Wiltshire and Swindon Fire Authority has improved its performance rating from 'weak' to 'fair' according to a report released today (3 February 2009) by the independent Audit Commission.
The Authority's comprehensive performance assessment (CPA) rating increased following an inspection by the Commission. The corporate assessment looked at the Authority's ambitions, its ability to improve its performance and what it has achieved.
Audit Commission senior manager Melanie Watson said:
'Wiltshire and Swindon Fire Authority has moved on since its last assessment in 2005. The Authority can demonstrate improvement in most areas, achieving good outcomes for local people. It has a comprehensive understanding of the issues facing Wiltshire and provides effective leadership to the community it serves. The Authority has clear ambitions for the local area which it is working towards effectively with partner organisations. Operational performance is among the best Fire Services in the country.'
'The Fire Authority recognises that challenges lie ahead. It has plans in place to improve its capacity and enhance its approach to performance management. These are key issues the Authority will need to address to meet its ambitions for providing an efficient and effective fire and rescue service.'
Strengths highlighted by the inspectors include:
- effective political and managerial leadership;
- a comprehensive understanding of community need and a sustained focus on service improvement;
- an established approach towards cohesive communities, with positive outcomes for hard-to-reach groups and those in greatest need;
- a comprehensive approach to identifying those most at risk, which is leading to better performance through a range of innovative projects with partners;
- a track record of working effectively with key strategic partners; and
- a committed workforce who are encouraged to innovate in reducing the level of risk in their local communities.
Areas for further improvement include:
- ensuring business planning processes consistently reflect strategic aims and priorities;
- building the culture of performance management and review across the organisation;
- improving capacity by strengthening communication between staff and managers;
- strengthening the approaches to strategic procurement, strategic partnership working and asset management; and
- taking more positive action to attract people from minority groups into the service.
Following today's report Wiltshire and Swindon Fire Authority will plan what it needs to do to further improve and to meet the changing risks to the area and its citizens.
Notes to editors
- Fire CPA, undertaken in 2005, assessed how well fire services were delivering fire and rescue services for local people and communities. It measured the progress fire services were making in modernising at that time and gave a rating of poor, weak, fair, good or excellent.
- Since 2005 Fire CPA categories have only been reassessed if the Audit Commission identifies evidence of significant deterioration, or if the fire service requests recategorisation and is able to demonstrate evidence of significant and sustainable improvement.
- From April 2009, Comprehensive Area Assessment (CAA) will replace CPA, a significant change for which the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act (2007) was the catalyst. CPA focused only on services provided by local authorities. CAA will look at the public services in an area that are delivered by councils and their partners, including the private and voluntary sectors.
- CAA will provide, in a single source, information on how well-run local public services are, and how effectively they use taxpayers' money. It will be more relevant to local people by focusing on issues that are important to them and their communities. A more joined-up and proportionate approach to public service regulation across England, CAA is a partnership of seven inspectorates, offering a shared view about the challenges facing any area - such as crime, community cohesion, environmental sustainability and public health issues.
- Audit Commission is an independent watchdog, driving economy, efficiency and effectiveness in local public services to deliver better outcomes for everyone.
- Our work across local government, health, housing, community safety and fire and rescue services means that we have a unique perspective. We promote value for money for taxpayers, covering the £200 billion spent by 11,000 local public bodies.
- As a force for improvement, we work in partnership to assess local public services and make practical recommendations for promoting a better quality of life for people.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
Callum Collins, Senior Regional Communications Manager (Southern) Tel: 0117 901 8883