Fire and rescue authorities (FRAs) are required by the Fire and Rescue Service National Framework to have in place and maintain an Integrated Risk Management Plan (IRMP) which reflects local need and sets out plans to tackle effectively both existing and potential risks to communities. The IRMP enables the authority to tailor cover for fire and other incidents to local circumstances—evaluating where risk is greatest and allocating resource accordingly. It is a requirement that the IRMP is subject to a full consultation with the local community before it is agreed and published.
It is not the role of Ministers to agree the operational proposals in an authority’s plan; that is for the elected members of the authority concerned. They are best placed to act on the professional advice of principal officers, including taking into consideration any relevant local planning and community strategies, and to balance the competing local demands on available resources for the benefits of the communities they serve.