Foreword

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Welcome to the Royal Berkshire Fire Authority’s Corporate Plan 2023 – 2027, which includes our Community Risk Management Plan (CRMP). We are very pleased to be jointly introducing this important document, which sets out, in strategic terms, the aims and objectives of what Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service (RBFRS) intends to achieve over the next four years.

This plan explains how we evaluate risk in the community and make decisions about how best to allocate our resources. This enables us to reduce risk to the community, work effectively with our partners and ensures we remain a professional, well-trained and diverse Service. A Service that is dedicated to reducing harm, saving lives and protecting all communities within the Royal County of Berkshire.

Through the collective effort of our staff, we have overcome many challenges within Berkshire over the past years, including our response to adverse weather conditions and other major incidents. As we look ahead to the next four years, we are preparing to meet similar challenges, in addition to managing the difficult economic circumstances the Service faces.

The years ahead are likely to be some of the most challenging we have faced, which is why we are focussed on working ever closer with our local communities, businesses and partner agencies to deliver a first-rate service.

Of course, this would not be possible if it were not for the most important asset we have at our disposal – our people. We are committed to being an employer that all communities want to work for and will endeavour to invest in, recruit and retain staff to meet the future demands upon our service. We are proud of the work that our staff deliver and we will continue to challenge ourselves to be the best that we can be.

With a sustained ‘oneteam’ culture, we will face these challenging times together, while delivering on our goals, and meeting the high-standards that the community expects.

Our Corporate Plan and CRMP clearly sets out what our priorities are for protecting Berkshire. It explains, not only the importance of our work, but also why we need to do it and how we intend to achieve it. The plan will also set out how we intend to measure our effectiveness in meeting our objectives and evaluate our success.

We welcome your feedback, and your views on how you, as a valued member of our community, can be best served by your fire and rescue service. We manage community risk and we need your help to shape our future.

Councillor Paul Gittings
Chair
Royal Berkshire Fire Authority

Wayne Bowcock
Chief Fire Officer and Chief Executive,
Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service