‘Significant’ improvements at fire and rescue service

Improvements made to West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service since a highly critical report last year have been described as ‘significant’ and ‘tangible’.

Last June, the words used by inspectors were not so kind, with the service rated ‘requires improvement’ and some of its work with public safety, fairness and diversity branded ‘inadequate’.

Since then, a new chief fire officer has been appointed – not to mention a new leader at West Sussex County Council – more money has been pumped into the service and those involved have thrown themselves head first into bringing things up to scratch.

One of those improvements saw the county council set up a scrutiny committee focussed solely on the fire service.

West Sussex Fire and Rescue service has been making good strides

Members met online earlier this month where the latest inspection, carried out in January, was discussed.

Duncan Crow, cabinet member for fire and rescue and communities, said last year’s report had been a ‘knock to say the least’.

He added: “I’m very pleased to see how the service has responded to the challenges that have been set to us and the progress that has been made on our improvement journey.”

Chief fire officer Sabrina Cohen-hatton praised the dedication and hard work of her team and told the meeting that the first report had been welcomed ‘because it shows us how we can improve’.

Chairman Steve Waight said he would ask vicechairman Lionel Barnard to chair a task and finish group to look at the West Sussex/ Surrey combined call centre after a number of committee members raised concerns about the set-up.