Record spending by Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service on consultancy fees and employment agency payments
The Fire Brigades Union has uncovered that Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service in the first seven months of this year has spent over half a million pounds on consultancy costs and employment agency fees alone. This almost equals the entire amount spent on these services over a four year period, 2005-2009. If BFRS continue at this rate it will result in a total yearly expenditure of nearly one million pounds. At the same time as this massive increase in consultancy costs, senior managers are proposing a number of reviews incorporated within their recently published ‘Public Safety Plan’ that are specifically aimed at reducing front line costs. Should they be approved in September, it will likely…
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…
FBU Letter To Buckinghamshire Members
Dear FBU member, You will have recently received, or imminently be in receipt of, a letter and questionnaire sent to your home address from Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service (BFRS). The letter requests that you indicate your availability to work in the event of industrial action, and identifies four different hypothetical scenarios. The Fire Brigades Union strongly believes that this request is unreasonable, unnecessary and ultimately could greatly undermine our ability to defend imminent attacks on your pay, pension, jobs and conditions of service. Having taken legal advice on this matter please be informed that you are under no obligation to respond to the BFRS letter. BFRS is stating that the information collated will form…
Lease costs for South East Regional Control Centre announced
Lease costs for South East Regional Control Centre (SERCC) have been announced. The figures show that the South East Regional Emergency Fire Control has a 25 year lease costing £46 million. Breaking this down per annum is an annual cost of £1.84m. Dividing this figure down further to County level (for the nine counties for the RCC: Isle of Wight, Hampshire, Surrey, Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, West Sussex, East Sussex, Kent, Berkshire) means the cost per annum to the local tax payer will be £204,445. Additional figures that would have to be added to the above annual costs for the Regional Fire Control Centre (based in Fareham) would be £396,825 per annum (£44,091 for the Isle of Wight)…
Regional Control Meeting: Weds 7 April 2010
REGIONAL CONTROL MEETING 1230 WEDNESDAY 7 APRIL 2010 THE HAWTH HOTEL, CRAWLEY Please put the date above in your diaries – we have organised a joint Region 11 & 12 meeting for Control Room staff to update you on the current position on RCC’s and to give you a chance to ask any questions at this critical point in the RCC process. The meeting will be 1230 for lunch – 1300 start, hope to finish by approx 1600. Travel arrangements will be made for you depending on final numbers. Please contact your Brigade Chair or Sec to confirm your attendance. Alli Burrows …
Improper use of development rates of pay All member circular HOC0759SS
CIRCULAR: 2009HOC0759SS 14 December 2009 TO: Brigade Secretaries Dear Brother/Sister, CHALLENGE TO IMPROPER USE OF DEVELOPMENT PAY UPON PROMOTION UPDATE On 12th October 2009 a circular was distributed to Brigade Secretaries informing them of the situation whereby some FRAs may be misusing development pay upon promotion and attaching ideas for a model letter to raise it in your brigade should the problem be present. At the Executive Council meeting 8th, 9th & 10th December 2009 this issue was discussed in detail and it was felt that officials should be reminded of the importance of this challenge and encouraged to take this up at their earliest opportunity. Some officials have taken up the challenge with their…
Final Bulletin for National Rally and Lobby
Middle managers under attack
Defend our fire service & lobby of Parliament 21.10.09
Brothers & Sisters Please support our control members and joins us in Westminster to lobby your MP on Wednesday 21st October 2009. Contact your Brigade officials to find out times & travel arrangements.
How To Lobby Your MP
Brothers/Sisters, Many of you will be travelling to Westminster on the 21st October for the ‘Part of the Team’ campaign and will be planning to lobby your MP. Please read on for a practical how-to guide. HOW TO LOBBY YOUR MP ‘Lobbying’ means contacting your MP as a constituent, informing the MP of your concerns on an issue and asking the MP to do something. While you can meet the MP in the constituency, in this case the intention is to visit Parliament as part of a lobby organised by the FBU. Given the present standing of MPs following the expenses scandal, and an impending General Election, MPs are likely to be keener to meet constituents. You…
