Issue - meetings

Forward Plan Ref: 2016/022

Contact: Simon Furlong, Assistant Chief Fire Officer Tel: (01865) 855206

Report by Chief Fire Officer (CMDDL4).

There is a requirement for central government and the three emergency services to go to the open market for the procurement of a communication system that enables Fire, Police and Ambulance to communicate at operational incidents and to share data in a safe and secure manner. A national programme led by the Home Office has developed a programme for the development and procurement of a new communication system which will be provided prior to the loss of the existing contract and airwave band in 2020. This report and the Annex 1 sets out the predicted costs for Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service and seeks a decision from the Deputy Leader to authorise the Chief Fire Officer to sign up to the programme on behalf of Oxfordshire County Council  Fire and Rescue Service.

The Deputy Leader of the Council is RECOMMENDED to:

(a)          support the Chief Fire Officer’s decision to participate in the Emergency Services Mobile Communication Programme subject to:

(1)          all cutover criteria being met by the programme;

(2)          full breakdown of current and future charging mechanism being provided prior to transition;

(3)          clarity of contract provision based on a “like for like” basis;

(4)          costs not transferred to the FRS prior to sign-off of cutover criteria;

(b)          require the Chief Fire Officer to report to the Cabinet Member for Fire and Rescue should the above criteria  (1-4) not be met.

to:

(a)            support the Chief Fire Officer’s decision to participate in the Emergency Services Mobile Communication Programme subject to:

(1)            all cutover criteria being met by the programme;

(2)            full breakdown of current and future charging mechanism being provided prior to transition;

(3)            clarity of contract provision based on a “like for like” basis;

(4)            costs not transferred to the FRS prior to sign-off of cutover criteria;

(b)            require the Chief Fire Officer to report to the Cabinet Member for Fire and Rescue should the above criteria  (1-4) not be met.