The Fire and Rescue Scrutiny Committee were scheduled to meet on Friday 3 October 2025 to discuss wildfires, changes to firefighter shift times and fire safety regulations. Also on the agenda were discussions around on-call fire cover, the annual statement of assurance, an improvement board progress update, and community safety directorate performance data.

Wildfires

The committee was scheduled to receive a presentation from the Environment Agency on how they are addressing the increasing risk of wildfires in Gloucestershire, including how they work alongside and communicate with Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service (GFRS). Wildfires have become an increasing concern for fire services across the country, with the London Fire Brigade declaring a major incident during the summer of 2022 as a result of a number of large fires in the capital. At the previous meeting on 18 July 2025, the committee were informed that there had been a significant increase in the number of wildfires across the country, and that although there was currently basic wildfire provision within Gloucestershire, specialists were looking at how this might be resourced and addressed going forward.

Changes to Firefighter Shift Patterns

The committee was scheduled to receive an update on the arbitration process regarding the changes to the start and finish times of GFRS wholetime firefighters. Following 18 months of consultation, negotiation and formal conciliation, GFRS and the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) reached a jointly agreed outcome regarding proposed changes to wholetime firefighter start and finish times. The agreement followed 48 hours of intensive conciliation with the National Joint Secretaries (NJS) on Monday 11 and Tuesday 12 August, and was described as marking a significant step forward in collaborative working between GFRS and the FBU. The new start and finish times, due to be implemented from Monday 5 January 2026, will be:

• Day shift: 08:30 to 18:30 (10 hours)
• Night shift: 18:30 to 08:30 (14 hours)

These times replace the current 9/15 pattern and reflect a compromise reached through national conciliation. The report pack states that the changes are part of a broader reset and refocus for GFRS, aimed at:

• Improving community safety and engagement
• Enhancing firefighter safety and training
• Supporting employee wellbeing and welfare

On-Call Fire Cover

The committee was scheduled to consider a report on the issues relating to on-call fire cover and the options to address them. On-call firefighters respond to emergencies from home or work and are not based at the station. They must live or work within 5 minutes of the Community Fire station. GFRS currently employs 213 On-Call Firefighters, working at 21 Community fire stations. The report pack notes that nationally 48 out of the 52 United Kingdom Fire and Rescue Services (UKFRS) have an On-Call system, with around 90% of the UK landmass covered by firefighters working the On-Call duty system. It also notes that recruitment and retention of On-Call firefighters is increasingly challenging due to:

• A limited pool of people due to the 5-minute response radius
• Housing affordability near stations, especially in certain rural areas
• Industry decline in small towns reduces local employment
• A reduction of target age demographic in rural locations

Business Fire Safety Regulations

The committee was scheduled to receive an update from Area Manager Amy Bailey on the implications of the new business fire safety regulations guidance, particularly in relation to medium rise residential buildings. A medium rise residential building (MRRB) is defined as a building with 2 or more domestic dwellings and communal areas between 11 & 17.9 metres or 4 to 6 storeys in height. Between May and July 2025, Homes England began to inform all Fire & Rescue Services (FRS) in England on the number of residential buildings with external walling remediation issues within each service area, using data compiled from the number of residential buildings that previously registered with the Government Cladding Safety Scheme. According to GFRS system records there are approximately 200 residential buildings within Gloucestershire that are between 11 & 17.9 metres in height and qualify as a MRRB, with approximately 70 of these buildings requiring some form of remediation for external walling defects.

Annual Statement of Assurance

The committee was scheduled to note the annual Statement of Assurance 2025-2026. The Fire and Rescue National Framework for England requires Fire and Rescue Services (FRS) to publish an annual 'Statement of Assurance', providing assurance to communities and government regarding the delivery of their Community Risk Management Plan (CRMP), financial, governance, and operational matters. The draft statement of assurance included in the report pack sets out Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Authority’s performance against a number of strategic aims, including:

• People: Ensuring services are delivered by a professional, well equipped, highly skilled, motivated and well-developed workforce which is able to work safely and whose composition reflects the diverse community.
• Prevention and Protection: Working with local communities to reduce risks to life, property and the environment from fire and other emergencies.
• Response and Resilience: Responding promptly and efficiently to deal with fires and other emergencies when they occur.

Improvement Board Progress Update

The committee was scheduled to note the Improvement Board progress update. His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) is the governing body for Fire & Rescue services across the country, with a remit to inspect and report on each Services' efficiency, effectiveness and people on behalf of the public. Following an inspection in November 2023, a report was published in May 2024, which identified three causes of concern. In January 2025 HMICFRS conducted a Service revisit to assess progress against the three causes of concern, and in March 2025 published their findings in a letter, stating the dismissal of two of the causes of concern. A further Service revisit was conducted in July 2025 to assess progress against the one remaining cause of concern, with HMICFRS publishing their findings in August 2025, stating the dismissal of the remaining causes of concern. The role of the Improvement Board is to support, advise and hold the GFRS Strategic Leadership Team to account to deliver transformation within the organisation.

Community Safety Directorate Performance Data

The committee was scheduled to note the Community Safety Directorate performance data for Quarter 1 2025/26.