan. It is meeting most but not all its improvement targets. Its performance management has improved. The FRA works with partners to improve its performance and outcomes for local people. Over the last two years it has improved its capacity to deliver improvement. However in the short and medium term, resource shortages will make continued improvement challenging
What the Audit Commission said today about how Buckinghamshire & Milton Keynes Fire Authority provides its fire and rescue service:
Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service is performing well in all areas of service delivery from its analysis of risk through to its emergency response services. There is positive new leadership within the service. Key appointments have been made, and the service is working hard to improve service delivery as part of their improvement planning process. Performance management and morale has significantly improved, and staff are working confidently towards achieving local aims and objectives for service delivery. The service is performing particularly well in relation to planning, developing and maintaining operational competence in key areas including incident command, information handling and partnership working. The service operates a range of effective community safety initiatives, and these are also designed to bring about greater community cohesion within the authority's area.
Click here for the Audit Commission's assessment of Buckinghamshire & Milton Keynes Fire Authority's performance in 2008.
Click here for a PDF of the full national report - Fire and rescue performance assessment: Scores and analysis of fire and rescue authorities' performance 2008. Buckinghamshire & Milton Keynes Fire Authority's scores are shown on page 40.