The States of Guernsey have been told to increase investment into the island’s Fire and Rescue Service, in a review that has highlighted the staff, while shining a light on potential problems at the emergency service.
15 recommendations have been made in total, telling Guernsey Fire and Rescue Service to focus on key areas which would see a modernising of the service through increased investment, legislative updates, and strategic planning.
Those recommendations have been made by the Local Government Association, which operates a ‘Peer Challenge’, providing oversight for services across the UK.
Despite not being part of the UK, Guernsey comes under its remit due to its functional alignment with UK, English, and Welsh public service standards.
15 recommendations
The peer review’s key findings focus on a lack of recent investment, the need for a community risk plan, modernisation of the service and its strategies, and the refinement of the relationship between the Chief Fire Officer and Home Affairs as well the relationship between GFRS and other services.
Despite the long list of 15 recommendations, the tone of the report from the LGA is extremely positive.
This is especially clear when it comes to the individuals who make up the emergency service.
The LGA report’s Executive Summary: “GFRS is staffed by dedicated, skilled, and motivated personnel who demonstrate exceptional pride in their work and a commitment to public service.
“Their professionalism, teamwork and “can-do” attitude underpin the Service’s excellent reputation for reliability, responsiveness, and community trust across the Bailiwick.”
The report itself states that the people doing the review play the role of a “critical friend”, aiming to provide support and honest advice, rather than to browbeat. Yet the GFRS receives a lot of praise from this panel of its peers, with the LGA commending the GFRS for its “evident strengths, particularly the calibre of its people”.
However, the inspectors did take issue with the amount of investment in the service.
Having identified a lack of investment in the Guernsey Fire and Rescue Service in recent years, the report is recommending the States invest to ensure the fire and rescue service can meet safety missions and address emerging risks.
The LGA report’s Executive Summary: “Over the past decade, constrained budgets and limited management capacity have left the Service without the full range of specialist resources needed to meet evolving risks.
“GFRS’s leaders and staff continue to deliver a high-quality response day-to-day, but the organisation’s resilience in the face of major or protracted incidents is at risk without a sustainable investment strategy.
“To secure the future of this high-performing and trusted public service, the States ofGuernsey are urged to commit to sustained and strategic investment in GFRS.”
A significant portion of the report also focuses on clarifying the relationship between the Chief Fire Officer and the Committee for Home Affairs.
That includes creating a formal ‘Scheme of Delegation’ to protect the CFO’s operational independence and updating outdated fire and rescue legislation.
The LGA also recommends the completion of a Community Risk Management Plan and the development of specific strategies for Response, Protection, and Prevention.
Then there’s the need for a GFRS-specific Risk Register and continued work on the ‘fuel field’ at Bulwer Avenue to ensure all partners understand and manage the associated risks.
The peer review panel encouraged the GFRS to support the ongoing review of the Joint Emergency Service Control Centre to improve 999 and non-emergency call handling.
In fact the LGA has recommended GFRS establish formal Service Level Agreements for support functions like Human resources, and Information and Communications Technology.
The LGA report’s Executive Summary: “Despite these challenges, the Peer Challenge team found a Service rich in talent, professionalism and goodwill. The men and women of GFRS demonstrate exceptional pride in their role and are united by a clear sense of purpose, to keep the people of Guernsey safe.
“This strong culture, combined with visible leadership and staff commitment to continuous improvement, provides an excellent foundation for the next phase of the Service’s development.
“With sustained investment, modern governance, and a clear strategic direction, GFRS is well positioned to evolve into a resilient, innovative, and future-ready organisation, one that continues to uphold its proud tradition of service while meeting the complex safety challenges of the 21st century.”
Reaction to the recommendations from GFRS and the States has been positive.
Both the service and the Committee for Home Affairs which oversees its work has framed the report as a constructive roadmap.
CFO Les Britzman said he welcomes the findings and described the review as thorough and constructive.
“The team put a lot of effort into meeting with all the Fire and Rescue team, blue light and other agency partners as well as teams within the States of Guernsey to fully understand the role the Guernsey Fire & Rescue Service plays in the Bailiwick.
“It is my view that our teams are our greatest asset, and their commitment to public safety is second to none. It is good to see this reflected in the report. Equally, it is helpful to identify clear areas for us to focus on now, and with the support of the States of Guernsey, I look forward to implementing the recommendations and building on our strong foundations to deliver the best possible service to Guernsey and Herm.”
Deputy Marc Leadbeater, President of the Committee, praised those involved in the GFRS and said the recommendations provide a “clear direction” for the future.
“This report is testament to the professionalism and commitment of the Guernsey Fire & Rescue Service, and we should all be grateful as islanders to know they are ready to help us in an emergency.
“I am proud that the Service’s reputation and the trust it enjoys across the Bailiwick is highlighted by the LGA, and the recommendations provide a clear direction for strengthening the Service further, ensuring it remains resilient, innovative, and ready to meet the challenges of the future.”
You can read the Peer Challenge Report in full on the States Website HERE.