DMFD289 Equipment asset replacement programme 2026 to 2031

1.1.    Report LFC-26-031 to the London Fire Commissioner (LFC) provides a detailed overview of the proposal. This is a summary of that report.

1.2.    LFC is seeking approval from the Deputy Mayor for Planning, Regeneration and the Fire Service (the Deputy Mayor) to spend from its fleet capital budget, on an asset replacement programme for the next five financial years (2026-27 to 2030-31 inclusive). 

1.3.    LFB maintains a long-term forecast of when operational equipment will reach the end of its useful life. It considers whether each asset should be replaced; or whether its useful life could be extended safely. LFB has an existing vehicles and equipment contract. Through this contract, Babcock Critical Services Limited (Babcock): 

•    procures replacement vehicles and operational equipment for LFB as required

•    facilitates the resale of LFB’s existing assets at the end of their useful life.

1.4.    In 2026-27, LFB plans to replace 21 diesel-powered support vans with electric vehicles (EVs), in line with its fleet strategy, its Community Risk Management Plan, and the Mayor’s Accelerated Green Pathway commitments. LFB reports that:

•    potential additional infrastructure costs from LFB’s wider adoption of electric fleet vehicles are outside the scope of LFC-26-031

•    an estimate of modifications costs for these vehicles is included in LFC-26-031 part 2

•    potential revenue costs related to training contractors to service these vehicles (outside the scope of this decision) have been factored into LFB’s financial planning for 2026-27.
 

2.1.    LFB is seeking approval to fund a capital programme, to renew and upgrade operational equipment and vehicles as they reach the end of their recommended useful life. This will run for five financial years, from 2026-27 until 2030-31. The programme will be funded from LFB’s existing fleet capital budget. LFB has included light vehicle replacements in 2026-27 only.  

2.2.    LFB has reviewed each asset covered by the replacement programme, to consider whether replacement is required; or the useful life could be extended safely (LFC-26-031 part 1 includes more details). 

2.3.    LFB’s forecast estimated spend on operational equipment and vehicles, for 2026-31, is set out in part 2. Subject to approval, LFB will use its existing vehicles and equipment contract with Babcock to procure the replacements. LFB reports that it will refine its understanding of the actual costs, and what it will buy each year, as the programme progresses. 

2.4.    Babcock will also, on LFB’s behalf, sell vehicles and equipment at the end of their useful life. LFB reports that: 

•    the proceeds from this asset disposal will be returned to a central revenue account and may be used to offset capital borrowing costs. 

•    the disposal process also ensures LFB complies with its obligations under the Environmental Duty of Care Regulations. 
 

3.1.    The LFC, and the Deputy Mayor, are required to have due regard to the Public Sector Equality Duty (section 149 of the Equality Act 2010) when taking decisions. The Public Sector Equality Duty requires the identification and evaluation of the likely potential impacts, both positive and negative, of the decision on those with protected characteristics (see paragraph 3.3). 

3.2.    It is important to note that consideration of the Public Sector Equality Duty is not a one-off task. The duty must be fulfilled before taking a decision; at the time of taking a decision; and after the decision has been taken.

3.3.    The protected characteristics are: age, disability, gender reassignment, pregnancy and maternity, marriage and civil partnership (but only in respect of the requirements to have due regard to the need to eliminate discrimination), race (ethnic or national origins, colour or nationality), religion or belief (including lack of belief), sex, and sexual orientation.

3.4.    The Public Sector Equality Duty requires decision-takers in the exercise of all their functions, to have due regard to the need to:

•    eliminate discrimination, harassment and victimisation and other prohibited conduct

•    advance equality of opportunity between people who share a relevant protected characteristic and persons who do not share it

•    foster good relations between people who share a relevant protected characteristic and persons who do not share it.

3.5.    Having due regard to the need to advance equality of opportunity between persons who share a relevant protected characteristic and persons who do not share it involves having due regard, in particular, to the need to:

•    remove or minimise disadvantages suffered by persons who share a relevant protected characteristic where those disadvantages are connected to that characteristic

•    take steps to meet the needs of persons who share a relevant protected characteristic that are different from the needs of persons who do not share it

•    encourage persons who share a relevant protected characteristic to participate in public life or in any other activity in which participation by such persons is disproportionately low.

3.6.    The steps involved in meeting the needs of disabled persons that are different from the needs of persons who are not disabled include, in particular, steps to take account of disabled persons’ disabilities.

3.7.    Having due regard to the need to foster good relations between persons who share a relevant protected characteristic and persons who do not share it involves having due regard, in particular, to the need to:

•    tackle prejudice 
•    promote understanding.

3.8.    LFB will carry out an Equality Impact Assessment for each of the projects included in LFC-026-031, when the relevant workstream becomes live. LFB considers that this will allow for proper review of equalities impacts, once the specific asset under assessment is clearly identified through the procurement process.
 

Workforce and communications considerations

4.1.    LFB reports that no workforce consultation, or general internal communications, about the equipment asset replacement programme are required. The programme will include targeted consultation with LFB staff who use the assets that are scheduled for replacement over the next five years. 

Procurement considerations

4.2.    LFB will use its existing vehicle and equipment contract with Babcock as its route to market, to procure vehicles and operational equipment (and outsourced maintenance outside the scope of this decision). Babcock will run the procurements, with LFB’s fleet and procurement teams involved in developing procurement strategies, tender lists and evaluation criteria.

Sustainability considerations

4.3.    LFB is switching from diesel-fuelled vehicles to zero-emission alternatives, such as EVs. This is in line with: 

•    its fleet strategy 2024-35
•    the Mayor of London’s focus on tackling air pollution and using net-zero energy. 

This work is supported by DMFD277: Electric vehicle charging infrastructure. 

4.4.    LFB considers that LFC-26-031 supports the aims of the LFC’s sustainable development strategy 2026-30; but does not introduce any significant sustainability impacts overall. LFB will complete Sustainability Impact Assessments for individual workstreams once projects are live. This means that sustainability impacts can be appropriately identified and reviewed, once the specific asset under assessment is clearly defined through the procurement process. 

Conflicts of interest

4.5.    There are no conflicts of interest to declare from those involved in the drafting or clearance of this decision.
 

5.1.    Financial comments are included in part 2. 

6.1.    The LFC’s General Counsel’s Department have confirmed the following.

6.2.    Under section 9 of the Policing and Crime Act 2017, the LFC is established as a corporation sole with the Mayor appointing the occupant of that office. Under section 327D of the GLA Act 1999, as amended by the Policing and Crime Act 2017, the Mayor may issue to the LFC specific or general directions as to the manner in which the holder of that office is to exercise his or her functions. 

6.3.    By direction dated 1 April 2018, the Mayor set out those matters, for which the LFC would require the prior approval of either the Mayor or the Deputy Mayor. Paragraph (b) of Part 2 of said direction requires the LFC to seek the prior approval of the Deputy Mayor before “[a] commitment to expenditure (capital or revenue) of £150,000 or above as identified in accordance with normal accounting practices”. 

6.4.    In accordance with Section 5A of the Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004, the LFC, being a ‘relevant authority,’ may do ‘anything it considers appropriate for the purposes of the carrying out of any of its functions.’ 

6.5.    General Counsel observes that this procurement process will be carried out in compliance with the LFC Scheme of Governance.