Berkshire fire authority back cuts to front line service

Immediate Release – 16th February 2011     Berkshire Fire Authority Management Committee Back Cuts to Fire Service Frontline Resources   The Management Committee of Berkshire’s Fire Authority failed to listen to warnings about the impact of their proposed budget for Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service at a meeting in Reading on Monday night.   The proposed budget will now proceed to a meeting of the full Fire Authority for final approval on Thursday 17th February. If approved Berkshire residents will see:-   • A reduction of the number of fire engines responding to Automatic Fire Alarms. • Delayed response to Low Risk Incidents in rural station areas. • The reduction in the number…

FBU raises concerns over Royal Berkshire Fire Authority budget proposal

FBU raises concerns over Royal Berkshire Fire Authority budget proposals   The proposed budget for Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service will be discussed at the Management Committee meeting of the Fire Authority to be held on Monday 14th February. If approved the budget will proceed to a meeting of the full Fire Authority for final approval on Thursday 17th February. Among the proposals to cut £1,480,000 from the service budget over the next year are:   A reduction of the number of fire engines responding to Automatic Fire Alarms (AFA)- If an AFA call develops into a fire situation the reduced or delayed attendance will limit crews in the actions they can take to…

ALL MEMBERS CIRCULAR BUCKINGHAMSHIRE

CIRCULAR: 2010HOC0658MW 22nd 2010 2010HOC0658MWBucks TO:     ALL MEMBERS BUCKINGHAMSHIRE   Dear Brother/Sister, HEALTH AND SAFETY – ASSISTANCE TO/FROM LONDON FIRE BRIGADE Members will be aware that strike action is due to take place in London as follows: 23rd October 2010 from 10.00 Hrs until 18.00 Hrs 1st November 2010 from 10.00 Hrs until 18.00 Hrs It is understood that London Fire Brigade (LFB) have requested extensive assistance on those dates at the following emergency incidents: 1. Incidents that present a risk to human life that are beyond the capability of the LFB’s contingency arrangements.   2. Significant incidents occur beyond the capabilities of LFB contingency arrangements, which threaten major loss of life, or potential…

ALL MEMBERS CIRCULAR BERKSHIRE

CIRCULAR: 2010HOC0658MW 22nd 2010 2010HOC0658MWBerks TO:     ALL MEMBERS BERKSHIRE   Dear Brother/Sister, HEALTH AND SAFETY – ASSISTANCE TO/FROM LONDON FIRE BRIGADE Members will be aware that strike action is due to take place in London as follows: 23rd October 2010 from 10.00 Hrs until 18.00 Hrs 1st November 2010 from 10.00 Hrs until 18.00 Hrs It is understood that London Fire Brigade (LFB) have requested extensive assistance on those dates at the following emergency incidents: 1. Incidents that present a risk to human life that are beyond the capability of the LFB’s contingency arrangements.   2. Significant incidents occur beyond the capabilities of LFB contingency arrangements, which threaten major loss of life, or potential…

Fire Bridades Union concerned about merger of Isle of Wight Fire Control Centre to Surrey

FIRE BRIGADES UNION IMMEDIATE MEDIA RELEASE: 23rd September 2010 Fire Bridades Union concerned about merger of Isle of Wight Fire Control Centre to Surrey At the Isle of Wight Council Full Council meeting, held on Wednesday 22 September 2010, Councillors voted through plans for an ‘in principle’ decision to move the Island’s emergency 999 Fire Control Centre to Reigate in Surrey. The Fire Brigades Union are deeply concerned that these proposals are hastily being moved forward, to the extent that full public consultation and scrutiny is being pushed aside, with the issue of the Island’s Fire Control not due to return to a Full Council Meeting (rather a delegated decision at a future Cabinet Meeting)…

BERKSHIRE FIRE BRIGADES UNION CONDEMNS MANAGEMENT ANNOUNCEMENT TO OUTSOURCE ITS CONTROL ROOM FUNCTION TO SURREY FIRE AND RESCUE

FIRE BRIGADES UNION BERKSHIRE FIRE BRIGADES UNION CONDEMNS MANAGEMENT ANNOUNCEMENT TO OUTSOURCE ITS CONTROL ROOM FUNCTION TO SURREY FIRE AND RESCUE The Fire Brigades Union has expressed serious concerns over management plans to outsource the control room to Surrey Fire and Rescue Service. The control room based at Dee Road in Reading, houses 35 firefighters (control) working 24/7 split into four shifts. They handle in excess of 10,000 emergency calls per annum, mobilise the appropriate resources to incidents and coordinate all operational activity throughout the County ensuring firefighter and public safety. Laura Fellows the RBFRS Command and Control Branch Representative of the Fire Brigades Union said: “Firefighters and Control members in the Royal Berkshire Fire…

Firefighters’ union condemns broken government pledge on regional control centres

THE FIRE BRIGADES UNION Firefighters’ union condemns broken government pledge on regional control centres The Fire Brigades Union today condemned the decision to renege on the pledge made by both coalition partners that they would scrap the previous government’s plan to create nine big regional control centres. Fire Minister Bob Neill announced yesterday that the government would honour the contracts to companies. It means replacing the present 46 control centres with nine big centres, operating new, complicated and untried technology. “This is a massively expensive way of making Britain less safe, and a shameless abandonment of a clear pledge given before the election by both governing parties” FBU general secretary Matt Wrack said today. “Firefighters…

Fire Brigades Union comment on the budget

Fire Brigades Union comment on the budget FBU general secretary Matt Wrack said: A two year pay freeze for public sector workers, a massive VAT rise and a three year freeze in child benefits, accompanied by cuts in corporation tax, leave little doubt who is to pay for the crisis under Mr Osborne. It is modestly paid public sector workers like firefighters who are being made to pay for the failures of the banking system. We have yet to see how 25% cuts in departmental budgets will be distributed, but the fire and rescue service is likely to be severely hit.  There has been no golden age of huge investment in our service. We have…

Fire Brigades Union starts process of investigating Southampton tragedy

Following the tragic deaths of brothers James Shears and Alan Bannon. FBU Regional Secretary Ricky Matthews said “The Union’s main aim in this process is to uncover the causes so as to prevent reoccurrence of a similar tragedy, and enable the families to understand the events that led to this terrible loss. “The union has begun to draw a team together to assist with tour investigation. This includes drawing in the support of experienced officials from other Fire Brigade Union Regions.  FBU local officials will be involved and all members are asked to cooperate in what will be an extremely difficult process. “A meeting has taken place this morning between senior FBU officials and the…

Pledge to oppose “dangerous” cuts, Firefighters tell Politicians

The Fire Brigades Union is to write to all candidates of leading political parties in Norfolk, asking them to pledge to oppose planned cuts in the Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service. “These cuts will put every citizen in Norfolk at greater risk than at present” says Jamie Wyatt, FBU Secretary, Norfolk.  “They will make 999 response times slower, and they will certainly mean that people will die in fires who could otherwise have been saved, because firefighters and their equipment cannot get there in time.  So any politician who cares about the safety of the people of Norfolk will give us the pledge we are asking for.” The proposed cuts include: The loss of eight…