Memorandum by Lancashire Combined Fire
Authority (FRS 05)
1. REGIONAL CONTROLS
AND FIRELINK
Lancashire Combined Fire Authority acknowledges
that there is a clear requirement within the National Framework
to deliver the transition to Regional Control Centres. There are
genuine concerns over several aspects of the project detailed
below. The Authority believe that improving clarity in these areas
would improve the potential to work with Government to secure
the promised improvements to service delivery. These areas are:
Costs
There is a clear need to demonstrate that this
project represents value for money for the people in Lancashire.
The business case has so far been based nationally, with indications
that the larger existing control centres predominating in the
North West will be advantaged less. Lancashire Combined Fire Authority
would benefit from clarity and reassurance on when it will be
provided with evidence that efficiency savings will offset the
resources and time committed to the project since inception. There
are indications that additional costs incurred will only be covered
by "new burdens" once they have been offset against
any benefits that may be accrued. If this were to be the case,
surely these benefits cannot then be used to justify the viability
of the Project.
Human resources
The Authority believes in a high level of commitment
to its staff and recognises the continuing high level of service
and professionalism demonstrated by them during a period of great
uncertainty. The National Project has been slow to determine several
key issues to allow progress with the Human Resources issues essential
to support our staff through this difficult transition. The Authority
would urge further progress on selection, terms and conditions,
pay, relocation expenses and redundancy. It is recognised that
many of these issues are linked to the new governance model for
regional control centres.
Timescales/quality control
There have been several examples of slippage
in the project so far. It is difficult to reassure the public
and staff that the proposed improvements to efficiency and effectiveness
will be delivered when delays have been a feature of the FiReControl
Project to date. The project would benefit from being more explicit
on the guaranteed improvements that will be delivered and guarantees
that these will not be sacrificed if the project faces financial
pressures as it approaches completion. The project would also
benefit from ensuring that robust commissioning testing arrangements
for the technical solutions are put in place given the crucial
role of mobilising in service delivery.
Firelink
Lancashire Combined Fire Authority is one of
only two Fire and Rescue Services already using the same infrastructure
that is being proposed by Firelink. As our provider is now the
Firelink preferred supplier, the Authority is in a unique position
to continue to support the National Project. With matured voice
and data capability now working effectively, the Authority's main
concern is that our market leading technology may be temporarily
lost due to inflexible implementation arrangements. It would be
helpful if the national project would provide reassurances that
this change will not provide a poorer service than that which
is currently in place and that transition arrangements will be
flexible enough to recognise our unique position.
2. FIRE AND
RESCUE SERVICE
REFORM
Diversity
Lancashire Combined Fire Authority has fully
embraced the Fire and Rescue Service reform agenda and has, by
way of its Integrated Risk Management Planning process, placed
significant additional resources into its prevention and protection
services, facilitated by the release of resources from its emergency
response service. To assist in the above process, whilst minimising
disruption to existing staff, the Authority has had and still
has in place a freeze on the recruitment of wholetime operational
firefighters. The effect of this is that the Authority has been
unable to make any real impact with respect to increasing diversity
among its operational workforce. It is worth noting, however,
that in increasing its prevention and protection capability through
the employment of non-operational uniformed Community Fire Safety
advocates, the Authority has successfully recruited a significant
number of staff from under-represented groups, ie women and black
and minority ethnic community members.
In light of the above, the Authority believes
that the current diversity targets should not be restricted to
uniformed operational staff but should be expanded to include
all uniformed staff engaged in service delivery, whether those
staff fulfil an operational role or not.
Institutional reform
The Authority notes the Government's current
position regarding progress in the area of institutional reform.
With regard to national consultation and negotiation arrangements
(as outlined in the 2003 Pay and Conditions Agreement), however,
the Authority wishes to urge the Government to set a final date
for new arrangements to be in place, following which it is the
Authority's view that the Government should impose a solution,
if no negotiated outcome is forthcoming.
3. WORKING WITH
OTHER EMERGENCY
SERVICES
With regard to joint working with other emergency
services, the Authority prides itself on the effectiveness of
those arrangements in Lancashire. Within a regional context, Lancashire
Combined Fire Authority has been a proactive and committed partner
in the North West Fire and Rescue Management Board which, it believes,
has progressed effectively regional collaborative issues as outlined
in the National Fire and Rescue Service Framework.
Whilst the Authority notes the Government's
recent statement regarding Fire and Rescue Services in a regional
context, the Authority is aware of on-going consultation in relation
to the restructuring of other emergency services. The Authority
therefore requests that the Government provides further clarity
as to how those other restructures will impact on Fire and Rescue
Services.
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