Chief Fire Officers' Question Time in Lancashire

On Tuesday 17th June 2014, members of the North West Branch held a well attended Chief Fire Officers Question Time event in the Darwin Theatre, at the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan).

The panel was chaired by Peter Holland, the Chief Fire and Rescue Advisor. Each of the five regional Fire and Rescue Services were represented by Chief Fire Officers, Chris Kenny, Lancashire, Ian Cartwright, Cumbria, Paul Hancock, Cheshire, Dan Stephens, Merseyside and Assistant Chief Fire Officer Peter O’Reilly, Manchester.

The event provided the audience with an opportunity to address questions to the panel across a whole range of topical subject areas. These included financial and budget constraints, leadership, future recruitment, new technologies, sprinkler installation and the challenges around the current pension dispute.

North West Branch President David Russel said: "I have received feedback from a number of members of the audience all of whom have commented on how informative they found the event, and that it provided a really valuable insight to hear views across a range of key issues facing Fire and Rescue Services and the fire industry."

The North West Branch wishes to thank all the panel members and audience, for making this an interesting and successful event.