Monday 15
September
14.30hrs
Avon Fire
Authority has voiced its concerns after it has been revealed that
the regionalisation of Fire Control rooms will cost local fire and
rescue services more than £200,000, rather than save money, as the
Government assured.
The Regional
Control Centre (RCC) project is due to see six fire services in the
South West, including Avon Fire & Rescue Service, 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. Members of Avon Fire Authority have long
been opposed to the scheme claiming no obvious benefits to local
people.
In 2003 the
Government projected that the RCC project would see a 30% saving
for fire and rescue services. However in a Part One Business Case
released by Communities and Local Government (CLG) in July the
regional saving was estimated at just £64,000. Since then further
calculations now estimate that the RCC will in fact cost the six
fire and rescue services a total in excess of £200,000.
The CLG’s business
case will be put before Avon Fire Authority Members at their
meeting on Friday 26 September. Included in the document are
details of 20 benefits of the RCC, 15 of which are already met by
AF&RS’s existing Fire Control room at Lansdown, near Bath. A
further four will be provided by a new digital radio communication
project being rolled out in Avon later this year.
Chair of Avon Fire
Authority, Councillor Terry Walker, said: “Our position has not
changed, and we are yet to be convinced of any benefits of the RCC
to Avon Fire & Rescue Service and more importantly the council
tax payers we represent.
“This project has
been ill conceived and was sold largely on its financial savings.
However this Authority’s initial scepticism has now proved prudent
- far from saving money, we now know the RCC will in fact cost us
more money. The black hole is already estimated at £200,000, but
there are many more costs to consider. We therefore fully expect
this deficit will continue to rise.
“It would be
grossly irresponsible if this Authority signed up to RCC at this
stage and committed council tax payer’s money to this project,
which at best would provide an equivalent service at a far greater
cost.”
Mr Walker’s
comments come as the South West Regional Management Board, which
represents the region’s fire and rescue services, is expected to
tell the Government it will not agree to take on the lease at RCC
unless financial assurances can be made.