1. CFOA Sustainability Conference
What have we been finding?
13th September 2010
Steven Frank

2. Government priorities for sustainability
aiming to be 'The Greenest Government Ever'
tackle climate change
increase EU emission reduction targets to 30% by 2020
renewable energy schemes, including community-owned
incentives for GPs and PCTs to improve public health
supporting elderly to live at home & community support
Big Society - support for expansion of charities, social enterprises, volunteering, self help etc
community resilience (see Cabinet Office work on this)
A reminder… Sustainability has not dropped off the government’s radar

3. Headlines from assessments
Use of Resources not completed in FRAs
Looked at use of natural resources through the lens of value for money
Better understanding of the issues – but some way to go to deal with them
FRAs have a strong desire to learn - but not enough learning outside FRS
Some FRAs showing strong leadership in their FRA and of the FRS
Good local solutions to issues e.g. Isles of Scilly use of water, Hampshire FRS station approach
More data available than many FRAs thought they had access to e.g. water use, fuel consumption, pollution
Local Government doing slightly better on reduction of use of natural resources, police very similar to fire
We have not been looking at this as a morale issue – it is a VFM issue

4. Positive findings Audit has helped raise the profile of the issues
Greater understanding by members
When staff and members are engaged, more progress is made
Natural competitiveness between FRAs and between stations – can be a good thing
Some good work done collaboratively
New technology available that can reduce energy and water consumption e.g. CoBRA
Starting to see inclusion in performance management frameworks
More sustainable procurement practices

5. Areas in need of improvement
Understanding of sustainability – its not just about carbon reduction
Use of natural resources in many FRAs is higher than expected – and big variations in consumption
Transparency and understanding of data
Inconsistency of baseline assumptions
Measures of success - outcome?
Sharing of knowledge
Evaluation of initiatives

6. Challenges for you Financial resilience and priorities?
Keeping the focus on the sustainability agenda?
Will FRAs be more sustainable?
Mainstreaming – should we defer to experts?
Finding local solutions in absence of national policy?
When you talk to staff and members are you making them feel good or bad about sustainability?
Should we give incentives to staff to reduce natural resources?

7. Implications for audit and inspection
Our assessment role will be changing
Audit continues to support local accountability:
Opinion on accounts
Probity and governance
Value for money focus on financial resilience and productivity
Questions and objections from local people
Clear and accessible annual audit letter
Lower audit fees
Consideration of productivity
We will consider the effective use of natural resources
No separate audit of council fire and rescue services
Inspection is last resort
Service failure
Needed when public reporting
Doncaster
Place based budgets/community budgets and possible / very tentative views about what area vfm / accountability might need to consider. Stressing we know how difficult this territory is but have some experience from area assessment etc to build on