Priority Four
We are open and accountable, using our resources efficiently to deliver an effective, sustainable service that demonstrates improving public value.
Our Service was last assessed by HM Inspectorate in 2021, who rated our efficiency as ‘good’, an improvement on our 2019 rating. We are due to be reinspected in 2024 and have been working through an action plan to address the causes for concern previously identified by the Inspectorate. This action plan is just one part of our organisation’s sustainability programme.
Many of our buildings are decades old and we are modernising and improving these to reduce operating costs. This includes installing low energy lighting and solar panels, and we have built new stations with leading levels of energy efficiency. Some of our premises are also used by police and ambulance crews. We are exploring how we can increase collaborative work in communities as well as our buildings.
As we replace our oldest vehicles, we are choosing more environmentally friendly options, including electric vehicles where practical. We have also begun to fit recording devices in our vehicles, which gives us more accurate data about their usage and provides valuable evidence in the event of being involved in a collision.
Listening and learning are vital to providing our services efficiently and effectively. We welcome our communities to tell us about what they need; we use this information to inform decisions we must make to continue to provide a quality service as well as value for money. We use geographical analysis to design ways in which we should prioritise our resources where they are most needed, according to the risks and hazards we identify.