MQT answers Feb 20
Learning from August energy blackouts (2)
Question No: 2020/0549
Andrew Dismore
Was any TfL rolling stock affected by the software issues with restarting following the August energy blackout?
Answer for Learning from August energy blackouts (2)
The Mayor
Last updated: 27 February, 2020
Officers are drafting a response
Learning from August energy blackouts (2)
The Mayor
Last updated: 16 March, 2020
The August energy blackout affected some of Transport for London’s (TfL’s) Victoria line trains. The trains saw a power surge and went into self-isolation mode, resulting in the train operators having to power down and then power up the trains. This resulted in some disruption to passenger service.
No other TfL rolling stock was affected.
Question No: 2020/0553
Andrew Dismore
When will the new LFB fire boats be fully operational?
Answer for Fire boat replacement
The Mayor
Last updated: 27 February, 2020
Officers are drafting a response
Fire boat replacement
The Mayor
Last updated: 16 March, 2020
The two new fire boats will both be delivered and capable of being operational by August 2021. However, becoming fully operational will be dependent upon the crews undergoing the training programme, the requirements of which cannot be determined until the trainers have seen the boats and their full specifications. The intention is for the training to be completed by August 2021, which would then mean that both boats can become fully operational from September 2021.
Babcock contract major change (1)
Question No: 2020/0554
Andrew Dismore
What are LFB’s priorities for the major change process initiated on the Babcock training contract?
Answer for Babcock contract major change (1)
The Mayor
Last updated: 27 February, 2020
Officers are drafting a response
Babcock contract major change (1)
The Mayor
Last updated: 16 March, 2020
The focus of the Major Change Review is to deliver a new flexibility mechanism within the contract. This will deliver improved agility in meeting the organisation’s training requirement, thereby ensuring that staff are trained in the risk-critical skills they need to do their jobs safely, confidently and well. The mechanism will include a revised pricing mechanism and a pre-agreed mechanism for demand overflow management.
Babcock contract major change (2)
Question No: 2020/0555
Andrew Dismore
What is your reaction to HMI Matt Parr’s assessment of LFB’s Babcock contract as “expensive and inflexible”?
Answer for Babcock contract major change (2)
The Mayor
Last updated: 27 February, 2020
Officers are drafting a response
Babcock contract major change (2)
The Mayor
Last updated: 16 March, 2020
London Fire Brigade (LFB) has accepted the recommendations from the HMICFRS report and is working to respond to them. The contract with Babcock is in its eighth year of a 25-year contract and the working and commercial relationships need to adapt and respond to changes in LFB’s training requirement over this time. The demand currently placed on the training contract and associated budget is greater than it has ever been, and discussions have begun with Babcock to ensure that future provision is more flexible and responsive to LFB’s needs and wider operational developments and will deliver increased value for money.
Fire risk assessments for high rise buildings (2)
Question No: 2020/0556
Andrew Dismore
In high rise buildings where stay put is suspended due to ACM cladding, how many of those premises’ fire risk assessments have been reviewed and found high priority actions for change?
Answer for Fire risk assessments for high rise buildings (2)
The Mayor
Last updated: 27 February, 2020
Officers are drafting a response
Fire risk assessments for high rise buildings (2)
The Mayor
Last updated: 16 March, 2020
London Fire Brigade’s Fire Safety Inspecting Officers have carried out Fire Safety Audits of 115 high rise residential premises in London that have aluminium composite material type cladding, and where stay put has been suspended. As part of those audits a review of the fire risk assessment is carried out. Data on the content of the risk assessment isn’t collected but where deficiencies are found, these will trigger enforcement action.
Incident commander level evacuation tool
Question No: 2020/0557
Andrew Dismore
What consideration has LFB given to the fitting of evacuation alarms in high rise premises that can be activated by incident commanders on a floor by floor basis?
Answer for Incident commander level evacuation tool
The Mayor
Last updated: 27 February, 2020
Officers are drafting a response
Incident commander level evacuation tool
The Mayor
Last updated: 16 March, 2020
London Fire Brigade has agreed with government proposals that Approved Document B should include a requirement for an emergency evacuation system, which could support the operational response of fire and rescue services by alerting residents if they need to evacuate. However, a building should never require the use of the evacuation alert system if it is designed, built, managed and maintained appropriately. Therefore, the focus should be on ensuring buildings are safe and that such a system will never need to be used. An emergency evacuation system may provide an additional tool for incident commanders to utilise during a fire. It should be recognised that the system must be supported by a package of measures to be effective and that without this it could have the potential to place more people at risk in a fire. That package of measures would include (but not be limited to) appropriate education for residents and appropriate signage. Fire and rescue services must be consulted to ensure they agree with the package of measures proposed and to ensure they have an appropriate understanding of the system installed.
Question No: 2020/0561
Andrew Dismore
Why have no alteration notices been issued by LFB since March 2011?
Answer for Alteration notices
The Mayor
Last updated: 27 February, 2020
Officers are drafting a response
Alteration notices
The Mayor
Last updated: 16 March, 2020
There have been three alterations notices served by London Fire Brigade (LFB) since 2011 and there are notices in place for all London Underground sub-surface stations. Alteration notices require the person they are served upon to notify LFB of any changes the Responsible Person intends to make to premises, if this may adversely impact on fire safety. Alteration notices are one of a number of tools available to Fire and Rescue Services (FRS) in carrying out their regulatory role and their use is discretionary for each FRS. Historically, there have been limited use of alterations notices by LFB, with the focus instead being on education, engagement and a proactive inspection regime. Following the HMICFRS report, which specifically commented on the use of alteration notices in London, LFB Fire Safety is reconsidering where wider use of alteration notices may be beneficial in supporting fire safety in the built environment.
Improving building safety audits
Question No: 2020/0562
Andrew Dismore
What is the LFB doing to a) increase uptake of the shortened audit process for building safety and b) implement the trialled project of firefighters doing low risk audits?
Answer for Improving building safety audits
The Mayor
Last updated: 27 February, 2020
Officers are drafting a response
Improving building safety audits
The Mayor
Last updated: 16 March, 2020
London Fire Brigade (LFB) already has a ‘short audit’ capability built into the existing electronic audit forms used during inspections. All LFB audits start as a ‘short audit’ and the inspection process is only extended if fire safety failures are evident in the building or the management arrangements. This approach is in alignment with the 2015 national CFOA Guidance on the audit and inspection principles. The only difference is that LFB uses this single expandable electronic ‘form’ rather than two separate and discrete processes, and therefore LFB does not report on these separately to the Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government. It is expected that the training for fire station crews to undertake fire safety checks will start in June 2020 and take 24 months to complete.
Incident commander training (2)
Question No: 2020/0564
Andrew Dismore
What percentage of LFB officers have completed level 1 and level 2 incident commander training?
Answer for Incident commander training (2)
The Mayor
Last updated: 27 February, 2020
Officers are drafting a response
Incident commander training (2)
The Mayor
Last updated: 16 March, 2020
71 per cent (870 out of 1229) of London Fire Brigade (LFB) officers have completed level 1 incident command training. 85 per cent (170 out of 199) of LFB officers have completed level 2 incident command training. Level 1 incident command training will be completed by December 2021, and level 2 incident command training will be completed by August 2021.
Bringing LFB course design in house
Question No: 2020/0565
Andrew Dismore
What cost do you estimate will be incurred by bringing course design for LBF training in house?
Answer for Bringing LFB course design in house
The Mayor
Last updated: 27 February, 2020
Officers are drafting a response
Bringing LFB course design in house
The Mayor
Last updated: 16 March, 2020
The cost of bringing course design in-house is estimated to be £556k per annum. This would be a staff unit cost only.
Secondees to Babcock for LFB training
Question No: 2020/0566
Andrew Dismore
Who will pay the costs of staff seconded to Babcock as part of efforts to improve LFB training?
Answer for Secondees to Babcock for LFB training
The Mayor
Last updated: 27 February, 2020
Officers are drafting a response
Secondees to Babcock for LFB training
The Mayor
Last updated: 16 March, 2020
This forms part of the major change process as referenced in the response to Mayor’s Question 2020/0554. An initial cost model was proposed as part of the Independent Review of Training, and commercially negotiations are now due to begin with Babcock on the proposed model and a range of other matters.
Breaking the Babcock contract (1)
Question No: 2020/0567
Andrew Dismore
When did LFB last assess the costs of exiting the Babcock training contract?
Answer for Breaking the Babcock contract (1)
The Mayor
Last updated: 27 February, 2020
Officers are drafting a response
Breaking the Babcock contract (1)
The Mayor
Last updated: 16 March, 2020
A high-level assessment of the cost of exiting the contract on a voluntary basis was last undertaken in October 2018.
Breaking the Babcock contract (2)
Question No: 2020/0568
Andrew Dismore
How much would it cost for LFB to exit the Babcock training contract? Please break this cost down as far as possible.
Answer for Breaking the Babcock contract (2)
The Mayor
Last updated: 27 February, 2020
Officers are drafting a response
Breaking the Babcock contract (2)
The Mayor
Last updated: 16 March, 2020
There are several variable and unknown factors when estimating the cost of London Fire Brigade exiting the Babcock training contract. These include costs associated with Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) (TUPE) regulations, redundancy and property, some of which would be dependent on negotiation with Babcock. Recent work has established that the contract terms provide for 6 months’ profit to be payable on termination – this would need to be assessed at the relevant date. In addition to any loss of profit, the estimated cost of bringing the function in house, including re-providing the 2 training venues, is estimated to be £42 .5m. This figure is dependent on timings and can only be provided as an estimate, as certain transition costs would only become known if termination was enacted.
Extra places for incident command training (1)
Question No: 2020/0569
Andrew Dismore
How many places for incident command training has LFB needed to purchase from other training providers owing to lack of capacity from Babcock?
Answer for Extra places for incident command training (1)
The Mayor
Last updated: 27 February, 2020
Officers are drafting a response
Extra places for incident command training (1)
The Mayor
Last updated: 16 March, 2020
London Fire Brigade has purchased 304 places from other training providers due to a lack of capacity from Babcock. The training began on 11 November 2019 and the last class will finish on 27 March 2020.
Extra places for incident command training (3)
Question No: 2020/0571
Andrew Dismore
By when will Babcock have sufficient capacity to train all the officers required to undergo incident commander training?
Answer for Extra places for incident command training (3)
The Mayor
Last updated: 27 February, 2020
Officers are drafting a response
Extra places for incident command training (3)
The Mayor
Last updated: 16 March, 2020
London Fire Brigade has purchased 304 places from other training providers due to a lack of capacity from Babcock. The training began on 11 November 2019 and the last class will finish on 27 March 2020. Babcock’s capacity to deliver, going forward, is being explored as part of ongoing discussions.
Extra places for incident command training (5)
Question No: 2020/0573
Andrew Dismore
What consideration has LFB given to using its apprenticeship levy funds to run incident commander training?
Answer for Extra places for incident command training (5)
The Mayor
Last updated: 27 February, 2020
Officers are drafting a response
Extra places for incident command training (5)
The Mayor
Last updated: 16 March, 2020
The surplus from the London Fire Brigade (LFB) apprenticeship levy is used to support all LFB training. It forms part of the existing training contract budget and is already helping to fund LFB’s incident command training.
Mass evacuation preparation (1)
Question No: 2020/0576
Andrew Dismore
What training have LFB staff had since the Grenfell Tower fire to conduct a mass evacuation in a building that should be under stay put principles?
Answer for Mass evacuation preparation (1)
The Mayor
Last updated: 27 February, 2020
Officers are drafting a response
Mass evacuation preparation (1)
The Mayor
Last updated: 16 March, 2020
All watches were required to complete the training package associated with the ‘Operational News 37’ newsletter, which dealt with PN633 High Rise Firefighting and Fire Survival Guidance (FSG) in buildings that are failing. The majority of senior officers attended a one-day training session in December 2019/January 2020 specifically around the high rise policy, recognising signs and symptoms of building failure and identifying tools to implement a mass rescue and emergency evacuation in failing buildings. The Incident Command Team has conducted a series of 19 exercises while developing the new FSG policy, which is relevant to evacuation strategy.
Mass evacuation preparation (2)
Question No: 2020/0577
Andrew Dismore
When will the Brigade’s revised policy note 633 be published?
Answer for Mass evacuation preparation (2)
The Mayor
Last updated: 27 February, 2020
Officers are drafting a response
Mass evacuation preparation (2)
The Mayor
Last updated: 16 March, 2020
Following the Grenfell Tower fire, London Fire Brigade reviewed and made changes to Policy Number 633 (PN633) High Rise Firefighting. This document sets out the procedures firefighters should follow when responding to a fire in a high-rise building. The new PN633 covers operational tactics for use in exceptional circumstances when a building is not behaving as designed in order to provide the greatest possibility of reaching all parts of the building for the purpose of emergency evacuation of residents. The London Fire Commissioner approved the revised policy on 12 February and London Fire Brigade plans to implement the revised policy from 31 July 2020, following the procurement and proof of concept exercises, and the completion of a robust training programme being delivered to all station based officers. So far 225 senior officers have received an initial awareness briefing prior to the station based officer training roll out. This policy will remain under review until such time as National guidance, changes to legislation and subsequent remediation work has been undertaken.
Mass evacuation preparation (3)
Question No: 2020/0578
Andrew Dismore
When will the Brigade’s revised policy note 790 be published?
Answer for Mass evacuation preparation (3)
The Mayor
Last updated: 27 February, 2020
Officers are drafting a response
Mass evacuation preparation (3)
The Mayor
Last updated: 16 March, 2020
The revised policy for Fire Survival Guidance (FSG) is currently undergoing peer review and engagement with key stakeholders. A programme of testing and exercising has been undertaken to finalise a new and enhanced procedure that allows firefighters to deal with multiple FSG calls more effectively. This, in turn, will meet one of the key recommendations from the Public Inquiry into the Grenfell Tower fire Phase 1 report in relation to the passing of two-way information between the incident ground and Control. It is expected that formal consultation on the policy will begin in mid-March and the policy will be implemented following the rollout of suitable training in Q2 2020/21.
Mass evacuation preparation (3)
The Mayor
Last updated: 28 February, 2020
The revised policy for Fire Survival Guidance (FSG) is currently undergoing peer review and engagement with key stakeholders. A programme of testing and exercising has been undertaken to finalise a new and enhanced procedure that allows firefighters to deal with multiple FSG calls more effectively. This, in turn, will meet one of the key recommendations from the Public Inquiry into the Grenfell Tower fire Phase 1 report in relation to the passing of two-way information between the incident ground and Control. It is expected that formal consultation on the policy will begin in mid-March and the policy will be implemented following the rollout of suitable training in Q2 2020/21.
Enabling the Grenfell Tower Inquiry and HMICFRS report recommendations
Question No: 2020/0586
Andrew Dismore
How will the £7.7m increase in London Fire Brigade’s budget help implement the recommendations of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry phase one report, and the Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) report, both of which set out urgent and wide-ranging reforms?
Answer for Enabling the Grenfell Tower Inquiry and HMICFRS report recommendations
The Mayor
Last updated: 27 February, 2020
Officers are drafting a response
Enabling the Grenfell Tower Inquiry and HMICFRS report recommendations
The Mayor
Last updated: 16 March, 2020
The LFC is committed to addressing the Grenfell and HMICFRS recommendations and has prepared a transformation delivery plan to support this. The LFC’s final budget 2020/21 will include resource to meet the cost of the transformation delivery plan in the first two years, including funding for a Transformation Director, increased internal and external assurance, and additional training, systems development and counselling and well-being services. The plan will also support identifying how the Brigade will seek to deliver efficiencies in later years.
