The three Welsh Fire Authorities demonstrated their commitment to the Government's agenda for improved collaborative working as they outlined the ways they are making service more citizen-focused at the All Wales Fire & Rescue Authority Member Development Conference last week [12 Oct].

The biennial conference was organised by Mid & West Wales FRS and held at South Wales FRS headquarters in Llantrisant to ensure that Elected Members of the Fire Authorities are informed and engaged on national and local issues.

This year's event was focused on the progress being made by the newly established National Issues Committee, which was purposely created to deliver measureable improvements, including greater efficiency and a more citizen focused service which meets the needs of our local communities.

Councillor Tudor Davies Chair of South Wales Fire Authority and Chair of the National Issues Committee said: "Our priority is to further improve collaborative working, service delivery and sustained service improvement for the benefit of Wales, the progress that has been made already in closer collaboration shows that we are leading the collaboration agenda."

Speakers in South Wales included Mr Michael Mousdale, from Trowers & Hamlins Solicitors who spoke about the WLGA Publication: Legal Guidance for Collaboration, the Welsh Chief Officers from each Fire & Rescue Service who gave presentations on collaboration in action and Stephen Rossiter, Project Co-ordinator for the National Issues Committee who outlined the forward work plan for collaboration for the next 12 months.

Huw Jakeway, Chief Fire Officer at South Wales Fire and Rescue Service, said: "Collaboration takes a high degree of commitment which involves sharing knowledge, learning and building consensus, and to be successful, it requires strong leadership from the very top of organisations. That is the whole ethos behind this new National Issues Committee."

His colleague from North Wales, Simon Smith, added: "The importance of working together has never been higher on the public sector agenda than it is at present. Over the next few years, public-sector organisations like ours face the challenge of even more difficult economic choices.

"We are mindful of the advantages that collaboration can bring - in particular, in terms of working together to obtain improved resources, recognition and reward when facing times of finite resources."

For more information see: • Mid & West Wales Fire & Rescue Service www.mawwfire.gov.uk • South Wales Fire & Rescue Service www.southwales-fire.gov.uk • North Wales Fire & Rescue Service www.nwales-fireservice.org.uk 

Posted 14/10/2012 by richard.hook@pavpub.com