Fire Service : Consultation Paper on LGA Member Arrangements

SUMMARY:

Attached at Appendix 1 is an LGA Fire Service Consultation Paper on Member Arrangements. Members will be aware that since the 1 August new arrangements have been introduced by the LGA to improve the way in which the Association deals with all policy matters. A new system of Boards has been introduced to replace the 19 executives to take matters forward. Fire now falls within the remit of the Safer Communities Board. The purpose of the attached paper is to examine present member arrangements for addressing specific fire service issues within the LGA and comments on the proposals are invited by the 19 November 2004. Members of the Resources Committee might wish to consider the following points as the basis of a response to the paper:

The Authority welcomes the Consultation Paper and the opportunity to comment on the new arrangements. It would wish to broadly give its support to the recommendations noted under point 19 of the consultation paper and would wish to make the following points in addition:

This Authority would very much wish to ensure the continued existence of the Fire Forum which has proved to be a particularly effective body in the past by bringing all Fire Authorities together to discuss matters of common interest and to identify issues that need to be developed and carried forward within the Fire and Rescue Service. It should continue to meet at least on a quarterly basis with consideration given to meeting on a six weekly basis given the work to be undertaken within the service in progressing the modernisation agenda.

In view of the fact that the Forum has proved to be an effective and enthusiastic body it is also important that the Fire Forum retains its name as a distinct body as it is a structure with which Fire Authorities can clearly identify and provides an element of continuity within the new Member arrangements at the LGA.

Whilst the Consultation Papers clearly sets out the linkages between each of the different bodies the LGA might wish to consider the possibility of enhancing the Fire Modernisation Task Group which could potentially bridge the work of the Fire Forum and the Safer Communities Board. Such a group would maintain a sense of ownership within the Fire Forum of the fire agenda whilst also enabling the Safer Communities Board to take the agenda forward within the context of the multi-stranded policy issues. An enhanced all party Fire Modernisation Task Group would also ensure that the right issues were being taken forward by the Safer Communities Board. Such a group would also provide Member continuity in Fire and Rescue Service expertise and could provide a source of support to the Safer Communities Board in meeting, for example, with Government Ministers when appropriate.

Members might also wish to note that the above should be considered within the broader context of the Authority’s developing relationship with the Welsh Local Government Association.

IMPLICATIONS: