Statement of Assurance

The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) sets out its high level expectations and requirements for Fire and Rescue Authorities through the Fire and Rescue National Framework. The National Framework is a document that contains a broad range of strategic objectives but does not prescribe operational firefighting matters as these are determined locally by Fire and Rescue Authorities.

In 2012 the National Framework placed a new requirement on all English Fire and Rescue Authorities to produce an annual Statement of Assurance, the framework states:

‘Fire and rescue authorities must provide annual assurance on financial, governance and operational matters and show how they have had due regard to the expectations set out in their integrated risk management plan and the requirements included in the Framework. To provide assurance, fire and rescue authorities must publish an annual Statement of Assurance.

The purpose of this Statement of Assurance is to provide information in an accessible way by which the communities of Bedfordshire, partners and Government can make an informed judgement about Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service and its performance during each financial year.

Annually the Statement of Assurance is subjected to the Authority’s scrutiny arrangements at the December meeting of Audit and Standards Committee and, once agreed, recommended to the Fire Authority for ratification. It is then signed off by the Chair of Audit and Standards Committee, the Chief Fire Officer and Chairman of Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Authority.

Copies of the Statement of Assurance can be found by clicking the link above.