Issue - meetings

Cabinet Member: Safer & Stronger Communities

Forward Plan Ref: 2011/052

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

Report by Deputy Chief Fire Officer (CA11).

On the 21^st December 2010 following 7 years of work on “FiReControl,” the mandatory government project to regionalise Fire and Rescue Service call receipt, mobilising and incident management arrangements, the government announced its cancellation. 

Oxfordshire’s Control Room had throughout this time remained resilient, with County Council funded essential maintenance and selective upgrading and continued management support to staff who were facing future employment uncertainty.  However, due to the previous project, which would have made the existing facility redundant, medium and long term development of the existing arrangements had not been undertaken.  As a result of the government cancellation of the project, whilst current arrangements remain resilient, there is an urgent need to review options for medium and longer term arrangements.

A government consultation regarding potential future approaches and financial and technical details has been released and Oxfordshire have responded.  The government response to the consultation is awaited.

A set of Oxfordshire requirements for a medium to long term approach has been identified.  In addition a set of options for future arrangements has been drafted. 

In response to an approach from Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service, a joint scoping study with other Thames Valley Fire and Rescue Services is being undertaken.  This is examining a range of options which will be measured against the above Oxfordshire requirements.

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to:-

(a)              endorse the progression of the collaborative scoping study and creation of the Strategic Outline Business Case being undertaken by Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Royal Berkshire FRSs

(b)       approve the above list (para 18) of Oxfordshire requirements as benchmarks against which future options will be assessed

(c)       approve the list of options (para 20)  included within the options appraisal

(d)              require the CFO to instigate appropriate actions in relation to the asset management and capital strategy dependant on the outcomes of the scoping study

(e)              require the CFO to report back to the Cabinet Member on a regular basis covering:-

a.                  the CLG consultation response

b.                 progress on the scoping study and strategic outline business case

c.                  progress on other third party activities

Cabinet considered a report setting out proposals for future arrangements following the cancellation of the government project to regionalise Fire and Rescue Service call receipt, mobilising and incident management arrangements.

Rachel Dodson spoke in support of the retention of the current control centre arrangements. The control centre was a first point of contact for callers who were often distressed. All their skills were utilised to make an appropriate response and local knowledge was a vital part of that. They gave life saving fire survival guidance and were a part of the fire and rescue service team with a vital role to play. She explained the other duties undertaken and that they were open to the idea of increased duties but would not wish to see their operationality threatened. The partnership proposals could bring risks.

Responding to a question from the Deputy Leader Ms Dodson stated that it was not impossible that they could take over services in other areas but that ran the risk of diluting the service provided.

The Chief Fire Officer in introducing the report paid tribute to Councillors Rose and Heathcoat who had refused to sign a lease on the building for the Regional Project that had since been scrapped. This had saved the Council from being tied into a 25 year lease. He stated that the last few years had been challenging and commended the professionalism of staff that had meant that the ability to take calls and mobilise resources had not been diminished.

The Cabinet Member for Safer & Community Services added her thanks to that of the Chief Fire Officer to control room staff. She noted that Oxfordshire’s Control Room had remained resilient thanks to Colin Thomas and the staff. However there was a risk to that resilience due to the IT system that was probably serviceable until 2014.

RESOLVED:                        to:-

(a)               endorse the progression of the collaborative scoping study and creation of the Strategic Outline Business Case being undertaken by Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Royal Berkshire FRSs

(b)       approve the above list (paragraph 18) of Oxfordshire requirements as benchmarks against which future options will be assessed

(c)        approve the list of options (paragraph 20)  included within the options appraisal

(d)               require the Chief Fire Officer to instigate appropriate actions in relation to the asset management and capital strategy dependant on the outcomes of the scoping study

(e)               require the Chief Fire Officer to report back to the Cabinet Member for Safer & Stronger Communities on a regular basis covering:-

a.                  the CLG consultation response

b.                  progress on the scoping study and strategic outline business case

c.                  progress on other third party activities.