Community Risk Management Plan 2023-27
Welcome to Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Authority’s latest Community Risk Management Plan (CRMP) which sets out the key challenges and risks facing our communities and how we intend to meet and reduce these risks over the next four years and beyond. We seek to show how we will use our resources, delivered through our core services of prevention, protection, and emergency response, to target the most vulnerable and help keep our communities in Bedfordshire safe.
Foreword
It is a real honour to be leading such a professional and hardworking team who are delivering great things for our communities and seen by many as a leading light in so many different areas. Over the last four to five years, we have sought to improve the self-awareness of the Service and ensure it is more data driven and evidence based in its decision making with the aim of being fit and ready for the future. Reflecting, we are immensely proud of how our amazing team really stepped up to the challenges of the Covid pandemic, the cost-of-living crisis, the wildfires and flooding events of 2022, the numerous major incidents declared across the county and how we are providing more and more support to our health partners including the East of England Ambulance Service Trust (EEAST).
Although there is still much to do, we believe we are in good shape to meet the challenges that lie ahead despite a challenging financial outlook. An independent review by the Local Government Association in Sept 2022 reported that the Authority’s governance of its fire and rescue service is “effective” and “decision making processes are clear”. Key to our success will be continuing to invest in our people - our biggest asset – in order that they can serve our communities better. This next CRMP seeks to ensure the Service is more outward looking, agile, inclusive, financially prudent, more longer term focused and resilient to the range of possible futures that may lie ahead. A huge thanks also to our partners, with whom we can do so much more together.
Thank you to everyone who took part in the range of consultations during 2022. We have listened to what communities and stakeholders are telling us and as a result, this CRMP is different to ones you might have read before.
There is much to be proud of amongst the diverse communities of Bedfordshire and your fire and rescue service will continue to strive to improve what we do and how we do it whilst working together to keep Bedfordshire safe.
Andrew Hopkinson, Chief Fire Officer