The recommendations identified by His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) as part of their statutory inspection and monitoring programme of fire and rescue services has generated an important transformation programme that requires ongoing management and effective delivery to help focus our improvement journey. Making good use of sector best practice and expectations, and HMICFRS inspection findings is vital to ensure GFRS maintains a clear direction of continuing improvement.
GFRS remains constantly vigilant regarding ongoing national recommendations and operational guidance to ensure residents, visitors, and places are as safe as possible, and the Service remains aligned with evolving best practice and regulatory requirements. For example, the Grenfell Tower and Manchester Arena tragedies have rightly generated substantial positive change to operating practices and legislation, and it is essential that these continue to be embedded in our Service.
We are on a cultural improvement journey and an important part of that is the Independent Review to look at claims of historic bullying and racism between 1991 and 2018, delivered by West Midlands Employers. Whilst the report acknowledges that GFRS is no longer institutionally racist, there are improvements still to be made to ensure we continue to move forward in this critical area and create a service that is inclusive and values-driven, where people can be themselves, whoever they are.
Making sure the Service is run as efficiently as possible whilst ensuring it remains an effective fire and rescue service is part of our day-to-day business and is the right thing for us to do. However, the ongoing and increasing pressure on public sector spending is exacerbating this situation and as a county council-run fire and rescue service we are responsible for supporting the council to achieve the efficiency savings it needs to make. This has re-focussed our efforts as we seek to attain the right balance of efficiencies and improving performance.