RDS Survey

In October we circulated information to members and colleagues relating to a survey of serving RDS personnel and those who have recently left the service. A number of enquiries have been received at RFU HQ and it may be that those who have made contact had forgotten our earlier announcement.

The background to this is that a number of stakeholders including Communities and Local Government (CLG), the Scottish Fire and Rescue Advisory Unit/Scottish Resilience, and the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service have jointly commissioned Employment Research and Consulting/ICM to carry out the survey focusing specifically on issues relating to the Retained Duty System. Our sources advise that there have been around 7500 responses so far, so there is still a way to go.

We continue to stress the importance of the survey and urge you to take the time to complete and return it. It is important to emphasise that your contribution will be treated in the strictest confidence and your identity along with your FRS, will not be revealed. Again this is a rare opportunity to ‘tell it how it is’ from your perspective, not forgetting that unless issues which you see as important are highlighted, they will never be resolved, please use this rare opportunity and have your say.

IRMP Steering Group reconvenes

Its first task is to consider the Mott Macdonald report on the ‘Review of the Adequacy and Impact of IRMP in the Fire and Rescue Service’. There were shared concerns around the table arising from the controversy surrounding the recent IRMP proposals by Warwickshire FRA in its ‘Improvement Plan’.

In particular the fact that in the Warks plan there appears to have been assumptions made on the reliance of bordering services to cover the gaps in fire and rescue provision without actually engaging with those services fully when the plan was drawn up! The RFU used the Freedom of Information Act to obtain a copy of the response from West Mids FRS to the Warks proposals which was very enlightening as it clearly revealed their (W Mids) concerns about increased reliance on West Mids resources and increased costs to local taxpayers. The response from Hereford and Worcester FRS which was more readily available echoed these concerns. The plan has now been removed from the WFRS website and our understanding is that any movement on the plan has been suspended ‘to consider the comments from the public’ but to provide you with an update visit http://www.wrfu.org.uk/ to view copies of all the relevant documentation.

CFOA led Task and Finish Group (Reporting of fire fighters injuries and fatalities in the Fire Service)

The first meeting took place on the 16th February so it is early days as yet but the purpose is to review the collation of data and the availability of information in relation to fire fighter injuries and fatalities in the UK. The work of this group will contribute to the CFOA objective of “developing the Quality Assurance Forum and build up the performance management system”. RFU Vice President Tony Morgan is our rep on this working group.

Operational Guidance – Workshop 14th January 10 discussion of FRS operation guidance needs with key stakeholders

Assistant National General Secretary Tristan Ashby, attended this workshop and reports that consultants Greenstreet Berman have been appointed by CLG to look into how Operational Guidance should be disseminated from CLG down to FRS level.

The objective of the work is to support a new governance arrangement for FRS operational guidance with the overall aim of helping to ensure information is: appropriately organised; easily accessible and ‘fit-for-purpose’ - written with the needs of the people who use the guidance in mind.

Whether it should be stored in one place and whether it should incorporate SOPs, GRAs, underpinning knowledge etc. This workshop invited the views of stakeholders. It was a very productive meeting with all parties in agreement on all areas, specifically that guidance should not be too prescriptive and allow Strategic Managers to manage the information from CLG and decide what is relevant to their FRS. More information will be made available in due course.

UKWIR (UK Water Industry Research Project)

UKWIR is currently undertaking extensive consultation with Fire and Rescue Services, water companies, the sprinkler industry, and government organisations to develop a more consistent approach.

The RFU has been invited to a cross-industry round table discussion on the 22nd February which is seeking to build consensus on the provision of fire hydrants and water for fire fighting as part of a new collaborative approach to resolving long-standing issues. We are indeed fortunate to have expertise available to us on this particular issue.

RFU President Adrian Hughes is Services Manager for water with Mid and West Wales FRS and his expertise will be invaluable as this project develops.

AGM and Presidential Handover

Note for your dairies - our AGM will be held on the 23/24th April in Worcester, more details to be provided in due course.

However the main event will see Tony Morgan (Warwickshire) installed as RFU President, Tony takes over from Adrian Hughes (Mid and West Wales) who has held this role since 2006. Adrian will remain very much at the forefront of the RFU’s National team as the lead on Co/First response in the role of immediate past president.

The handover will provide a vacancy for RFU Vice President, members who qualify and would wish to register their interest for this unpaid honorary post should write in the first instance to the National General Secretary for more details.

RFU Meet with the Fire Minister, Shahid Malik - 23rd February

At this meeting discussions took place on:

• The current financial pressures on FA budgets, and how On-Call personnel employed on the RDS are well placed to provide options in managing these pressures
• IRMP, Warwickshire in particular, and the re-launch of the IRMP Steering Group
• Community cohesion and how RDS stations are already making a contribution and well placed to promote the benefits of the community working together for its mutual benefit
• CLG are to provide guidance to all FRS on managing the issue of driver’s hours, there has been a delay in the guidance being released but this is expected within the next 2-3 weeks. Further information will be gathered from the responses to the RDS Survey already mentioned.

Dual cover

We would like to remind all members that we provide a range of membership options which are not limited to On-Call personnel. For example members who migrate to the WDS and remain as On-Call firefighters are able to continue their RFU membership at a modest increase in subscription. And subject to certain criteria, solely WDS personnel can also apply for membership.

If you would like to receive your own copy of the ‘Tip Sheet’ and other regular circulars via email, visit the front page of the national RFU website and click the ‘Sign-up’ link.