The newly-elected chair of London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority says he is looking forward to the challenges ahead as he prepares to officially head his first Authority meeting this Thursday [21 June].

In his first interview since taking the role James Cleverly exclusively discussed, with FIRE Magazine, the key issues he expects to tackle in his new role:

Among the topics the Authority will also be discussing this week are the fire capital grant bids for the next two years, procurement of vehicles, the future standards regime and plans for the London Fire Brigade Museum.

The museum was given a temporary reprieve in March at LFEPA's final meeting before the London mayoral and assembly elections.

Now one of Cleverly's first acts will be to chair the discussion as to whether to close the museum on 1 September or to keep it open until the fire brigade's Southwark Training Centre is sold or a new home for the historic collection is found.

In a report prepared for the meeting fire authority bosses have revealed details of talks it has held with other organisations about finding a new home for the museum.

These include a possible joint bid with the Museum of London to accommodate the collection in the cultural space at Berkeley Homes' One Tower Bridge development at Potters Fields.

Other talks have been held with Hackney Council about moving the collection to Clissold House and there have also been discussions about joining forces with the Imperial War Museum, the RAF Museum and the Kew Bridge Steam Museum.

Subscribe to FIRE magazine to read a full in-depth interview with James Cleverly in the July/August issue.

Posted 20/06/2012 by richard.hook@pavpub.com