OXFORDSHIRE’S Chief Fire Officer, John Parry, has given his view on the disagreement between the Government and the Fire Brigades Union on the controversial subject of fire and rescue service control rooms.
Yesterday the Fire Brigades Union’s concerns over the risks and benefits of the project were widely publiced nationally.
The minister responsible, Nick Raynsford, responded saying: ?The Fire Control programme will provide a more effective and efficient service that will protect the public better and save more lives.?
He added that Fire and Rescue authorities’ own estimates of their control room costs over the next few years, show that regional control centres will achieve, on average, a saving of some 30% over existing arrangements.
John Parry believes there is a valid issue regarding the capability of single brigades to respond adequately to a large-scale incident such as a terrorist attack.
He believes there is valid concern therefore about the ability of existing control rooms to be able to respond at the right level of magnitude and for a sustained period and this project, if enacted successfully, could be one way of responding to such periods of exceptional need.
He said: ?There are other concerns including the overall cost-effectiveness of a new regional control centre and in the consequent level of service provided in responding to emergency incidents.
?Whilst nationally the project could result in an overall reduction in expenditure, I am concerned that Oxfordshire, as one of the most cost-efficient services, will not benefit and that future costs could be higher for Council Tax payers locally.?
Chief Fire Officer Parry said the Service’s main priorities currently are to:
1. Ensure that current professional standards, high performance to the public and ongoing low costs are maintained
2. Support and retain staff while providing opportunities to broaden skills and consider potential redeployment opportunities
3. Contribute to national and regional projects, ensuring the financial, functionality and performance interests of Oxfordshire are fully considered
4. Plan for transitional arrangements, including the effects on other aspects of local service delivery, e.g. requirements of standardisation of systems and procedures
5. Continue to report fully to the County Council, other stakeholders and the public.
On November 2,Oxfordshire County Council unanimously passed a motion opposing the plans of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) to replace the current system of 49 county-based fire control rooms with one based in each of the 9 regions, until all issues have been satisfactorily resolved.
The motion asked the Leader of the Council to express to the ODPM the Council’s lack of confidence in the ability of the proposed new system to improve efficiency in the Fire Service, and its belief that the change will have an adverse effect on quality of service -particularly response times – to the detriment of the people of Oxfordshire.
County Councillor John Farrow, Executive Member for Community Safety said: ?We will ensure that the best interests of Oxfordshire are continually brought to the fore to ensure any future system is robust, efficient, cost-effective and delivers a high quality service to the public.?
Leave a Reply