Supplementary memorandum by the Fire Brigades
Union (FBU) (FRS 63(m))
OUTLINE BUSINESS CASE OF THE FIRE CONTROL
PROJECT
I refer to the uncorrected evidence in relation
to the contents of the Outline Business Case of the FireControl
project. The relevant exchange is as follows:
Q32 Mr Betts: Why did the FBU in its evidence
to us say that the outline business case identified "a high
risk of total project failure"?
Mr Evans: I am not responding to what the FBU
said in their submission.
Q33 Mr Betis: I am asking you to, I think
that is reasonable.
Mr Evans: Of course it is reasonable, but as
I said—
Q34 Mr Betts: The FBU have said that is
what is in the outline business case, "a high risk of total
project failure". Are you saying they are wrong?
Mr Evans: I do not think there is a high risk
of business failure as the FBU put in their business case. They
made a number of statements about Government IT projects which
I think were not necessarily accurate. [our emphasis] Where there
is a challenge, which I would agree with them, is in delivering
business change within the Fire and Rescue Service, which is the
big challenge of this project as well as the IT.
Ms Winckler: There was a section of the business
case which discussed projects in general and that paragraph referred
to high risk of total project failure, not in relation to this
specific project but in a discussion of projects in general and
it was taken as though that applied to the whole business case
but it did not, it was taken just from that paragraph which was
a general discussion of projects as a whole. [our emphasis]
The ODPM Civil Servants appear to be contesting
a very important part of the evidence. While we do not suggest
the Committee is being deliberately misled as to what the Outline
Business Case said with regards to risk, the effect may be that
you are left with entirely the wrong impression.
I attach pages 51,52 and 53 of the Outline Business
Case in order to clear up any wrong impression which may have
inadvertently been given by ODPM Civil Servants on this important
issue and also that you may be aware of the facts.
At page 51 the OBC refers to "Project Risks"
and at paragraph 140 "Appendix F FireControl Risks . . .
the results are summarized as the following risk profile."
This is summarized in the chart at the top of
page 52 which lists 1 area assessed as high risk/very high impact
and four areas as high risk/high impact.
Paragraph 141 on page 52 refers explicitly with
the high risk/high impact of "unsuccessful delivery of the
infrastructure and change components of regional controls".
Paragraph 142 on page 53— "the new RCCs" also
explicitly refers to regional controls.
In our view it is clear and certain the risk
profile is FireControl Project specific and not some general discussion
of risk run by all projects. We are also clear our evidence in
relation to this point is entirely accurate and fair.
Matt Wrack
General Secretary
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