IPF Independent Review - FireControl Project (Sept 2007)

The FBU has once again commissioned the Institute of Public Finance to undertake an objective and independent review of the latest business case for the FiReControl Project and the report has been sent to ministers, interested parties within the fire service, the FBU parliamentary group of MPs and to FBU members.

The copy of the report to Fire Minister, Parmjit Dhanda MP, was accompanied by a series of questions raised.

The IPF highlights one critical problem with FiReControl set out by the FBU 5 years ago: actual and estimated costs continue to rise while estimated savings continue to fall.

A central concern of the union is that the additional costs of the project will result in extreme pressure to cut frontline fire services to plug the gap. Read more

Out of Control

Frontline fire crews say they have little confidence in the Government’s ability to create a new 999 call system which works well and say the plans should be halted. They say the £1 billion the Government is spending on the system would be better spent on more frontline personnel, training and equipment. In a nation-wide poll of FBU members conducted by YouGov, 95% of firefighters polled said the proposed regional centre would damage the service’s ability to respond to incidents. 90% said it would also hit the safety of firefighters. More Institute of Public Finance Report An Institute of Public Finance (IPF) report says more work is needed on key areas of the draft plan to close all local 46 emergency fire control rooms in England and open 9 regional controls. This includes “revisiting” whether regional controls are the best option, and greater justification for opting for 9 regional control rooms rather than a higher figure. The independent and objective report for the Fire Brigades Union says the levels of savings also needs to be looked at again based on the latest information. The report questions whether the Government plans, known as FireControl, will result in overall savings. Click here for press release or see right for full report    FBU's proposals The Government has rejected the FBU’s alternative proposals for designated “Resilience Controls” utilising the existing control structure. While we reject many of their criticisms, including the claim it would be more expensive, we are pleased to propose another variation. This variation is based on a combination of the union’s own proposals, the Government’s Interim solution and part of the solution proposed under its plans for Regional Control Centres. This variation is very easy to cost, we know the key elements work and that the proposal is easily achievable in a much faster timescale than the Government’s FireControl proposals which are now at least 3 years behind schedule.  Click here for more