Ineffective consultation keeps public in the dark

It is concerning that, despite only contacting a few people so far, a number of them have said that the information I provided is the first that they have heard of the changes. Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service say they advertised the Integrated Risk Management Plan consultation and invited Parish, Town and City Councils to participate.

Yet only 227 of Devon & Somerset’s 1.7 million residents responded to the consultation, which is just 0.01%.

That suggests a couple of things. First, that most people were unaware of the consultation and two, that those that were aware, did not appreciate how significant the planned changes were. Hardly surprising, considering how the IRMP document managed to conceal the true effects with reassuring statements that lacked any evidence to support them.

It certainly did not make clear that the changes would eventually result in only 30% of fire engines carrying primary rescue ladders (13.5 metre), and that 70% of fire engines would carry less water, with most carrying less than half the water previously carried. It did not explain to people that several rural fire stations would have 50% less hose and no portable pump, which would significantly reduce their ability to tackle fires, unless hydrants happen to be very close. That is something of a rarity in rural areas.

Primary rescue ladder carried on the fully equipped fire engine, small ladder on the Rapid Intervention Vehicle

Then there were some of the consultation questions:

‘Do you agree or disagree that the Integrated Risk Management Plan has thoroughly considered the risks our communities face?’

How on earth can those outside the service judge how thoroughly the risks have been considered? Worryingly, now that I have had some feedback from the service via Freedom of Information requests, I think the answer has to be not very thoroughly at all.

‘Do you agree or disagree that the Integrated Risk Management Plan has thoroughly considered the prevention and response activities the Service can put in place to mitigate those risks?’

Once again, the public do not have the information to provide an informed answer.

‘Do you agree or disagree that the following strategic risks identified in the Integrated Risk Management Plan should be the focus of the Service’s change & improvement activity over the next four years?’

They were then asked to rate six different risks: An increasingly ageing population; Common health and well-being risks; Availability of on call appliances; The historical distribution of service delivery resources; An increasing demand for emergency medical response; An increase in the number of serious fires affecting commercial premises.

Again, do the public really have enough information to prioritise these, especially as some are vitally important, such as the availability of on call appliances. In the event, some were not even sure if this should be a risk to focus on, and only 50% strongly agreed, which is just 0.004% of the population. 

If people don’t strongly agree that their local fire engine should be available, 

it suggests that they didn’t understand the question.

There were just six written responses from members of staff, four from members of the public, and five from local councils. I think the summary of the response from one of the Town or Parish Councils sums up how valid, or invalid, this consultation was:

“Unable to comment - lacking in professional knowledge. Document is difficult to read and too large.”

So it is not surprising that many people didn’t have a clue that their local fire engine might be replaced with a less effective vehicle. Especially as Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service seem very reluctant to reveal where they plan to station all 45 Rapid Intervention Vehicles and the six Incident Support Units, which are supposed to carry equipment not available on the Rapid Intervention Vehicles. What equipment that will be is also another closely guarded secret that a lawful Freedom of Information request has failed to uncover. 

D&SF&RS has said that the Incident Support Unit (ISU) strategy is "integral to and supportive of, the Rapid Intervention Vehicle (RIV) Strategy". Despite this, and the delivery of the first Incident Support Unit, they have since said, "The locations of these vehicles, if they are to be introduced to the fleet, is yet to be decided".

The secrecy, the prevarication and the deception concerns me, and I am sure it will worry those who depend on Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service for their protection.

Just 37 of these across Devon & Somerset