The Scottish Government has confirmed there will be a single Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and is now seeking views on the legislative framework for the new service.

A spokesperson told FIRE that Scotland has a strong and widely respected Fire and Rescue Service - fire deaths are almost 50 percent lower than they were 10 years ago. However, due to financial challenges FIRE was told that reform is the only way to sustain these hard-won gains and sustain the local fire and rescue services that communities depend on. "The status quo is no longer sustainable".

Reform to the fire and rescue services will, we were told:

  • Protect and improve frontline services for local communities against the backdrop of severe budget reductions by the Westminster government
  • Keep communities safer by providing more equitable access across Scotland to specialist support, expertise and national capacity when it is needed
  • Strengthen the links between the fire and rescue service and the communities they serve, and
  • Provide clearer national governance.

The Scottish Government proposes to do this by:

  • Creating a more efficient and effective Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, rationalising support areas like payroll and HR, and enhancing the delivery of specialist fire and rescue services
  • Ensuring clear separation between ministers and the service by establishing a Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Board to hold the Chief Fire Officer to account
  • Establishing a strong formal relationship between each of Scotland's 32 councils and a designated Local Senior Fire Officer, focused around the joint development and delivery of local services and outcomes and improved partnership working with other agencies.

The consultation closes on November 2, 2011.

 

Posted October 4th, 2011 at 1235 by Andrew. Comment by emailing: andrew.lynch@pavpub.com