Release date: 27 February 2026
West Sussex County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service Scrutiny Committee met to discuss the service’s new Community Risk Management Plan (CRMP) on Thursday 26 February.
The committee were presented with the service’s CRMP for 2026-2030 which outlines how it will prevent emergencies, protect people and property, and respond effectively across West Sussex over the next four years. It builds on the successful delivery of the CRMP for the period 2022 to 2026.
The plan aims to respond to the risks identified in the county, including accidental dwelling fires, road traffic collisions, wildfires, and flooding, as well as emerging risks the service could face in the future by continuing to put in place effective prevention and protection measures and ensuring the efficient use of resources.
Members received an update on the service’s plans to maximise cover and availability of on-call crews in areas aligned to community risk. The On-Call Duty System Report covers several projects the service is working on to address challenges around recruitment and availability which will form a core part of the CRMP 2026-2030.
The committee also heard how the service performed in the third quarter of 2025/2026. Of the 30 performance measures that WSFRS is benchmarked against, 25 had a green status, four were amber, and one was red.
Of the two measures that were red last quarter, the percentage of emergency calls answered within 10 seconds by Joint Fire Control has improved and returned to green status. On-call availability has improved slightly but remains in red status. The committee asked the service to consider whether the current on-call availability measure appropriately reflects the strategic use of this important resource.
Strong performance has been demonstrated in contacting very high risk Safe and Well Visit referrals within one working day, first fire engine attendance times at critical incidents, and reducing false alarms at non-domestic premises.
Councillor Kevin Boram, Chairman of the scrutiny committee, said: “We were pleased to see the commitment and hard work taking place across West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service demonstrated in these reports.
“The new Community Risk Management Plan is the result of extensive analysis and engagement, and it reflects the needs and priorities of our communities.
“Fire and rescue services nationally are facing challenges around on-call crewing, so it was encouraging to hear how the service has contributed to the national work on this matter and is working to address the specific issues in West Sussex.
“We will continue to provide robust scrutiny to ensure the CRMP is delivered effectively and that the service remains responsive to the needs of residents, particularly during the period the service is preparing to be transferred to the Mayoral Strategic Authority.”
You can watch the meeting back on the county council's website.
