• Reference: 2022/5068
• Question by: Anne Clarke
• Meeting date: 15 December 2022

The LFB has experienced significant additional demand for Pre-Arranged Overtime, worked by operational staff, in the current, 2022/23, financial year. This was the result of the heatwave experienced in July and the consequent need to maintain resilience at the highest levels for the remainder of July and throughout August. Given the climate emergency do you foresee similar pressures on Pre-Arranged Overtime in future years?

• Reference: 2022/5067
• Question by: Anne Clarke
• Meeting date: 15 December 2022

The 2022/23 LFB budget proposed full reversal of the Average Vacancy Margin (AVM) of 296 posts below full establishment by 2023/24. The new budget proposes a return to full establishment, in 2024/25. Can you explain the reasons for the delay?

• Reference: 2022/5066
• Question by: Anne Clarke
• Meeting date: 15 December 2022

The LFB Budget Submission 2023/24 says, “The London Fire Commissioner will work alongside the National Fire Chiefs Council in making the strongest possible case to government for reforming the pay system in the sector”. Can you outline what reforms you would like to see?

• Reference: 2022/5065
• Question by: Anne Clarke
• Meeting date: 15 December 2022

The LFB Budget Submission 2023/24 says, “The London Fire Commissioner will work alongside the National Fire Chiefs Council in making the strongest possible case to government for additional funding for pay”. Can you outline what amount of additional funding the LFB is seeking from government?

• Reference: 2022/5064
• Question by: Anne Clarke
• Meeting date: 15 December 2022

What is the LFB doing to attract talent from underrepresented backgrounds into leadership roles, and does this involve utilising direct entry schemes and making wider use of external advertising channels when filling vacancies?

• Reference: 2022/5063
• Question by: Anne Clarke
• Meeting date: 15 December 2022

What discussions have the LFB had with other fire brigades, nationally and internationally, about effective talent identification and recruitment?

• Reference: 2022/5062
• Question by: Anne Clarke
• Meeting date: 15 December 2022

What schemes and training does the LFB have in place to support progression and promotion of its employees, particularly focused leadership progression schemes or direct entry schemes?

• Reference: 2022/5061
• Question by: Anne Clarke
• Meeting date: 15 December 2022

The 2023-24 Plan, developed in March 2022, showed £477,000 for Fire and Resilience, but the 2023-24 Budget shows £419,000. Why has there been a £58,000 reduction between the plan and the budget?

• Reference: 2022/5060
• Question by: Anne Clarke
• Meeting date: 15 December 2022

The Inquiry has recommended that “All fire and rescue services should consider appointing a person within their control rooms who, in the event of a Major Incident, has the sole role of gathering and collating all available information and intelligence, and sharing it internally and externally to the extent appropriate”. Does the LFB currently appoint such a person during a major incident? If not, would you support them making such a change?

• Reference: 2022/5059
• Question by: Anne Clarke
• Meeting date: 15 December 2022

The Inquiry has recommended that “the National Fire Chiefs Council and the Fire Service College should establish a scheme for ensuring that all fire fighters are trained in first responder interventions”. Can you confirm whether all London fire fighters are trained in first responder interventions? If not, will you work with the National Fire Chiefs Council and the Fire Service College to establish a training scheme?