FIRE AND PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE – 14 JULY
2003
OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER - OUR FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICE – WHITE PAPER
REPORT OF THE CHIEF FIRE OFFICER
The White Paper sets out the Government’s vision for the Fire and Rescue Service of the future and how the Government intends to deliver that vision. The purpose of this paper is to introduce the contents of the White Paper to the Select Committee.
ACTION REQUIRED BY THE SELECT COMMITTEE
To note the report.
BACKGROUND
The Bain Review reported in December 2002. The White Paper is the Government’s response to Bain and sets out how the Government will deliver improvements to the Fire and Rescue Service whilst recognising the role that Fire Authorities have and will continue to have in the future. The White Paper firms up the Government’s commitment to prevention rather than intervention and underpins the work on the Fire Authority Integrated Risk Management Plan that is already well underway.
The summary of the White Paper is attached as Appendix A. A full copy of the White Paper has been placed in the Members’ Room and it is also available at www.odpm.gov.uk
RELEVANT PLANS, POLICIES, STRATEGIES AND
PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
The White Paper is a statement of the Government’s intent to legislate. Until the Bill is published and subsequently becomes law, one can only speculate on the impact upon the Council’s Corporate Plan etc.
CONSULTATION PROCESS
The
White Paper is not a consultation document; it sets out what the Government
intends to do. However, all Fire and
Rescue Service staff have been sent a personal copy of the summary (attached as
Appendix A).
FINANCIAL, LEGAL, CRIME AND DISORDER IMPLICATIONS
Not possible to estimate or predict as
present.
APPENDICES ATTACHED
Appendix A. Our Fire and Rescue Service – A Summary.
White Paper “Our Fire and Rescue Service”
ODPM June 2003
Contact Point: Richard Hards, Chief Fire Officer, ' 823199, e-mail
[email protected]
Richard Hards
Chief Fire Officer