Thursday 2 October
11.30hrs
Members of Avon Fire Authority have written to the Secretary of
State for Communities and Local Government (CLG) to register their
continued opposition to a Regional Fire Control Centre.
At the full Authority meeting on Friday 26 September 2008
Members voted to write to Hazel Blears MP to register their
unhappiness with the current proposals for the FiReControl project.
In a letter signed by Councillors representing the three major
political parties, Avon Fire Authority Members wrote that the Part
1 Business Case, published in July, “gives us major cause for
concern”.
The Regional Control Centre (RCC) project is due to see six fire
services in the South West, including Avon Fire & Rescue
Service (AF&RS), combine their 999 control rooms to a new site
in Taunton. The scheme will see emergency calls from the Isles of
Scilly to Gloucestershire handled at one call centre.
Avon Fire Authority’s letter to the Ms Blears states: “It is now
evident that the 30% savings predicted in 2003 will not
materialise. It is also evident that in Avon we will face
increased costs as this project is implemented. We understand
that these costs are based on current assumptions, but we remain
extremely concerned that they are likely to rise over time.”
The letter also refers to the 20 benefits of the Regional
Control Centre that are outlined by the CLG in the Part 1 Business
Case. Avon Fire Authority says under current arrangements
AF&RS’s Fire Control at Lansdown near Bath already provides 15
of those benefits. It is anticipated a further four would be
provided by Firelink, a national communication system soon to be
rolled out to AF&RS.
The letter states: “Once the hardware and communication
infrastructure provided by Firelink is in place, we would seek to
take advantage of the benefits, which may be in advance of the
FiReControl 'go live' date for Avon. This means we envisage
getting only one benefit as a result of the move to the new RCC -
"control facility protected by Security staff 24/7". We would
question whether this is a real benefit, as it will add nothing to
the control room service.
Avon Fire Authority is now waiting to see the second and final
business case for FiReControl. Members wrote: “We understand that
this relates to the national position. As we are not party to this
information at present, we are unable to form a view.
“On the basis of our analysis of these crucial aspects, we
believe the financial business case has not been made. We
feel sure you will understand how difficult it will be for any
Authority to willingly accept a change that will cost more, with no
perceived benefit.”