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							                                                               Item No. 10

GREATER MANCHESTER FIRE
AND RESCUE AUTHORITY                                             31 JULY 2008

Subject: OPINION RESEARCH SERVICES - FIRE SAFETY AUDIT SURVEY

Report of the County Fire Officer & Chief Executive

             SUMMARY

             This report advises Members of the results of research carried
             out among businesses and other organisations by Opinion
             Research Services to asses the level of satisfaction relating to
             our fire safety advisory and enforcement activities. The research
             indicates an extremely high level of business satisfaction with
             the way that we carry out these activities.

(Contact Officer: ACFO Steve Beckley, 0161 608 4005, BeckleyS@manchesterfire.
gov.uk)

BACKGROUND

1.    The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 introduced an entirely
      new risk based and proportionate regime for ensuring fire safety
      standards in nearly all non-domestic premises. Greater Manchester
      Fire and Rescue Authority remains at the forefront of national policy
      development to deliver a consistent and fair application of this new
      legislation. A number of previous reports have appraised Members of
      progress during 2005 and 2006.

2.    The Fire Safety Section has also worked closely with the Government’s
      Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Department (BERR) to
      ensure that our relationship with all regulated entities is fully compliant
      with the recommendations and principles of the Hampton Report which
      recommends improvements to deliver Better Regulation. Our local
      commitments to the AGMA Public Protection Partnership also support
      this Better Regulation agenda.

3.    Each month a random sample of approximately 100 businesses or
      organisations which have been subject to a recent audit by fire safety
      officers and operational personnel are sent a questionnaire asking for
      their opinion of the service they received. The responses are returned
      to Opinion Research Services who collate the data and provide
      Corporate Support Group with annual reports.

4.    This voluntary process effectively predates the new national indicator
      NI 182 which measures levels of satisfaction with regulatory activities.




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SUMMARY OF RESULTS

5.   A full copy of the survey is available to Members on request but the
     three tables reproduced below are indicative of the results obtained.
     These examples show that following a visit, 72% of respondents had to
     take some further action to either reduce risk or demonstrate legislative
     compliance. Of these, fully 99% thought that the actions agreed were
     reasonable.

6.   Overall a total of 98% were very satisfied or fairly satisfied with our
     service.




7.   The only survey question which revealed room for further realistic
     improvement is our provision of more support for businesses and other
     organisations to enable them to continue managing their fire safety
     strategies going forward. The development of Business Regulation
     Solutions Limited is an ideal vehicle to provide this support. This not-
     for-profit company, set up by Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue


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      Authority and which now incorporates all ten Local Authorities, provides
      cost-effective advice and support to businesses and other
      organisations across the range of regulatory activities they are subject
      to. Any surplus from the company is returned to fund further
      community risk reduction projects.

8.    Respondents were further invited to provide text responses and some
      examples of the responses received have been reproduced below;

           The fire safety officer immediately followed up the visit by putting
            me in control with appropriate personnel who were able to
            resolve some issues which were identified. He was extremely
            efficient.

           The visit helped to put any worries that we had about the new
            regulations to rest, the standard of service and advice received
            was of a high standard and very much appreciated.

           The auditors made you feel very comfortable throughout the
            whole audit and were very helpful in offering advice on any
            questions.

SUMMARY

9.    The survey, whilst relatively small in terms of the number of
      respondents, provides useful confirmation that our enforcement
      strategy is measured and appropriate. The results are also a credit to
      our fire safety enforcement staff and provide strong evidence of the
      effectiveness of the training, advice, guidance and support provided by
      fire safety staff and also the influence on the national agenda achieved
      by GMF&RS.

RECOMMENDATIONS

10.   Members are asked to note the report and:

      1.    Continue to support the development of an appropriate risk
            based enforcement regime to protect the public without placing
            an unnecessary burden on business.

      2.    Acknowledge the excellent work carried out by all those involved
            in the delivery of fire safety advisory and enforcement activities
            in implementing the new fire safety legislative regime in a fair
            and professional manner.

BARRY DIXON
COUNTY FIRE OFFICER
& CHIEF EXECUTIVE




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LIST OF BACKGROUND PAPERS UNDER SECTION 100D OF THE LOCAL
                  GOVERNMENT ACT 1972

  DOCUMENT          DATE    FILE OR OTHER            PLACE OF
                              REFERENCE             INSPECTION
Fire Safety Audit                             Fire Service
Survey 2007/2008                              Headquarters
                                              146 Bolton Road
Greater                                       Swinton
Manchester Fire &                             Manchester
Rescue Service                                M27 8US


Opinion
Research Services


                              B. Dixon
                           (Proper Officer)
                               21.7.08




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