Agenda item

To consider a report

Temporary Area Commander J Pekszyc, Head of Strategic Support and Asset Management, presented Members with an update on the Home Office response to the White Paper consultation on ‘Reforming our Fire & Rescue Service’.

The White Paper covered three strands: people, professionalism and governance. The original consultation paper had been published on 18 May 2022, and received 290 responses. In addition to this, representatives from 32 different fire and rescue services had taken part in online workshops on professionalism facilitated by the Home Office.

In relation to people, the White Paper supported direct entry opportunities and the Home Office would work with the National Fire Chiefs Council to develop pilot schemes. It was hoped to give more power to Chief Fire Officers to make local level decisions about staffing and to engage in a review with all parties on the NJC pay negotiation machinery.

Proposals on the professionalism strand included in the White Paper included the creation of a College of Fire and Rescue, based on the College of Policing model, and the introduction of a Fire and Rescue Service Code of Ethics. These had both been supported by respondents to the consultation.

In terms of governance, the Government had expressed a commitment to supporting the introduction of a single point of accountability for fire and rescue services, be that through a directed elected Mayor or a Police and Crime Commissioner where co-terminosity allowed. This would not be mandated, but the process was being simplified and voluntary transfers would be encouraged.

The operational independence of Chief Fire Officers would also be supported.

The Temporary Area Commander reported that several proposals that had been included in the original consultation document would not now be progressed, including the introduction of a fire and rescue services oath, ring-fencing of operational budgets within fire and rescue services run by county and unitary councils and Chief Fire Officers having corporation sole status.

Whilst it was noted that the current Police and Crime Commissioner for Bedfordshire had not expressed a desire to assume responsibility for the fire and rescue service, there were both PCC elections in May 2024 and a General Election due by the end of the year, so the situation could change.

Cllr Coombes arrived 10:41

The Chair and other Members expressed concerns about the governance proposals in the White Paper, with the Chair expressing the view that these were disrespectful to fire and rescue authorities, who appeared to have no say in whether a transfer of responsibility for fire and rescue services took place. Members also expressed the view that the current governance arrangements relating to the Police Service were inferior and that holding operational leaders to account was a crucial public safeguard.

The transparency and openness in which Service Officers presented Members with information was in direct contrast to the lack of transparency displayed by the Police and Crime Commissioner and his office[GB1] [NU2] .

RESOLVED:

That the contents of the report be noted.