2023-2024 Annual Action Plan

Cheshire Fire Authority has now published its 2023-2024 Annual Action Plan, which outlines its plans and priorities for the year ahead to improve the provision of fire and rescue services across Cheshire and address the risks facing communities across the county.

Projects over the next year include:

• Introducing a day crewing system at Wilmslow in April 2023, following the purchase of nine houses for the firefighters who will provide 24/7 cover.

• Engaging with partners and stakeholders with the aim of introducing an emergency cardiac response capability, which would see firefighters respond to cardiac arrests alongside paramedics.

• Reducing the number of false alarms within domestic premises.

• Review the range of fire safety education programmes that the Authority delivers to ensure content is consistent, engaging and relevant to its audience.

• Undertake a Service Improvement Review of its Prevention Department.

• Further develop prevention work to raise awareness of water safety.

• Review our wholetime optimum crewing duty system agreement.

• Reviewing the need for new equipment to improve the effectiveness of our emergency response.

• Reviewing its specialist vehicles and resources and implementing the outcomes.

• Working with other local partners to develop a strategic road safety plan for Cheshire.

The coming year will also see the Authority start to develop its next Community Risk Management Plan, which will cover the four years from 2024. Work on this will begin in earnest over the Spring and Summer ahead of a public consultation on emerging proposals over Autumn/Winter 2023-2024.

2023-2024 Annual Action Plan (new window, PDF 17172KB)

The 2023-2024 Annual Action Plan is the final update on the Authority’s 2020-2024 Integrated Risk Management Plan, which outlines a suite of priorities to address and mitigate the fire and rescue related risks that we face within Cheshire. The IRMP has already led to the Authority completing a range of projects to improve its services and keep the communities of Cheshire safe from fire and other emergencies. Over the course of the current IRMP the Authority has already:

• Moved the second fire engine at Ellesmere Port to Powey Lane, enabling a fire engine to be moved from Powey Lane back to Chester.

• Reviewed its firefighting water provision.

• Reviewed its flood/water response provision across Cheshire to ensure that it meets emerging risks. This included investing in the provision of bespoke flood suits for all non-specialist responders.

• Reviewed its Risk-based Inspection Programme for businesses and implemented outcomes.

• Expanded its Sprinklers Save Lives campaign, promoting the use of sprinklers in businesses and high-rise residential properties.

• Changed its approach to managing heritage risks.

• Launched a Cheshire-wide fire safety campaign aimed at owners and occupiers of houses of multiple occupation (HMOs).

• Replaced the aerial appliance and a fire engine at Macclesfield with a high reach extendable turret (HRET) fire engine.

• Provided Rapid Response Rescue Units (RRRUs) on all of its primary on-call fire stations.

• Developed a new, specialist wildfire capability.

• Extended Safe and Well home visits to a broader range of people at risk.