Issue - meetings

Cabinet Member: Safer & Stronger Communities

Forward Plan Ref: 2011/016

Contact: Colin Thomas, Deputy Chief Fire Officer Tel: (01865) 855206

Report by Deputy Chief Fire Officer (CA9).

Following the termination of the Department for Communities and Local Government national FiReControl project, Cabinet approved Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service joint working with Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes and Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Authorities to create a Strategic Outline (business) Case for the provision of their collective Fire Control functions.  This was intended to examine the feasibility of the creation of a joint "999" call receipt and mobilising and incident management function for Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service and its partners.

This work has been concluded and the resulting Strategic Outline Case demonstrates that a joint Thames Valley facility could secure early improvements to resilience and allow for the implementation of a fully modernised approach to the Control Room function.  In addition, whilst the details are still to be confirmed, overall the programme is expected to be delivered within grant funding provided by the Department for Communities and Local Government which has been identified as available to secure increased levels of resilience.  Overall service to the public will be at least as good if not better than current levels.

This approach is compared within this report with alternative options to allow the Fire Authority to direct future activities.  A similar approach is being followed in Buckinghamshire and Royal Berkshire who have Fire and Rescue Service Authority meetings on the 28th and 25th September respectively.

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED subject to the approval by Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes and Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Authorities of the further progression of the Joint Thames Valley Approach to:

(a)              endorse the progression of phase 1 of the joint Thames Valley programme (Improved Resilience)

(b)              Approve the necessary expenditure to create the Full Business Case which will be subject to further approval by the Cabinet in February 2012

(c)               Require the CFO to report back to the Cabinet Member for Safer and Stronger Communities on a regular basis concerning:

(1)  progress with the joint DCLG bid for the resilience grant funding

(2)  progress with Thames Valley partnership working arrangements

(3)  progress on the creation of a suitable governance structure

If either Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes or Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Authorities fail to approve the further progression of the Joint Thames Valley Approach Cabinet is RECOMMENDED:                        to:

(d)       require the Chief Fire Officer to instigate appropriate actions to progress an alternative contingency plan, based on options 3 or 4 as identified in paragraph 21 in the report, subject to the approval of the Cabinet Member for Safer & Stronger Communities..

Following the termination of the Department for Communities and Local Government national FiReControl project, Cabinet approved Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service joint working with Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes and Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Authorities to create a Strategic Outline (business) Case for the provision of their collective Fire Control functions.  This work has been concluded and the report set out the results and future options.

Rachel Dobson, Green Watch, Fire Control FBU Brigade Organiser & Control Branch Representative, Oxfordshire Fire & Rescue Service expressed disappointment at the recommendation to proceed with the joint Thames Valley facility. In particular she expressed concern at the resilience if partners pulled out part way through the process and asked that contingency plans be put in place. She urged the retention of the local control rooms with better communication and integration.

During discussion Cabinet congratulated Colin Thomas and the Cabinet Members for Transport and Safer & Stronger Communities on their stance on the FiReControl project which saw Oxfordshire being a beneficiary of the project whilst avoiding the financial penalties of the failed project.

The Cabinet Member for Safer & Stronger Communities proposed an amendment to the recommendations taking into account the possibility that any of the partners might choose not to proceed.

RESOLVED:             subject to the approval by Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes and Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Authorities of the further progression of the Joint Thames Valley Approach to:

(a)               endorse the progression of phase 1 of the joint Thames Valley programme (Improved Resilience)

(b)               Approve the necessary expenditure to create the Full Business Case which will be subject to further approval by the Cabinet in February 2012

(c)               Require the CFO to report back to the Cabinet Member for Safer and Stronger Communities on a regular basis concerning:

(1)   progress with the joint DCLG bid for the resilience grant funding

(2)   progress with Thames Valley partnership working arrangements

(3)   progress on the creation of a suitable governance structure

If either Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes or Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Authorities fail to approve the further progression of the Joint Thames Valley Approach in their Fire and Rescue Authority Meetings on the 28 September 2011 or if due to any parties subsequent choice not to enter into the Thames valley arrangement in February 2012 Cabinet RESOLVED:     to:

(d)       require the Chief Fire Officer to instigate appropriate actions to progress an alternative contingency plan, based on options 3 or 4 as identified in paragraph 21 in the report, subject to the approval of the Cabinet Member for Safer & Stronger Communities.