Section 1: Part 2 - Asset and technology investments
Fleet
There are 112 rescue pumping appliances across the Service area, based on three different sizes and capabilities and a range of specialist and support vehicles and equipment.
Since 2011, through our fleet replacement programme, we have altered the specification of our assets to reflect local evolving risks which has led to a £1.8m reduction in our capital programme. The fleet review will continue the process of realigning appliances to match greatest risk and introducing new fleet and capabilities to the latest standards with a view of making further reductions to our capital spending plans.
In 2024, in addition to the agreed frontline appliances we are expecting to introduce to the fleet:
- three new 45m aerial ladder platforms (which replaces existing vehicles)
- five new water carriers (replacing six obsolete vehicles)
- six incident support vehicles which have been designed to improve our ability to manage contaminated equipment and improve welfare facilities for the incident ground.
In 2011 the Service had 63 medium rescue pumps, 37 light rescue pumps and 12 rapid intervention vehicles.
Our agreed frontline appliances will be 49 medium rescue pumps, 38 light rescue pumps, 17 rapid intervention vehicles, and eight 4x4 medium rescue pumps.
New ICT systems
Asset management
Upgrade of systems to enable reporting of availability and defects for all vehicles and critically identified equipment which includes dashboards and status performance reporting and is linked to mobilisation system.
Human resource management systems
The introduction of the new system has enabled greater self-service and workforce planning across the organisation and will enable greater alignment between HR and finance systems.
This will remove the need for several manual processes across the service and boost productivity.
Community Fire Risk Management Information System (CFRMIS)
We are undergoing implementation of CFRMIS within our community safety function which is expected by summer 2024. This system will improve the processes for our protection, prevention and risk management activities.
Microsoft 365, Power-BI
Increased ability for virtual and flexible working and increased visualisation of performance data.
Telematics
Telematics have been introduced which means we have the data to determine where our light vehicle fleet should be based to enable optimum utilisation. It will also be used to determine the priority roll-out of the Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure as we will know who travels where and when. The case for further expansion of the programme in 2024 to the frontline appliances is being considered.