"We know there is more to do": admitted Fire Safety Minister Chris Leslie MP to delegates in his address to the annual LGA Fire Conference. He placed much emphasis on the Bain review and its recommendations, looking forward to implementing them, while insisting that Government "is playing its part" in the New Dimension work against terrorism - Conference Review

Mr Leslie began by focussing on the industrial dispute, characterising the FBU's 40 per cent pay claim as "unreasonable", he urged firefighters to accept the current 'final' offer on the table, describing it as "a good deal for the firefighters ... It's a good deal for the public, because it would pave the way for a more effective Fire Service. And it's good for employers and managers, because it will allow them to get on and make the improvements we all want." Mr Leslie was keen to use the current situation well, asserting that: "I believe that when in a few years time people look back at this period, the dispute will not be the story, it will just be the beginning of the story."

NEGLECT

He was however, quick to acknowledge the neglect of the Service by Government: "As Sir George Bain said, this and previous administrations have not given the Fire Service the attention it deserved. And I am sure that you would acknowledge that it has not received the attention it deserved at a local level either." The latter part of this statement was met with hostility by more than one local councillor, which was hardly surprising as some fire authority members among the delegates have dedicated more than a decade of their professional lives to the Fire Service.

REFORM

Mr Leslie pointed to the repeal of Section 19 as evidence that Government had already begun implementing reform, and urged councillors to participate: "Fire authorities should be engaging local communities right now in a debate about how we can provide the service when and where it is needed." He went further, asserting that: "we need to look at joint control rooms, to explore the opportunities of collaboration between fire authorities or with partners in other emergency services. And we need to ensure that our procurement processes provide the best equipment for our firefighters and the best value for money for taxpayers."

The focus on joint control rooms might be appropriate for areas such as the Isle of Man, where the scale of the brigade's area lends itself to amalgamation with the police and ambulance services' control rooms. However, Mr Leslie made no mention of the 2001 Mott MacDonald independent report The Future of Fire Service Control Rooms and Communications in England and Wales, which categorically states: 'When considering the feasibility of the options and the barriers to implementation, it has become clear that the integration of services would not be viable. In addition, the concept of shared control room facilities will fail to deliver any cost savings to the Fire Service'.

The Conservative Shadow Fire Minister Mr Phillip Hammond MP pointed to the apparent contradiction between Deputy Prime Minister Prescott's repeal of Section 19 to devolve power to the regions, and Mr Prescott's proposed Fire Service Bill, which would give him power not only to impose a pay and conditions settlement on the Fire Service, but also direct Fire Service assets.

On the subject of the Fire Service Bill, Mr Hammond acknowledged its use in imposing a settlement, but questioned its usefulness in "making it stick" as the Bill contains no ban on strike action. He continued to strongly put the case for banning the right to strike in the Service, comparing it to the military and police in terms of it being "essential to safety and order". He also offered a worst case scenario of "a string of local strikes" during the implementation of risk based emergency cover, unless Government takes the lead in establishing public confidence in the system.

The Liberal Democrat Shadow Fire Minister, Mr Edward Davey MP said that his party would not support the Fire Service Bill, as they "cannot believe it is right to impose a settlement, as it will not result in better resource allocation if it is dictated by the ODPM, and above all, it is a recipe for bitter industrial relations in future years." He was clear that the Liberals would call for legislation to require a secret postal ballot in the FBU on the most recent pay offer.

Mr Hammond, however, offered his party's support for the risk based emergency cover model, although with the reservation that it should focus on genuine risk based cover and does not become a "way to fulfill Government spending cuts".

FUNDING

One of the key points highlighted by Mr Hammond was his hope that the funding of the Fire Service would be based on integrated fire risk management, and would reflect the differing levels of savings available to each brigade. This point struck a chord with several councillors, concerned that the savings to pay for the wage increase--which are supposed to come from savings within the redistribution of emergency cover--may not cover the wage increase in some areas, particularly rural areas.

Asked by Cllr Richard Hobbs, Warwickshire Fire Authority: "Will you press Government for more funding for modernisation in the Fire Service as it might bring costs rather than savings?" Mr Hammond replied that he had already spoken to Mr Raynsford at length about this, and that while metropolitan brigades could expect savings from modernisation, rural brigades will have less scope for savings through the risk based provision of fire cover. Indeed, since conference Mr Hammond has questioned Mr Raynsford on this point in the Commons, who replied: "The ODPM is aware that the costs and savings incurred as a result of modernisation of the Fire Service will have a varying impact on individual fire authorities. The ODPM will work with the relevant stakeholders to establish a clearer understanding of these effects. It will be considered whether and how the results of this work needs to be reflected in due course."

However, there will still be a wage increase to pay, regardless of savings made. Mr Hammond expressed concern that: "Transitional funding will not cover long term pay increases in rural areas, so funding distribution must be looked at."

Mr Davey recognised that many fire authorities have already made savings through modernisation, asking: "If your fire authority has already implemented many of the changes in modernisation where are you going to find the savings for the pay deal?"

Praising Government ministers for their conduct during the dispute, Mr Davey estimated that the Bain recommendations "will take four to five years to implement, even if it is done at breakneck speed". He also echoed Mr Hammond's concerns about the inequality of savings through modernisation not being recognised, saying: "it is unrealistic to expect each fire authority to make the same savings" praising rural fire brigades for their modernisation to date. He went further, asking if "Government has confused its strategy towards the FBU with, dare I say it, its strategy towards the employers, using the 'there is no more money available line'."

Cllr Rosemary Walker, Avon Fire Authority asked if Mr Davey believed fire authorities will have to make staffing cuts as a result of Bain, and opined that: "The Employers should have opted for a 'no strings settlement' initially as the current dispute has cost more than that already". Mr Davey replied that a no strings settlement was not the answer as "the modernisation opportunity could not be passed by" and admitted that "it is likely that there will be less firefighters in a few years time as a result of Bain, but that will be achieved through natural wastage."

NEW DIMENSION

Moving on to the Service's role in dealing with terrorist attacks, Mr Leslie thanked delegates for the "vital part" they played, and was keen to stress that "Government is playing its part too--for example providing 56m [pounds sterling] for mass decontamination equipment."

The satellite seminar 'The Terrorist Threat' involving key figures from the New Dimension Group such as Terry Johns, Alan Doig, Ron Dobson and Brian Sweeney, painted a different, more worrying picture of the UK's preparedness for response to a major terrorist incident. The speakers and delegates to the seminar were concerned at the lack of funding for search and rescue roles, the lack of protocols for decontaminating buildings, and the time slippage in actually realising Fire Service preparedness for the mass decontamination role. CFO Alan Doig admitted: "We're not where we want to be ... there is to date no funding for search and rescue." Mr Doig went further, confiding in delegates his "regret" at having entered into the bidding process to secure funding for the search and rescue role, saying: "It should not be an option not to address the risk identified by the Fire Service."

While the speakers were happy to report that the mass decontamination equipment had been purchased, and while the vehicles would take a further six to 18 months to roll out, the PPE and other kit is ready to be rolled out. However, there were reports of both mass decontamination training and search and rescue training being blocked by the FBU, a move descried by CFO Doig: "This should not be allowed to change into a pay-bargaining issue." Nevertheless, video and CD Rom training packages have been prepared for mass decontamination training, and Brian Sweeney estimated that with the package ready to be delivered "there shouldn't be much delay in getting the kit and capability to use it onto the street."

HMI Terry Johns was keen to stress that the mass decontamination equipment was not just to be mothballed, but that kit such as gas tight suits would be on the run, available for use by firefighters at everyday hazmat incidents.

In response to a West Yorkshire delegate's assertion that "public fear and dissatisfaction needs to be allayed by information and openness" HMI Johns expressed that: "The ODPM press office has stopped the dissemination of information, including the good news story of the New Dimension Group's achievements." He was quick, however, to note an anticipated press announcement of progress to date due in early April. No announcement had been made at the time of going to press.

Mr Hammond called for the Government to urgently address the FBU's block on mass decontamination training which has stopped the delivery of mass decontamination equipment to stations.

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