Fife Fire & Rescue is an effective service and now needs to show how it is providing value for money

Fife Fire and Rescue provides an effective service. It has a clear vision based on preventative work, as reflected in reduced numbers of fires and casualties, and the service works well with other organisations. It now needs to put in place better strategic management and show that it is demonstrating value for money and fully considering all options for savings. The council needs to ensure that councillors’ scrutiny of the service is more effective.

The Accounts Commission’s findings say that Fife’s preventative work achieves successful outcomes and this is helped by the service working well with its partners and having a good understanding of risk management. However, there is scope for better use of integrated risk management at a strategic level. This will be particularly useful to the service as it faces challenges in finding savings and better employing its resources.

Fife needs to keep its focus on improving its service to the public whilst fire and rescue services are being restructured on a national basis. It is especially important to have good management practices at times of financial challenge and change such as this.

The Commission also says that Fife Council needs to assure itself that the scrutiny of the service is effective, particularly in terms of how its Police, Fire and Safety Committee fulfils this task.

Chair of the Accounts Commission, John Baillie, said:

“Fife Fire and Rescue’s preventative work is reflected in reduced numbers of fires and casualties, and the service works well with other organisations. It now needs to put in place better strategic management and show that it is value for money. Meanwhile the council needs to ensure that councillors’ scrutiny of the service is more effective.”