Mid and West Wales Fire Authority - Fire Authority Meeting - 30/10/06

2007 UNITED STATES/UNITED KINGDOM FIRE SYMPOSIUM

Summary

The US/UK Fire Symposium is an annual event that takes places alternately in the United States and in the United Kingdom. The event brings together Chief Fire Officers and Senior Managers from both countries to discuss and debate mattes of common interest and to exchange experience. In recent years this has involved sharing the lessons of events such as the Twin Towers incident and the London bombings of 2005, as well as horizon scanning the challenges of the future.

It is intended that the 2007 event will take place in Mid and West Wales, and this marks the first occasion on which the Symposium has taken place in Wales. The event is deliberately designed on a relatively small scale to allow a full exchange of views amongst the participants.

Provisional arrangements are in hand for the event to take place in Swansea from Sunday, 1 April to Tuesday, 3 April 2007. As the host Service, there is the opportunity for both contributing to the programme and agenda, and for members of the Service to gain significant exposure to the skills and experience of a wide range of visiting senior Officers.

Implications

OPERATIONAL RISK

Opportunities for positive learning in both areas

COMMUNITY RISK

TRAINING

Positive advantage to those contributing and/or participating

H.R

Nil

FINANCE

Small contribution by the Authority; mostly in kind

I.T/COMMS

Nil

EQUALITY & DIVERSITY

Increased mutual understanding with our US colleagues

HEALTH & SAFETY

Nil

LEGAL

Nil

RecommendationS

That the Authority offers a warm welcome to the 2007 US/UK Symposium to the Mid and West Wales Fire & Rescue area, and that the Authority hosts a welcome reception for the delegates.

That the Chief Fire Officer be authorised to provide local logistical and administrative support to the event as necessary.

That the outcomes of the Symposium be reported to the Authority subsequent to the event.

Background Papers Used in Preparation of this Report

US/UK Fire Symposium documents and files

Report Author and Designation	Chief Fire Officer
Telephone number/Extension	4401