July 2006
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MAJOR REPORT BY HOUSE OF COMMONS SELECT COMMITTEE EXPRESSES
DISAPOINTMENT AT LACK OF PROGRESS ON REFORM OF THE RDS

The Committee report was published on 12 July, following hearings and evidence being given by many organisations earlier in the year. The RFU was the only organisation to have serving RDS personnel appear before the Committee. Their report highlights a lack of progress in a number of areas affecting RDS personnel, including:
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 Failure to reform the NJC and industrial relations
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 Lack of progress on the recommendations of the Retained Review
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 IRMP’s that fail to take advantage of the flexible and efficient working arrangements of the RDS
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The expectation that the addition of operational assessment to the Audit Commission’s CPA process will fail to provide for a RDS perspective
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 Failure to implement IPDS for RDS and downgrading of RDS under IPDS implementation of Rank to Role
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 Lack of RDS input to local and national strategic development
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 Bullying and harassment of RDS personnel, especially during industrial disputes
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 Delayed introduction of flexible pension arrangements
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 Policies that have been developed for other staff, but are “bolted on” for RDS personnel
 

The RFU advised the Committee that there were missed opportunities to take advantage of more flexible and efficient service delivery utilising RDS personnel, especially during industrial disputes. The Committee report states “we emphasise the importance of including the retained service both in the production of IRMP’s and as a resource within them.”

The Report finished by stating:

We recommend the Government ensure that retained firefighters are recognised as a vital bridge between the FRS and the communities they serve; their status should be enhanced by greater involvement in planning systems, for example with seats on the National Joint Council, and a clear role in fire planning, particularly in rural areas.

We recommend that the Government provide a clear indication of the reform it intends to be implemented affecting the Retained Service, including target dates for key benchmarks and completion.

The RFU will shortly be meeting the new Government Minister to determine how real progress is to be made in implementing the recommended reforms against a background of failures by other stakeholders to implement previous reports and recommendations. We will advise the Minister that there is little faith by RDS personnel that reports and recommendations achieve real reform.
Derek Chadbon
National General Secretary
The report can also be view in html here.