Fire service must be protected

Here Councillor Phil Scott, Labour group leader on East Sussex Fire Authority, argues that any move to downgrade our frontline services must be resisted.

Inevitably as we move towards the budget-setting period in the new year there will have to be a number of hard decisions taken by the fire authority.

While I recognise that East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service needs to move forward with its modernisation agenda, I think we need to be clear about the impact around numerous areas which could potentially lead to job losses as a result of any restructuring.

For example, in the longer term when we move to regional control rooms, that is a decision which has been taken out of the fire authorities' hands and there will be a number of people made redundant or displaced.

We need to ensure the best possible deal is struck for those employees who wish to transfer to the new set-up in Fareham, Hampshire, and that their current conditions of employment are protected.

There is a process in place, of course, and that will need to be strictly managed and monitored by senior staff within East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service.

The move to regional control rooms is some years away but we do need to be ready. Regional control rooms, we are being told, will save a great deal of money.

Another area we should be concerned about is the current duty systems in place for firefighters which seem to work well, but are under examination to determine their effectiveness.

In tandem with the examination which is being conducted in-house, the Integrated Risk Management Plan and Action Plan is out to the public and stakeholders for consultation.

However, there are problems with a consultation process that has seen very little feedback from the public over the past three years. Basically they seem to be happy with the way the fire service is managed.

But if you were to set a number of direct questions, such as "Would you support a reduction in frontline staff?" of course you may have a very different response.

Equally if you asked "Would you support a rise in council tax to pay for a good or better delivery of service?" this may present a few problems for some residents.

The truth is at most of the consultation public meetings there were next to zero members of the public attending and that is very disappointing.

Of course, it is absolutely right that any organisation should review its policies - staffing structures and procedures - from time to time and where possible improve upon them, but we really must resist any move to downgrade our frontline services.

Our highly trained firefighters are available at a moment's notice to attend any incident and within good time. That is our insurance policy against most worst case scenarios and we must ensure we have the right amount of people in the right place at the right time.

What is also clear is that at some stage the East Sussex Fire Authority may consider its position in relation to some rural stations.

One in particular that has been on and off the agenda for some years is Battle fire station which is currently day-crewed, but has a retained service at night.

If that is a station which comes back for consideration in the future, I think any move to close it would be met with the strongest of opposition.

Can you imagine the pressure that stations in Hastings and Bohemia Road, also in Hastings, and its firefighters would be under given that the Battle area is several miles away?

How could you seriously provide adequate cover to the highly populated areas of Hastings and St Leonards, as well as be that stretched to cover the rural areas?

It's just nonsense.

Councillor Phil Scott is Labour county councillor for Hollington and Wishing Tree in Hastings.

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