Agenda item

To receive a verbal update

The Head of Prevention, Response and Resilience advised Members that following the announcement on 8 September 2022, that Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II had passed away, a statement was released on the same evening, from the Chairman, on the Authority’s intranet and internet pages. The website was altered to reflect the period of national mourning and the Union flags were flown at half-mast.

A small team was established internally to coordinate the activity associated with operation London Bridge (the Queen’s funeral) and Parallel Bridge, which focused on supporting wider associated ceremonies, business as usual activity and additional support to colleagues in and around Windsor. Station Commander Resilience and Business Continuity, the Communications Officer, and Station Commander Operational Preparedness and BA, were the initial core members of that team.

Following a request from the multi-agency Gold team overseeing operation London Bridge, Station Commander Resilience and Business Continuity was nominated to provide Multi Agency Information Cell support to the strategic meetings for London Bridge over the next two weeks.

As a mark of respect, all public meetings scheduled during the period of national mourning were postponed, as was the open day at Broughton fire station and attendance at the MK Pride event. The Chief Fire Officer represented the Service at the County Proclamation Ceremony in Aylesbury and the proclamation event held in Milton Keynes on Sunday 11 September.

On the weekend before the state funeral, the Head of Technology, Transformation and PMO and Station Commander Protection Central represented the Service at church services of thanksgiving in Aylesbury and Milton Keynes. The Aylesbury service was also supported by members of the Ceremonial Team. Staff from across the Service participated in the national moment of reflection, when the nation held a minute’s silence on September 18 at 8pm, the night before the Queen’s funeral. In the days leading up to the funeral, staff also supported colleagues across the Thames Valley on the ground in Windsor.

The Head of Prevention, Response and Resilience advised Members that the Service received a request from Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service (RBFRS) for Fire Safety Protection Officers to be deployed to complete additional fire safety audits. There was also a request for Prevention teams to provide additional support in and around Windsor. Members of the Prevention team Community Safety Coordinators, volunteered to assist in providing Prevention advice to the community of Windsor on the weekend. The Community Safety Coordinators worked in Windsor on the Saturday prior to the funeral, delivering community safety messages and advice to the public, as well as assisting in two medical emergencies.

The Service also received a request from Thames Valley Police (TVP) Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and Explosive (CBRNe) Commander to provide a Multi Agency Scene Assessment Team (MASAT) and a Detection, Identification and Monitoring (DIM) provision. This support commenced from the Thursday through to the end of the funeral, with Group Commander Prevention and Resilience being deployed to Windsor for the duration, alongside colleagues from Oxfordshire, Berkshire, TVP, SCAS HART, and other teams coordinated through national resilience.

A Business Fire Safety Inspector, was also utilised for his technical skills as an Airwave tactical advisor, where he formed part of a multi-agency communications cell at Milton Keynes Police station, supporting Operation London Bridge.

Furthermore, the Acting Deputy Chief Fire Officer was called up to participate in the state funeral marching procession, as a representative of the Civilian Services. The Acting Deputy Chief Fire Officer was deployed into London for rehearsal from the Tuesday before the funeral and marched in the procession behind the sovereign alongside colleagues from the Merchant Navy, Royal Fleet Auxiliary, the Maritime Coastguard Agency, Police Services, His Majesty's Prison Services, Ambulance Service, British Red Cross, St John Ambulance, Royal Voluntary Service and Cadet forces.

The Chairman thanked all those who were involved for their fantastic work over this period, and said it was a tremendous honour for the Acting Deputy Chief Fire Officer to represent the Service at the funeral itself.

The Vice Chairman wished to place on record his appreciation to Buckinghamshire Council for its organisation of the Proclamation of His Majesty King Charles III in Aylesbury Market Square.

(B) SUMMER PRESSURES

The Acting Deputy Chief Fire Officer advised Members that this was an interim update as there was a report going to the Fire Authority meeting on 12 October 2022 and also as the Service was still half way through the debriefing process. July and August were some of the most demanding times the Service had ever faced in terms of the pressures placed on it for operational response across the whole of Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes and extending across the Thames Valley and wider areas. Fifteen fire and rescue services declared major incidents (including Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service). A learning review of command would be carried out and any learnings or changes necessary to improve the Service, applied. Debriefing exercises would be held for all staff involved. The Local Resilience Forums were also gathering information for their own learnings. Once all the information was gathered, a full and thorough report would be brought back to the Authority.

Some of the areas being looked at were preparedness and resilience, response, equipment, fleet, welfare of staff, communications both internally and externally, health and safety and prevention activity.

The Chairman asked if the learnings from the National Fire Chief Council would be integrated into the Service.

 The Acting Deputy Chief Fire Officer, advised that the Service was feeding into learnings locally, regionally and nationally.

A Members asked if there was a welfare vehicle for these types of incidents, or was the Service planning anything.

The Acting Deputy Chief Fire Officer advised that the Service had a provision, but it needed to broaden the awareness of this and enhance the current provision and educate all staff about it.

The Chairman and Vice Chairman both gave their thanks on behalf of all the Authority Members to all staff for their fantastic efforts during this time.